How many different excuses have the airlines spewed while you cried and pouted about being stuck on the tarmac for hours? Mechanical failures, ground-stops, no pilots, no cleaning crew, etc. As a person that travels at least 3 times per month, I've heard them all.
What I didn't know (and I am a fool for it) is about Rule 240:
"Before airline deregulation in 1978, Rule 240 was literally a federal requirement. Nowadays, it's a term describing what individual airlines will do for late or stranded passengers. In fact, the major airlines have filed "conditions of carriage" with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) guaranteeing their respective Rule 240s.What does this mean? Well each airline has a variation of this rule and essentially, if a delay or cancellation is the airline's fault you get free stuff but YOU HAVE TO KNOW TO ASK. If the problem was clearly caused by weather or something out of their control, you are on your own.If your flight is delayed or cancelled, or if you've missed your flight connection, these policies may give you free meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, phone calls, and other amenities. You may be booked on a substitute flight -- even on another airline -- and you may be compensated or given a full refund if the flight problems persist."
For more, read Consumerist's Don't Fly Without A Copy Of Rule 240 and My Travel Rights' Rule 240: Don't Leave Home without it.
