 Input Airline Toll-Free Numbers in your Cell Phone
This is a tip I've follwed as long as I've had a cell phone. But it seems that the rest of my family doesn't do it so I'm going to mention it here (maybe they will read this).
I keep the toll-free phone numbers of the major US airlines in my cellphone contacts list. I generally fly our hub airline but should I get bumped or are meeting someone coming in on another airline, I have the toll-free number for most major airlines handy in case I need to get information that isn't on the airport monitors or the gate people aren't forthcoming in providing.
The next time you get bumped from a flight in winter and there at the airport with long lines of hundreds of passengers "in the same boat" you might enjoy sitting at the bar instead while patiently rebooking with a reservations agent.
This has helped me so many times. Hope it helps you. -- Rik | 
