This is incorrect. I imagine this seems like it makes sense because it happens to fit into the Republican view of regulation = bad, deregulation = good. The r

This is incorrect. I imagine this seems like it makes sense because it happens to fit into the Republican view of regulation = bad, deregulation = good. The regulation applies to passengers denied boarding involuntarily (https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/250.5 https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/250.5). There is no mention of a maximum amount of money that can be offered to individuals volunteering not to board an overbooked flight (see https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/250.2b https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/250.2b). Indeed, it was reported that United never even approached the $1,350 mark, though I can't find these references at the moment.