Really interesting article: What to Do When Bumped From a Flight via the New York Times. A new policy adopted recently by many major U.S. airlines means passengers are routinely automatically rebooked in the event of flight cancellations. Traditionally, airlines have rebooked each passenger from a cancelled flight on a first-come, first-served basis. While the new system means faster solutions for travelers, it also makes it possible for airlines to give better replacement itineraries to preferred customers or those who paid full ticket fares. The ethics of the situation are interesting in and of themselves, but on a practical level, travelers can take a few key tips away from this story:

- If your flight is cancelled, call the airline reservations number (just use 411 from your cell or look at your ticket jacket for the number) to haggle for the flight itinerary you want.

- Most airlines offer to rebook passengers on other airlines under certain circumstances. Trouble is, the fine print is pretty vague on what those circumstances are. Your best bet? Be firm, but polite and explain your situation. Request the next available flight that will get you to your destinations, even if it is on another airline.

- The more geeky travelers out there may even want to memorize which airlines automatically rebook passengers ( ) and which still rebook cancelled flights on an individual basis. That way, you’ll know how fast you need to quick draw your cell or run to the customer service desk the next time you encounter a cancelled flight.