What is Rule 240 and How Can It Help You

Here's an interesting piece of information. It deals with Rule 240 and how it can help you when your flight is delayed or cancelled. What is Rule 240? Here's a summary:

Nowadays, [Rule 240] is a term describing what individual airlines will do for late or stranded passengers. In fact, the major airlines have filed "conditions of carriage" with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) guaranteeing their respective Rule 240s.

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, or if you've missed your flight connection, these policies may give you free meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, phone calls, and other amenities. You may be booked on a substitute flight -- even on another airline -- and you may be compensated or given a full refund if the flight problems persist.

But in order to get the most from Rule 240, you need to know how to use it. Here's what My Travel Rights suggests:

• Always carry a printed copy of your airline's Rule 240.
• Read Rule 240 carefully before you use it.
• Be polite but very firm about your rights under Rule 240.

If you want to see your airline's official Rule 240 guidelines, go to the bottom of this page and click on the correct link.