I saw two different blog posts on this today.  I’ll have to remember this one in the future.

The Crazy Traveler: Stranded at the airport? Don’t forget Rule 240

Basically, it’s an old FAA rule from the days before airline deregulation that forced airlines to put you on other airlines’ planes if there were any delays other than for weather.  Apparently, you still can get some use from asking politely to be “240’d” on another flight.

An excerpt:

A few years ago, at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, I noticed something strange on the departure boards. American Airlines had three flights scheduled that afternoon from ORD to Boston, and all were apparently operating on time. United, on the other hand, had three flights scheduled from ORD to Boston, but none were operating on time. In fact, all three United flights showed “canceled.”

I smelled a rat. I went to the United counter and asked the reason for the cancellations. “Weather.”

Weather? The airlines couldn’t have it both ways. Either American Airlines pilots were irresponsible, crazy air jockeys who were going to tease the gods and fly into the face of serious storms, or United’s official cancellation reason was a convenient untruth.

I checked the weather in both Chicago and Boston: totally clear.
I went back out to the United gates and informed the counter agents that I knew the weather was fine and also explained that all the American flights were operating without problem. And then I invoked Rule 240 — which states that in the event of any flight delay or cancellation caused by anything other than weather, the airline would fly me on the next available flight — not their next available flight, which might not leave for another 24 hours.

And guess what happened? A lot of United passengers made it to Boston that day — on American.

Very good info included for all you road (or air) warriors out there.