This is a myth I’ve busted again and again, but it keeps turning up in travel sites that ought to know better. The latest reference is from a post explaining how never to get “screwed” (their word) by a cancelled flight again. How? By invoking “Rule 240″ because it means “your airline must book you on another airline’s flight if that is available and will get you to your destination quicker.” Sigh. Chances are, it won’t work. Let me repeat: IT WON’T WORK. And for a very good reason. Click “more” to find out what it is, and what your REAL rights are (hint: there aren’t many).

Okay, Here’s the Deal

The reason Rule 240 won’t work is…it doesn’t exist! Since deregulation, the rule is no longer in force. It’s been replaced, by a section(s) in the airlines’ “contracts of carriage” and here’s a link to them. If you’ll read them, you’ll notice that a lot of “contracts of carriage” guarantee passengers very little.

An example (this is from Delta’s contract of carriage) for what happens if a flight is canceled for reasons other than bad weather: “At our sole discretion, we may arrange for your travel on another carrier or via ground transportation.” Note the keyword: we MAY arrange this. In other words, they don’t have to.

Also, a note about weather: as I wrote in my original 240-myth-busting post, “The majority of airlines give themselves cover when a delay or cancellation is due to a force majeure event…this can include weather, political unrest, unexpected flight safety shortcomings, and even other facts not foreseen,’ which when invoked by an airline representative, I assure you, has more power than the Rule’.”

Anyway, one of the folks at Consumerist (one of my favorite sites) writes about his “discovery” that Rule 240 no longer works with American Airlines. He obviously has found out (the hard way) that the contract of carriage leaves little leeway for poor stranded passengers.

So What’s a Passenger To Do?

First and foremost, if there’s a cancellation, stay calm and be polite. Common sense (and my own anecdotal evidence) says, passengers who treat airline reps with courtesy have a better chance of a quick and satisfactory outcome.

“240-Alternative List”

1. Review the contract of carriage for your airline ticket, before you head out to the airport (know your rights — each airline is slightly different)
2. Gate agents and VIP club agents are more responsive than ticket counter agents (outside of security) — try them first.
3. If you are on a European international flight you are also covered by the EU Passenger Bill of Rights
4. Print out flight schedules and carry them with you (along with the contract section on cancellations and delays) for other airlines around your departure and connecting times on each flight — knowing your other options will help you help the agent
5. Review the DOT “Guide” on Air Travel — it has a pretty good rundown of your rights — or lack thereof
6. Get involved in asking for a Passenger Bill of Rights — New York state enacted one; maybe it’s time for a nation-wide bill. The European Union has one as noted earlier, but alas, even that has some glaring loopholes as I found out from trying to help a relative deal with countless delays.

Will it hurt to “invoke” the long gone Rule 240? — probably not — maybe the gate agent can remember that far back — a copy of your contract of carriage and being firm and comfortable in the fact that you know your rights and have a plan of action is your best bet — but don’t be surprised when things don’t go smoothly …

Of course, there’s always random acts of kindness; we saw this from the Delta team in Syracuse earlier this year. The airline reps saw a bunch of their hungry, delayed passengers, and they bought them pizza.