Just a question, for clarity here, but did you have seats when you checked in or no seats on your boarding pass? Because it sounds like you were on there overbooked list. I mean if you walk away with a boarding pass that shows I have a seat and come back, they can't simply "give away" my seat without my permission or volunteering, especially if I had a seat to begin with. Now if you originally had no seats (I don't think you did, because then you'd be more angered as you may have had seats together), then yes you were on their overbooked list.
But overbooking is a common practice among all airlines, not just northwest. (read any contract of carriage from any airline and they will have rules and such for overbooking). It does suck because you pay money for a seat, arrive on time and everything, and poof no seats! and its worse when your travelling with kids. From what I've been told in the past, and have since followed, though not always, is to check in the night before or confirm seats 24 hours in advance. But its definitely not an uncommon practice. I've been on my share of overbookings, and to be honest I look forward to it so I can cash in on travel vouchers. But as a single guy, its ok. Not good when you have kids to deal with. Thankfully they got you onboard, but their attitude was unnessecary.
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