Back in L.A. - To pick up the dime, you must do the time

On our way back to Ho Chi Minh City we left on the morning of the 11th from Denver and arrived in L.A. at around 11:00am to hop on the plane to Hong Kong. Ad hears an announcement that the airline is offering $500 in travel credits and a night at the Hilton in L.A., plus all meals paid for and an upgrade to business class for the flight the next day if anyone will give up their seat. Of course we were first in line to volunteer so we left the airport in a mood to celebrate and went to go watch the sunset in downtown Hollywood after a visit to the famous Astro Burger on Santa Monica Blvd. The next day we showed up at the airport to get on the flight again and we hear the same announcement for our flight, but for only $400 in travel credits. We run to sign up and spend the evening on the 3rd St Promenade by the Santa Monica Pier. The next day when we arrive, they offer the same deal again so we grab a paper and start looking for an apartment in L.A.After the weekend we show up at the airport, wave hello to our old friends at security and ticketing and we get bumped again for another $500, but they send us to stay in San Francisco for the night at a grand Hyatt because they realize that they will never get rid of us if we are kept in L.A.We catch the BART into town and I call my friend Ayako who greets us as if she expects me to show up unannounced at any time. She just happens to have the next day off so we go out and have a wonderful time wandering the streets of San Francisco and celebrating Adam's birthday for the 3rd night before finally boarding a plane to Ho Chi Minh City with$1900 each in United travel credits. Why couldn't I have had this luck in Vegas a week ago?