Eh, he's establishing he has work. You could have easily coutered that you had a flight to XXX at [whatever time]. When's his flight leaving? Tonight? I will say this, the times I have commuted, if I'm going in the day before (and like you, I have two-three options) and another guy is trying to go on that same flight with work that same night, I'll relieve the seat. I've done that a couple times. Sounds like he was desperate because his departure was that same night. Your's wasn't.

Edit: I don't mean to judge, I wasn't there!