Steve Says

PRINT THIS BEFORE YOUR NEXT FLIGHT:

This morning on Good Day we talked about airline travel secrets- Here are two you should never leave home without.  Print this out and take it with you when you fly- keeping in mind that pulling these rules out of your bag of tricks should be your SECOND option- after you have calmly tried to settle things wit the airline.  (Remember ultimately you are at these people's mercy- you'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar)

Rule 240 is a term describing what individual airlines will do to compensate stranded or delayed passengers in the event of delays caused by airlines. The specific reference here is to a federal requirement before airline deregulation in 1978.  The requirements of each airline differs under rule 240 - so best to check your flight contract.  In general the rule 240 provision requires airlines to get you where you need to go EVEN ON ANOTHER CARRIER. 

The provision applies ONLY to delays that are ABSOLUTELY the airline's fault (mechanical delays for example)- and never to things like weather delays, strikes or acts of God (or mother nature). 

Simply put, Rule 240 (and some airlines call this rule by another name i.e. rule 18 or rule 24) states that an airline facing a delayed or canceled flight has to transfer you to another carrier if 1) the second carrier could get you to your destination more quickly than the original and 2) it has available seats.  (yes there are varying degrees depending on which airline you fly)

 

What about if you get bumped from your flight?  The Federal Government is bumping up the compensation you are owed. Airline passengers are now eligible to receive as much as $800.  This rule is part of a new package introduced by the Transportation Department to strengthen consumer protection and ease flight delays and doubles the former maximum compensation for bumped passengers

Here's the breakdown: 

How much you get is determined by how much you spent on your original ticket to begin with and how long you are delayed. 

LENGTH OF YOUR DELAY: If you are bumped involuntarily you will receive up to $400 if you reach your destination within two hours of your original arrival time (this length of time doubles to four hours for international destinations). If the delay is longer, the maximum compensation increases to $800.

HOW MUCH YOU SPENT: The amount of compensation is double a traveler's one-way fare, up to the maximum amounts. If you are involuntarily bumped from a domestic flight (which you spent $300 on) AND you are delayed for more than two hours- you get $600.

The payment is in addition to the value of the passenger's ticket, which you can use for alternate transportation or have refunded if not used. The compensation must be paid in cash, although you can accept a travel voucher.

Remember- be nice.. but be prepared by knowing your rights!