(MONEY Magazine) – In the wake of January's Detroit airport debacle--when a snowstorm kept hundreds of passengers trapped in planes for up to nine hours--politicians in Washington have been making lots of noise about giving fliers more rights. Two recently introduced bills would force airlines to tell consumers more about delays, fare structures and the reasons for flight cancellations. When it comes to overbooking, you already have a few protections.

Ground Pay. Under Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, the airline must first solicit volunteers willing to give up their seats. In the unlikely event that too few speak up, the airline can bump fliers. If you are bumped involuntarily but reach your destination within an hour of your scheduled arrival time, the dot says the airline doesn't have to compensate you. If you arrive more than one hour but less than two hours late, you're entitled to the value of a one-way fare, up to $200. If your delay is for more than two hours, you get double your fare, up to $400.

Early Bird Special. The best way to avoid getting bumped in the first place is to arrive at the gate at least half an hour early. The last to check in are the first to go. What's worse, if you don't check in on time, the DOT rules won't cover you, which is also the case if the airline switches to a smaller plane or the flight is canceled because of factors outside the airline's control, such as bad weather. So make sure you know how early you have to check in, and call the airline 48 to 72 hours before your departure to find out about changes. --KYRA ALFORD