• Most airlines overbook flights to account for people that don't show up."Cathay Pacific 747 cargo" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: FlickrFlyr under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
  
  

Delays and Cancellations

• Airlines are not federally obligated to compensate you for delayed or cancelled flights.
  
  

Overbooking

• Airlines are required to ask for volunteers to be bumped to the next flight when a flight is overbooked. If there are no volunteers, boarding will go in "first come, first served" order, so the last people to check in will be the first bumped to a later flight.
  
  

Bumped

• If you volunteer to be bumped off of your flight, you will likely be offered a free ticket as compensation.
  
  

Damaged Luggage

• Airlines will usually pay for repairs when your luggage is damaged. Take your damaged luggage to an airline employee immediately and open it, so they can see any damage to the items inside.
  
  

Lost Luggage

• According to the Department of Transportation, 98 percent of "lost" luggage is eventually returned to its owners. Ask an airline employee for cash to buy needed items while you wait for your luggage to get to you.