if there's a delay in an airline, can we demand for another airline that goes to the same destination for free

Answer 1

There is something called Rule 240, not every airline acknowledges it. But depending on the reason for delay they usually have already called and asked for seats on other carriers and rebooked who they can. Some airlines will not take passengers if bags are already checked and can not be brought over. That brings liability in who is responsible for delivering delayed bags and the other airline will not deliver them. If you do choose to go to another airline using Rule 240 after bags are checked you have to agree that you will be held responsible for getting your own bags whenever they arrive on the other air carrier.

Secondly the other airiline has to be a partner or have a ticketing agreement. In the US, Southwest does not have any ticketing agreements with any other airline and will not take tickets from them. Then the other airline has to be willing to take the ticket. If its a discount fare, sometimes they will say no because they wont be recouping the money. When you are ruled over to another airline, that airline then gets the money for your ticket and low fares on a near full flight can be turned away. The accepting carrier has to have enough seats to spare with out over selling and leaving them enough for their own passengers.

But trust me, if the original airline can move people they will. Someone behind the scenes is usually working on it already.

Can you demand it, sure. Will you get it, not always. But making a scene, being difficult or rude honestly gets you nothing and makes an agent not want to help you. They are already having to deal with many other stranded passengers and trying to get everyone to where they need to go. When you buy a ticket no where does it say that they will get you there on time, just they have an obligation to get you to the destination.

**If the delay is weather related in the origin city, every other airline is having the same issue, obviously. If it is at the destination, more than likely any other carrier flying into that destination will be having the same problems as well. If they have to connect through another city, then the connection would have the same problem. It all depends on the reason. IF it is mechanical and there are other flights available, then they will move anyone that they can. They have a list of passengers broken down by connections and non-connecting passengers. The alternate route is usually inserted to go ahead and grab the seat from the other airlines inventory. IF the delay is known well in advance, a team called IROP (Irregular Operations) in Reservations has already gone through and rebooked who they can. If it is something that just came up, there usually is atleast one agent working the list. BUT, another case would be you are flying on a day where every airline is booked to capacity and over sold, then you will just be at the mercy of the original airline and they will get you out when they can. For example, Las Vegas, when there is a convention or major holiday, every airline is at capacity and its difficult and sometimes impossible to move anyone.**

IF you do end up buying a ticket on another carrier, you will have a year from the date of purchase to use the ticket and all change fee's should be waived. Just make sure you call or have an agent at the ticket counter or gates document the record. Again if bags are already checked, and you choose another airline it will be your responsibility to get your bags when they arrive.

Answer 2

I'm sure there will be others that can probably give you the definite answers as its been many years since I use to travel 75% of the time in my job.

As long as they can get you on another plane within a certain time frame, they do not have to give you a free ride. There were times that I would get a free airline ticket because they couldn't get me on another connection for several hours.

Then there were times they ask for volunteers to allow themselves to be bumped from a particular flight that had been overbooked or because of weather they were trying to catch up. In this situation they will also give you a free ticket, if you volunteer to take another flight. I could only do this when I was returning home as whenever I was leaving, I would have to be somewhere at a certain time and couldn't change it. I would have been looking for a new job if word got out that I had volunteered to be bumped.

And if its weather related, I don't think they have to do anything for you. However, I do remember years ago when I use to work at the front desk of a hotel in Las Vegas that had an airline contract (meaning all their flight attendants and pilots always had to stay there when they had layovers), we would suddenly get word that a whole plane load of people were coming in.

This would be the passengers scheduled to fly on the same airline that we had the contract with and it may have been a chartered plane, but the weather would be bad back east or something where they couldn't leave Vegas. The airline provided them with a room voucher, travel voucher (cab fare to get there), sometimes one meal voucher, and even a long distant call voucher (pre-cell days).

Back to your question, when there is a delay, and you say you have to get somewhere by a certain time, they will try to find another airline that can get you there at the time you need and your airline ticket will be accepted by the other airline as the two airlines work that out. But again if its within a reasonable time frame, I don't think they are obligated to give you a free ride.

Answer 3

I'd say it depends on the airline and what their rules are regarding accomodation for passengers. About 5 years ago, I was travelling from Vancouver to Tokyo on Japan Airlines (final destination Hong Kong) with my mother and grandmother. There was a technical problem with the aircraft so we waited at the gate area from afternoon until night. We were told that the flight will be delayed until the next day so my grandmother kept yelling and yelling at the manager for like an hour and at the end, we got to leave Vancouver that night on Cathay Pacific Airways from Vancouver to Hong Kong, without connecting in Tokyo. Maybe Japan Airlines offer this type of accomodation for special cases or maybe Japan Airline employees are asked to be friendly and nice and we took advantage of that. I doubt any North American carriers would let you go on another flight.

I think in most cases, airlines won't do this because it would be unfair if some passengers get to board another flight and some have to sleep at the airport.

Answer 4

It's happened to me several times. But most of the time there was a good incentive for them to do it. I was going to miss a connection due to the delay. And no, I did not demand it. I simply pointed out that fact and asked if they could put be on another airline. And they did.

Answer 5

ROFL

You wish.

If you switch airlines that aren't in business with one another, you just pay for another ticket. If it's the same airline or a partner, you'll have to pay a fee for changing your flight and the difference in the cost of tickets (which could be high if you bought the original tickets in advance and are changing at the last minute).

Answer 6

You'd stand a far better chance if the other airline is part of the same alliance. You should check as there is no harm in doing so.

However - 'demanding' will not get you very far! A smile, a solid, convincing, heart-warming reason and a polite 'ask' will get you everywhere!

It will also be an advantage if you are a frequent flyer card holder of that given alliance.

Good luck and happy flying!

Answer 7

No. The conditions of carriage allow for compensation to be paid but it depends on how long the delay is for. Short periods and you're entitled to sustenance (food and drinks). Longer periods and you get overnight stay, telephone calls and money. You can't get re-booked with another airline but in most cases if you kick up a fuss the major airlines (BA, Virgin, Continental etc) will hand over cash without complaint. I got delayed for 29 hours with Monarch last year after one of their planes went tech at Gatwick. We got an overnight stay, vouchers to use at the airport for food/drinks and £300.

Answer 8

Not advisable. You can always ask at the airport if you can get on an earlier flight. If they have spare seats they may allow you, but usually different airlines won't allow you, unless they are part of the same airline alliance.

Answer 9

You can demand, but you won't get it. The only obligation an airline has is to attempt to get you where you paid to go in as timely a fashion as possible. Timely to be determined by them.

Answer 10

You could try but the customer care of airlines is not too good. You will probably get nowhere. Instead, try to get a meal out of them at the airport.