Similar story. When I was grad student, I was flown half way around the world (Oregon -> Italy) to present someone else's paper (!) because they were feeling i

Similar story. When I was grad student, I was flown half way around the world (Oregon -> Italy) to present someone else's paper (!) because they were feeling ill. I had only the most rudimentary knowledge of the contents, since it was such a last minute affair. So, as in your experience, the presentation was hardly worthwhile at all, much less the expense (environmental or financial) of sending me, in aggregate, all the way around the world.