When airlines overbook flights, they're making a calculated bet that some passengers won't show up — and most of the time they win that bet. But when they lose, the people bumped are often the ones who booked late or paid the least, not the ones who can least afford the disruption. I got bumped from a Denver route last year and the compensation barely covered my missed connection. Is it fair to treat a confirmed seat as a probabilistic asset rather than a guarantee, or should airlines be forced to change their model?