Rule 240 & AA airmiles ticket
 

I recently traveled on an American Airlines ticket purchased with air miles. I was delayed (overnight) on an international flight back to the States by a mechanical problem. The airline paid for hotel, dinner, breakfast. They put me on flights the next day which got me home about 18 hours late. Can I get compensation from American for this delay?

What are your damages?

Under rule 240, if the flight is delayed for reasons under their control, e.g. mechanical problems, they should provide you with a phone call if delayed > 2hrs. If more than 4 hrs between 10PM and 6AM, a hotel room. You should get meal vouchers as well.

AA appears to have met its obligations under rule 240. They are supposed to try to get you out on their next non-sold-out flight to your destination (or available flight of another airline if this is not acceptable to you). If you find these alternative arrangements objectionable, the airline may refund your money. However, you did not pay for your ticket - so no refund. Also you should have brought any ojections to the attention of the agent at the time it happened. You can write to AA but you probably won't get anything.

Every airline's policy on rule 240 is different. You need to get a copy of AA policy.

Just a note: rule 240 does NOT apply to delays caused by labor actions or force majeur incidents.

YOU'VE BEEN COMPENSATED !!! MIKE

You're not going to get any money out of them, if you are hoping for that.

They did the same thing to me, only I got home at least 24 hours late. You can twist their arm to give you some FF miles beyond the hotel and meals. I did. I forget what I got, maybe 20K or so. I wanted more, as they cost me a day of work, but they wouldn't give me anything more (I think I asked for about 50K as they give away $200-400 to people who voluntarily give up a seat for a day's delay, but they wouldn't give me anything more even though I cited that). I gave up at that point as I didn't want to spend any more time and energy on it, but I'd definitely write and ask for some FF miles. I don't like them. My case was a little worse than yours even, as the planes tires blew and fire engines came out, and a second plane had the same problems, so it was a little worse.

Ahhh,"Rule 240"- Involuntary reroute. You're bringing back memories of the old days when I worked for Pan Am. We used to be able to get away with sending a passenger anywhere they wanted to go at no additional cost to them. It often resulted in them getting bumped up to First Class if the flights were full.

Brownie, I agree with the others that you can probably get a few air miles from this. But please help us to understand--why do you think you deserve more? Did you incur a loss, other than time?

This has happened to me a number of times, only in my case it always seems to happen on the outbound so I lose a day of my trip. Be thankful it happened coming home after your trip was complete.

>Can I get compensation from American for this delay? <

If you call our law firm at 1 900 555 8000 during regular business hours, we shall be pleased to advise you as to our fees for suing these people, who have obviously caused you untold trauma and mental anguish.

H. L. Dewey
Dewey, Cheatham and Howe

Ira -

I love it. Could we be any more litigious?

Hey, glad to hear from you, Mr. Dewey. How's your face? I hear you broke your nose when the abulance stopped suddenly in front of you.

That was my cousin L. L. Dewey.

As a partner in the firm of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe, I no longer do "field work".