Earlier quoted context omitted.
>Demonstrating why the DOTs rules for involuntary bumping create perverse market incentives re overbooking. Without the law, United wouldn't even have to pay 4x. The remedies for regular breach of contract aren't very good.
the law can be that overbooking is allowed but airlines also cant involuntary boot anyone. They have to incentivize someone to get off. I'm sure if they went up to $2k in cash someone would have taken them up on the offer and just ubered to ($400ish if I remember what my check showed me) to their destination. For me, $800 (even cash) wouldn't have been sufficient for me to convince me to uber to my destination, even…
Hell, they could update their contact and then it wouldn't even be a breach of a contract.
The law was written to reign in their behavior. Without it, they have a lot more freedom.