"Know if your carrier adheres to this rule — it could be your saving grace

Even though U.S. airlines have weakened the Rule 240 clauses in their contracts of carriage, it still pays to have a copy with you to show the airline's ground service agents what your rights are when your flight is badly delayed or canceled.

Before the deregulation of the U.S. airline industry in 1978, every U.S. airline had to follow the same set of rules — including those dealing with "irregularities" such as canceled flights.
In those days, airline fares and routes were regulated by the Civil Aeronautics Board, the predecessor to today's Federal Aviation Administration.
One of these rules, number 240, specified that if an airline couldn't get you to your destination on time, it was required to put you on a competitor's flight if it would get you there faster than your original airline's net flight. Airlines were even required to put you in first class if that's all that was available.

They rarely advertised this perk, however, since airlines naturally didn't want to fork over scarce cash to fly customers on a rival carrier. But seasoned road warriors have always known they could approach the counter and say the magic words "240 me" to be put on the next flight out.

Airlines formed after deregulation — such as JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit — were never required to follow these rules. Even so, some of these newer airlines may attempt to put you on another airline if there's no other choice.
"While we don't have a traditional Rule 240, we will purchase confirmed seats as necessary on another airline to get customers to their final destination in the event of irregularities within our control," Todd Burke, JetBlue Airways' vice president for corporate communications, told Airfarewatchdog.com.
In addition, if there's a "significant delay," JetBlue's compensation may include a "partial or full refund," in addition to accommodation on another airline.

However, in recent years, as "legacy" carriers such as American, United, and Delta have struggled to remain profitable, and some have slashed costs to emerge from bankruptcy, many have quietly weakened their Rule 240s.

United Airlines, for instance, no longer states in its contract of carriage that it will fly you in first class on a competitor, if that's all that's available, although it will transport you in coach class on another airline.

Although Delta Air Lines still has a Rule 240 in its contract, it no longer makes any mention of transporting passengers on other airlines in the event of a flight disruption.

Continental Airlines will upgrade a delayed passenger only on its own flights—not on a competitor's—and only if doing so will get you to your destination earlier than would otherwise be the case.

US Airways has nothing in its terms of transportation concerning Rule 240, though spokesperson Amy Kudwa said the airline still applies the rule on all flights except international flights.

The good news is that Northwest Airlines still has a very traditional contract, little changed from the days of regulation. It will put you on another airline, in first class if necessary, if your original flight is delayed 60 minutes or longer.

It's important to emphasize that these rules generally apply to situations within the airline's control, such as mechanical problems. But if the flight irregularity results from a "force majeure event" such as bad weather, a riot, or a work stoppage, then all bets are off. And the legacy carriers may not have agreements with their newer competitors such as JetBlue and Southwest, so that they might not re-route you on those carriers.

Even if you are flying an airline that adheres to Rule 240, its employees may be reluctant to rewrite your ticket on a competitor because of the financial implications of doing so. So it pays to print out and carry a copy of the contract of carriage and present it to the gate agent if necessary." By George Hobica [Via msnbc.msn.com]

The Pointswizard.com Spin:
Know your rights. We did another post on this topic on April 7. 2007

Labels: Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines, rule 240, United Airlines, US Airways

"Holders of the most exclusive American Express cards get a new perk starting today – free access to American Airlines Inc.'s airport clubs worldwide.

American Express Co. and American will announce today that Platinum and Centurion cardholders can get into American's Admirals Clubs on days that they travel on American.

Holders of those American Express cards already get access to a number of other airlines' airport clubs, but until now, about the only way they could get into an Admirals Club was to buy their way in.

Simon Kahn, vice president of Platinum and Centurion marketing for American Express, said its cardholders let American Express know what they wanted.

"We talk to our card members all the time," he said. "One of the things we hear from them is that they want access to American Airlines lounges. In research study after research study, American Airlines has come out as one of the most popular carriers for our base. We just think this is a terrific additional benefit for those cardholders."

The Platinum and Centurion cardholders – whether consumer, business or corporate members – tend to spend a lot of money. American Airlines spokesman Charley Wilson said the relationship will work to American's benefit as well.

"It provides American Express' Platinum and Centurion cardholders access to our clubs, and it also provides American Airlines an opportunity to talk to them and expose our products and services to them," he said.

To gain access to an Admirals Club, a traveler must show an American Express Platinum or Centurion card and an itinerary showing that he is flying on American that day. The cardholder can bring two guests.

Normally, American charges $50 for a one-day pass or $300 to $450 to join for one year, depending on frequent-flier status, with renewal costs of $250 to $400 a year. Its AAdvantage frequent-flier club members can also trade in miles for Admirals Club memberships.

Of course, getting in through an American Express card won't be free, either. Holders of the Platinum card pay a $450 annual fee, and the more exclusive Centurion card reportedly costs $2,500 a year.

The free access applies only to the cards issued directly by American Express, not to cards issued by bank partners such as Citibank." [Via Dallas News.com]

The Pointswizard.com Spin:
It's good to see an expansion of benefits for Amex's two most expensive cards. Delta, Continental and Northwest Airlines also have this benefit already.

Labels: american Airlines, american Express, Amex, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines

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Labels: american Airlines, bonus miles, Delta Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Marriott, Northwest Airlines, points, sweepstakes, United Airlines, US Airways