Suppose I'm in an area where all of the dialysis clinics have been shut down by a hurricane and floods, and I have a family member who needs dialysis within the

Suppose I'm in an area where all of the dialysis clinics have been shut down by a hurricane and floods, and I have a family member who needs dialysis within the next 48 hours. My only hope is to fly them to an area where they can get dialysis. I'm much more concerned with whether or not there is a seat available, than the amount it will cost me. A $350 seat is of no use to me if someone else has already bought it. Conversely, suppose my whole family is healthy and able bodied, but we just don't feel like living in a temporary shelter set up in a high school gymnasium for the next week. I'm on the ball, and I check flights to my brother's city, and because I'm in early enough and the flights are normal price, I spring for tickets for the entire family. Other people who need the seats far more than I do are out of luck. I realize this, but I figure someone else will snap up the seats, regardless of whether they need them as little as I do.