In light of all the flight cancellations last week in anticipation for the big snow storm in the east coast, I wonder if there would be a way for the airline to play matchmaker for customers who would willingly give up seats to those who really need them... for the right price.

In my specific case, due to the cancellation of BOS->OAK 7:05pm flight on 2/11, I was rescheduled to 2/13 (thanks to AMEX travel that was on hold with Jetblue for about an hour). I proceeded to try flying standby on anything and everything on 2/11 without success to get back in time for a Lunar new year celebration on 2/12. I ended up purchasing a ticket with United (BOS->LAX) and another one with Southwest (LAX->OAK) to get back in time.

With this unplanned flight change and additional night of hotel stay, the extra cost ran ~$1200 for the return trip alone. As I checked in for my United flight in BOS at 5:45am on 2/12, the line for Jetblue extended all the way to security check areas.

This is the ultimate logistics nightmare: there was very little snow in Boston but much of the city was shut down on 2/10 and 2/11; conditions on 2/11 was fine for flying, but cancellations continued partly due to planes grounded in other locations.

"There were more cancellations than on 9/11."
"This is a super busy travel weekend."
"Our (Jetblue) system was recently changed."

If there had been someone on the 2/11 BOS->SFO 5:40pm flight (the one I could've booked back when I booked the flight, but opted to book BOS->OAK 7:05pm instead) who did not mind leaving on 2/13 instead (to take my seat), I would have gladly paid for such a switch.

Two questions: would it be appropriate for the airline (Jetblue in this case) to facilitate such a process in this type of situation? This looks like a business opportunity where we have willing buyers, willing sellers (assuming some don't mind giving up their seats), and an airline who may benefit by charging a modest transaction fee...