Peter Greenberg: Rule 240
By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org | 2009-03-23
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I heard there's something called Rule 240 that you can use if your flight is delayed. What is this, and how does it work?
–James, Kirkwood, Mo.
Rule 240 dates back to the days when the old Civil Aeronautics Board controlled and regulated the airlines. And then, after deregulation kicked in (in 1978), the rule actually survived the transition to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
But the airlines don't voluntarily disclose this rule to passengers—and for the airlines, their reasoning is understandable. Rule 240 often costs them money, and a lot of it, if your plane is delayed or canceled.
In general, here's what 240 says: In the event of any flight irregularity (delay, cancellation, mechanical failure) for any reason whatsoever except weather, the airline must endorse your ticket over to the next available flight.
Not just their next available flight, which may not leave until next Thursday, but the next available flight.
The only airline exceptions to the rule: Airlines that don't have existing "interline" agreements with other carriers. Jet Blue, Southwest, and a few other low-cost carriers are not governed by 240. But American, United, Delta, Northwest, Continental, Alaska, and US Airways do have to abide by their version of Rule 240, which is covered in each airline's contract of carriage.
Rule 240 applies only in the United States and not to any foreign carriers.
Each airline may claim that its contract of carriage interprets 240 differently, and some may say that there are new versions of the rule (some call it Rule 120.20). However, the bottom line is, if you're delayed or canceled and weather is not a factor, you need to find the nearest airline supervisor and nicely, but firmly, say, "240 me."
Of course, if you're on the last scheduled flight of the day by any airline, you won't be going anywhere. And some airlines may claim the weather excuse even if there's no weather issue at your departing airport. Still, insist that the airline make its case if it tries to invoke the weather excuse.
You can even enact a preemptive 240 before you arrive at the airport. Before you leave home, check your flight status (I use flightstats.com or flightarrivals.com). Look up not just your scheduled flight, but also the aircraft number. If your plane is still in Los Angeles and you're supposed to be flying out of New York in three hours, there's a good shot that your flight will be delayed, or even canceled. That chance increases exponentially if you're flying from an airport where the airline is not based and thus has no access to an extra airplane.
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