Was your flight cancelled, use rule 240

[hannibal54]

You have some rights if your flight is canceled or delayed because of the airline's actions. It varies with each carrier, so take a copy of your airline's policy with you.
More info:

http://consumerist.com/consumer/rule...240-250368.php

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22900119/

I saw this on the FLN channel called 20 travel tips.

[greatam]

Originally Posted by hannibal54

You have some rights if your flight is canceled or delayed because of the airline's actions. It varies with each carrier, so take a copy of your airline's policy with you.
More info:

http://consumerist.com/consumer/rule...240-250368.php

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22900119/

I saw this on the FLN channel called 20 travel tips.

Mention Rule 240 to most airline agents and you will be "politely" laughed at. You will also go to the "bottom of the list" for re-accommodation. Rule 240 was a rule in place prior to DEREGULATION (about 1978). Delta still has a Rule 240 co-incidentally in their Contract of Carriage but other airlines GO BY THE CONTRACT of CARRIAGE. Delta's Rule 240 is similar to the old Rule 240 BUT every other airline has incorporated the parts of Rule 240 (pre deregulation) in the Contract of Carriage.

IF your flight is canceled for weather, airport problems or FAA problems (the glitch this week is a PERFECT example), you are NOT entitled to any compensation. Some may be given to you, but that is an option of the airline, usually to promote goodwill.

Mechanicals, crew problems are AIRLINE responsibility and compensation is clearly spelled out in the Contract of Carriage.

PLEASE do not use "Rule 240" with any airline agents, especially gate agents. By floating around Rule 240, you have just become the pariah of that agent.

MUCH better is to KNOW your options for other flights rather than trying to get compensation. Which would you rather have-a ticket endorsed to another carrier getting you on your way within a few hours or a night in a third rate hotel and coupons to be used at an airport restaurant? I know which one I pick every time (and I have flown 128,965 miles so far this year)

[6rugrats]

greatam is correct. That "tip" is right up there with the one recommending you dress nicely and tell the gate agent you are on your honeymoon to guarantee an upgraded seat.

Don't try either one.

[mapsmith]

Yep. Rule 240 has boarded and left you behind.

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, the most the airlines are REQUIRED to do is put you on their next AVAILABLE flight. That means the next flight that they can reasonably book you on--not the next flight. They will not bump anyone off a flight so that you can go. You may be able to "stand-by" for a flight up until the one they booked you on, but possibly will not be on an AVAILABLE flight for 3 or more days.

If you have a flight with 150 people on it that is cancelled, the airline has to put those people on the future flights. Those future flights are already booked with another 150 passengers. There may be fewer than 5 seats on the next few flights. The airline will always book their "elite" frequent flyers first, so we peons get three to four days waiting for a flight.


If your flight is cancelled or delayed, the first thing to do is remain calm!!! Again remain Calm. The airlines customer service people are dealing with 150 ticked off people. If you are calm they will work with you better than if you are screaming.

Next, pull out the cell phone and call the airline reservation line. They are not facing the screaming passengers that the airport personnel are dealing with. (And you will find that you probably will talk to someone quicker on the phone than in person)

Third, find alternative ways to get where you are going. If you are flying from Chicago to Miami and your flight is cancelled, try Chicago to New York to Miami, or Chicago to Dallas to Miami. or even Indianapolis or Milwaukee to Dallas to Ft. Lauderdale.

Finally, Always fly in a day early to your cruise.

[where2next]

Actually with all due respect to the above posters

In the last 3 years

we have utilized Rule 240 once with great success

We have also used EU Rule 261 two times while flying on Air France and Croatia Airlines

AND

while HONESTLY flying on our honeymoon 3 years ago

We were flying on Air France and were upgraded to the upper deck...aaahhh there's A LOT more leg room up there!

we also flew SAS for a Baltic Cruise on our 1st anniversary in 2007 and we were presented with a 9 inch cake which we shared with surrounding aisles.

In 2008 for our anninversary back on Air France we had the good fortune (I swear this is true) of having the same ticket agent in SFO that we had on our honeymoon check us in again. She once again upgraded us, but this time to business class.

So, for us ...
I have had the travel karma gods shine brightly at times

[greatam]

Originally Posted by where2next

Actually with all due respect to the above posters

In the last 3 years

we have utilized Rule 240 once with great success

We have also used EU Rule 261 two times while flying on Air France and Croatia Airlines

AND

while HONESTLY flying on our honeymoon 3 years ago

We were flying on Air France and were upgraded to the upper deck...aaahhh there's A LOT more leg room up there!

we also flew SAS for a Baltic Cruise on our 1st anniversary in 2007 and we were presented with a 9 inch cake which we shared with surrounding aisles.

In 2008 for our anninversary back on Air France we had the good fortune (I swear this is true) of having the same ticket agent in SFO that we had on our honeymoon check us in again. She once again upgraded us, but this time to business class.

So, for us ...
I have had the travel karma gods shine brightly at times

There IS NO RULE 240 ANYMORE (at least not in the context of the article). As posted previously, Delta does have a Rule 240 BUT it is co incidence that the very part of the OLD RULE 240 is what Delta put in their Contract of Carriage as NEW RULE 240. Rule 240 is not found in other Contract's of Carriage.

The agents probably were laughing behind your backs and just got rid of you the best they could when you brought up Rule 240. Rule 240 is over 30 years old and was discontinued with deregulation. I have watched quite a few times when someone starts spouting off about Rule 240. The agents are chuckling to themselves and will either just get rid of the person (and send their luggage to Johannesburg (JNB) when it should be going to JFK) or will put them off. US agents absolutely detest those who think Rule 240 has any effect on their actions or compensation from an airline.

Your experiences are with FOREIGN airlines. RARELY is there an op up without high status on US carriers. I am a top tier AA flier. ONCE in a great while I get upgraded free from business to first on an international flight (I am normally in first on domestic flights due to my status). And I fly AA (and partners) 100,000 miles every year and have for almost 10 years. You got lucky!!!

[where2next]

oh my ....just breathe


I'm well aware of domestic versus international carriers

In fact I quoted EU Rule 261 when mentioning the International carriers

And since you weren't at the ticket counter with us when we politely asked if any
portion of 240 was still in effect and could we be assisted in that manner
you are making quite a bit of an assumption.

We were given food vouchers and assisted on the next flight on another DOMESTIC carrier to our destination

We have never been rude or forceful in our dealings with any airline employee...
It's called Karma and perhaps that is why we have had such positive experiences.

[ugen512]

The same people that think Rule 240 works are the same ones that get a cabin upgrade on EVERY cruise they go on and inside to suite!

The last poster, with all due respect, that is the exception not the rule(no pun intended)!

[where2next]

Well, I've been cruising for 35 years since I was a small child

Usually 30 or more days at sea EACH YEAR and I have the highest ranking earned the hard way on the current mainstream lines and many that are now defunct.

I have only been upgraded 2x in all of those years.

So, your generalization and assumption is way of base on what I think and what I've experienced.

when it comes to the correlation between my 240/261 experiences and cruise ship upgrades

Good things do happen to travelers out there,

not all the time

but they DO HAPPEN...

one day I hope that you doubters are on the receiving end.

[greatam]

Originally Posted by where2next

oh my ....just breathe


I'm well aware of domestic versus international carriers

In fact I quoted EU Rule 261 when mentioning the International carriers

And since you weren't at the ticket counter with us when we politely asked if any
portion of 240 was still in effect and could we be assisted in that manner
you are making quite a bit of an assumption.

We were given food vouchers and assisted on the next flight on another DOMESTIC carrier to our destination

We have never been rude or forceful in our dealings with any airline employee...
It's called Karma and perhaps that is why we have had such positive experiences.

You simply don't get it. You were given food vouchers per the airline CONTRACT OF CARRIAGE, NOT Rule 240. Tickets purchased in certain classes (not consolidator and not cruise air) and on legacy airlines are generally ENDORSABLE to another carrier IF the airline is willing to do the endorsement. Again, NOT a Rule 240 accommodation but in the Contract of Carriage and the Fare Rules.

[where2next]

You seem like the type of individual that needs to be right

Regardless of what the conversation was at the ticket counter we had that you weren't privvy to where the ticket agent was using the term 240 and it wasn't even a legacy airline nor did they have interline agreements at the time.

I would also like to point out that the contract of carriage and Rule 240 are used synonomously by many long term airline employees and travellers, along with Editors from Budget Travel, National Geographic Travel Magazines and Travel and Leisure.

Just tune into the Fine Living Network and watch these very Editors along with others recently discuss Rule 240 in their own words when they are sharing their expertise on Top 20 tips for Travel

but since you want to dissect this into the most minute details..

I will just have to step away...

because as you strongly put I will never "get" the point you are trying to make

and just as I said before I hope that you have as much WONDERFUL travel karma as we have had throughout the years as we have travelled
around the globe domestically and internationally..by air, sea and land.

[DizzyDallasDi]

Originally Posted by mapsmith

If your flight is cancelled or delayed, the first thing to do is remain calm!!! Again remain Calm. The airlines customer service people are dealing with 150 ticked off people. If you are calm they will work with you better than if you are screaming.

Next, pull out the cell phone and call the airline reservation line. They are not facing the screaming passengers that the airport personnel are dealing with. (And you will find that you probably will talk to someone quicker on the phone than in person)

Excellent advice!! A couple of years ago my flight from Denver to DFW was cancelled. AA's automated notification service called my cell phone as I was getting on the train in DEN to go to my terminal letting me know the flight was cancelled. I made a u-turn out of the train and immediately called AA reservations. They were very accommodating and put me on the next flight in one of the few available seats that just happened to be in first class. Not a bad gig for spending a couple of extra hours wandering around DEN.

While waiting for my flight, a very irate customer was literally yelling at the gate agent about the cancelled flight and his very important travel needs..."I MUST get to Brazil tonight!!!" He had the attention of everyone sitting in the waiting area while he got louder and louder and more abusive. I felt so sorry for the gate agent...like she had any control over the flight being cancelled. Eventually he stormed off and I didn't see him board the flight I was on.

Be nice, stay calm and use common sense. Flights are cancelled and delayed all the time. I consider these inconveniences part of the fun of travel.

[greatam]

Originally Posted by where2next

Regardless of what the conversation was at the ticket counter we had [size=3][color=indigo]that you weren't privvy to where the ticket agent was using the term 240 and it wasn't even a legacy airline nor did they have interline agreements at the time.

NOW you would have us believe that a non-legacy airline instituted a Rule 240 accommodation when non legacy airlines were NEVER covered under Rule 240. Rule 240, although casually tossed around in today's world, was an old CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board) rule for REGULATED carriers-TWA, PanAm, Eastern, AA, Delta, etc. etc and was done away with during deregulation.

While JetBlue was PURCHASING tickets on other airlines to accommodate passengers due to some of the fiascos they created, this is far from an endorsed ticket per Rule 240.

Please quit confusing people. There is NO Rule 240. Those that persist in trying to "muscle" the agents with RULE 240 do nothing but PO the agents they are dealing with. Lots of erroneous information out there on the internet. Everyone that flies in entitled to certain provisions per the CONTRACT of CARRIAGE. Each airline makes their own C of C and those change often (usually to the detriment of the passengers). Magazine articles and travel writers do a LARGE disservice to those who do not fly on a regular basis by persisting in the Rule 240 nonsense. Travel writers often get special privileges (as do very frequent fliers). No agent wants to see their airline badmouthed in the next article. So if a travel writer flaunts Rule 240, they probably get what they want. This treatment is generally not available to Joe Public.

The BEST thing you can do when you find yourself in a bad airline situation is to KNOW your options BEFORE the situation occurs.

1. KNOW what flights are available to get you to your destination

2. KNOW what class of ticket you have.Consolidator/most cruise air tickets are NO GOOD on other airlines-you are STUCK with whatever accommodation the ORIGINATING airline can make.

3. KNOW the airline phone number so you are not subjected to standing in line waiting for an agent to help you when saavy travelers are booking all available seats on the flight you need via phone

4. DO SOME RESEARCH before you get on a plane. Find the layout of the airport, look at Flight Stats for possible gates your flight may use, ask questions of Frequent Fliers. DO NOT rely on info you get over the phone from reservation agents. Unless you are a top tier FF (we have a special phone number and the BEST agents), the info you get from three different airline agents will often vary by 180 degrees.

[Northshorecruisers]

In November 2007, we boarded an Air Tran flight going from Minneapolis to Ft Lauderdale for our cruise. We picked the earliest flight being we had 2 teens with us and we were meeting friends from Vancouver in FLL for the cruise - so we were on the 6am flight. We were really looking forward to being at our hotel by noon.
We were seated on the plane, the flight was delayed. Then they gave us the news that the flight was cancelled due to a fire in the concourse at the Atlanta airport - where we had to change planes.
When I finally got close to the ticket agent, the guy in front of me was just a jerk. He swore, was rude, he demanded being put on a plane right away. I felt so sorry for the ticket agent.
When it was my turn, first thing I said was "I'm really sorry you're having to go through this today - let's just take a minute." After she thanked me, I asked "what are the options we have available?". At the time, the options were limited as they were trying to get all these people on a flight of some sort. Flights through Atlanta for the remainder of the day were already booked.
About an hour later, we were paged. There were seats available on a Minneapolis to Sarasota flight, and that was the only flight that would get us anywhere close. Air Tran offered to pay our rental car and fuel to get us to Ft Lauderdale if we would be willing to drive (as well as 4 free roundtrip tickets to use in the next year). We jumped at it. Sarasota was a closer drive than attempting to do it from Atlanta. No flights available going to Orlando, West Palm Beach, or Miami on any other carriers. We finally made it to our hotel in FLL about midnight.
We had been in contact with our friends from Vancouver as well as the hotel letting them know our progress. The hotel was great when we got there and upgraded us to a suite "because we'd had a rough day". The hotel had taken great care of our friends and even used the shuttle to drive them to dinner and pick them up after (the husband is blind).
Got to our beautiful room, ready to fall into bed - counted the suitcases and we were missing one. We had gone to get the rental car at Sarasota and put the two teen boys in charge of getting the luggage. Called Air Tran but at that point they couldn't tell us anything. The concourse fire in Atlanta had caused major problems for them with passengers and luggage. They suggested I call back the next morning. There was nothing major in the bag that couldn't be replaced, so we went to sleep.
Next morning, I contacted Air Tran and got the greatest guy on the phone. Told him my name, and he promptly told me the color of the bag - he was looking right at it!! At the Sarasota airport He said he could get it on the next flight to Atlanta and then on a flight to FLL and it would arrive about 2pm. Needless to say, we had planned to be sipping cocktails by the pool on the ship by then. He said he could arrange to have it given to the cruise agent at the airport and they would bring it to the ship. I said OK, but didn't think we'd ever see the bag again.
At about 4pm, there was a knock on our cabin door. Our bag had arrived with a sticker on it proclaiming "Expedited Delivery". Everything turned out well, but I don't think it would have had we had a bad attitude and had been jerks to the people (by no fault of their own) that had the job of trying to make everything right.

[BroncosFan2010]

Originally Posted by DizzyDallasDi

Excellent advice!! A couple of years ago my flight from Denver to DFW was cancelled. AA's automated notification service called my cell phone as I was getting on the train in DEN to go to my terminal letting me know the flight was cancelled. I made a u-turn out of the train and immediately called AA reservations. They were very accommodating and put me on the next flight in one of the few available seats that just happened to be in first class. Not a bad gig for spending a couple of extra hours wandering around DEN.

While waiting for my flight, a very irate customer was literally yelling at the gate agent about the cancelled flight and his very important travel needs..."I MUST get to Brazil tonight!!!" He had the attention of everyone sitting in the waiting area while he got louder and louder and more abusive. I felt so sorry for the gate agent...like she had any control over the flight being cancelled. Eventually he stormed off and I didn't see him board the flight I was on.

Be nice, stay calm and use common sense. Flights are cancelled and delayed all the time. I consider these inconveniences part of the fun of travel.

Best advice ever.