Last weekend, travelers flying into Las Vegas experienced a unique twist in their journey, with offers reaching as high as $2,500 for giving up their seats.

The ongoing heatwave scorching the American southwest pushed temperatures on the Strip to a sweltering 114 degrees on Friday (July 24), 113 on Saturday (July 25), and 112 on Sunday (July 26). These extreme temperatures hampered aircraft performance, leading full flights to seek volunteers willing to forgo their reservations to meet weight limitations due to the heat.

Given the circumstances, it’s no surprise that many passengers were hesitant to alter their travel plans without substantial incentives.

One traveler, Trish, shared with KSNV-TV/Las Vegas that nearly half of the passengers on her United flight were requested to volunteer.

She opted for the $2,500 incentive to deboard, resulting in an extensive travel ordeal that lasted a staggering 43 hours. Trish arrived at Harry Reid International at 1 p.m. on Friday, but didn’t reach her destination until 8 a.m. Sunday.

Still, that amounts to $58.13 per hour for her inconvenience—a worthwhile arrangement, indeed.

A video on X, featuring scenes captured at an American Airlines gate, highlighted an agent seeking as many as 50 volunteers, threatening that “no one was leaving” without them.

The Federal Aviation Administration indicates that hot air compromises wing lift, complicating takeoffs. In severe heat scenarios, fully-loaded planes may need to carry fewer passengers, less cargo, or reduce fuel levels to ensure safety.

While the aircraft could still technically take off, airlines are obligated to prepare for worst-case situations, such as possible engine failures during takeoff. Decreasing weight prior to departure provides sufficient performance margins in case of emergencies.

Airport statistics revealed a staggering 580 flight delays from Friday to Sunday, with Friday alone accounting for 284 delays—representing about one-third of all scheduled departures from the airport that day.