If they are able to show publicly that they are able to wash their dirty undies clean at the first request of a customer, it earns them a customer service gold star sticker. 
When there is a physical person, I’ve sometimes had more luck pleasing my case for an earlier flight. We had one instance where our flight was cancelled due to mechanical problems. They were trying to give us a flight in several days and I begged them to get us out the next day since we were flying up to drop D off at new U. They miraculously found us two seats for the next day and we only missed one day with D instead of pretty much not making it worth going up.
@HImom what was your frequent flyer status? Sometimes that makes a difference.
When the weather forecast is not good, I plot out my options. The last time, I was staying with relatives…so spending a few extra days (that’s how long it took for the weather to improve and a rebooking to take place) was fine. On mother trip, I came home the day before the storm…and I was not picky about my flight or seat.
One time, I was leaving Cleveland and flying to Hartford via Baltimore. The Cleveland Hartford floghtnwas FINE…but all the flights in New England were cancelled. I begged them to let me just fly to Baltimore…where really, I could have stayed for a week…allowing those who needed to travel to have seats sooner. But NOOOOO. It was all or nothing. So, I stayed in Cleveland and did the full trip three days later. BWI was insane. Lots of stranded people who had been there for days. Honestly…at that point I was NOT giving up my seat.
Wow momsquad – I never thought of that (using Twitter and FB reps). Great idea!
I was a “silver” with United. I think what made them nervous was that I was flying with my medical equipment and they didn’t want to be accused of making even more difficult for passengers with medical needs to reach their destinations. Begging in person was also a key factor, I’m convinced. Since H preferred to sleep in our own bed, they gave us a voucher for free taxi back to our home and free taxi back to the airport the following day instead of a voucher for hotel.
Several of the others on our flight had to spend several days in HI. It was around August and the flight that was cancelled was full, as were many of the other flights to and from HI.
Thanks HiMom - I really like the comment “begging in person was a key factor”. I read an article one about the pose you’re supposed to adopt to get a gate agent to accommodate you - deferential, polite, but in their field of vision. Glad it worked out for you!