if my flight is delayed morethan 6 Hrs. from the scheduled time, passenger have the right to get compensation.

Answer 1

Depending on the airlines policies (contract of carriage) and the reason for the delay airlines can compensate you. Here is an example how an airline in a delay can get you to your final destination.

Rule 240 dates back to the days when the old Civil Aeronautics Board controlled and regulated the airlines. And then, after deregulation kicked in (in 1978) the rule actually survived the transition to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

But the airlines don’t voluntarily disclose this rule to passengers—and for the airlines, their reasoning is understandable—Rule 240 often costs them money, and a lot of it, if your plane is delayed or canceled.

In general, here’s what 240 says: In the event of any flight irregularity (delay, cancellation, mechanical failure) for any reason whatsoever except weather, the airline must endorse your ticket over to the next available flight. Not just THEIR next available flight, which may not leave until next Thursday, but THE next available flight.

The only airline exceptions to the rule: airlines that don’t have existing “interline” agreements with other carriers. Jet Blue, Southwest and a few other low cost carriers are not governed by 240. But American, United, Delta, Northwest, Continental, Alaska, and U.S. Air do have to abide by 240.

Rule 240 applies only in the United States and not to any foreign carriers.

Each airline may claim that its contract of carriage interprets 240 differently, and some may say that there are new versions of the rule (some call it rule 120.20), but the bottom line is that if you’re delayed or canceled—and weather is not a factor—you need to find the nearest airline supervisor and nicely, but firmly, say “240 me.”

Of course, if you’re on the last scheduled flight of the day by any airline, you won’t be going anywhere. And some airlines may claim the weather excuse even if there’s no weather issue at your departing airport. Still, insist that the airline makes its case if it tries to invoke the weather excuse.

You can even enact a preemptive 240 before you arrive at the airport. Before you leave home, check your flight status (we use flightstats.com or flightarrivals.com). Look up not just your scheduled flight but also the aircraft number. If your plane is still in Los Angeles and you’re supposed to be flying out of New York in three hours, there’s a good shot that your flight will be delayed, or even canceled. That chance increases exponentially if you’re flying from an airport where the airline is not based and thus has no access to an extra airplane.

In any case, it pays to know how each airline approaches rule 240, so you know in advance what excuses they may try to employ.

Here are some examples of what some airlines’ contracts of carriage have to say:

AMERICAN

“When cancellations and major delays are experienced, you will be rerouted on our next flight with available seats. If the delay or cancellation was caused by events within our control and we do not get you to your final destination on the expected arrival day, we will provide reasonable overnight accommodations, subject to availability.

In extreme circumstances, it is possible that a flight will cancel while on the ground in the city to which it was diverted. When this happens you will be rerouted on the next American Airlines or American Eagle flight with available seats, or in some circumstances on another airline or some other alternative means of transportation. If we are unable to reroute you, reasonable overnight accommodations will be provided by American Airlines or American Eagle, subject to availability.

American Airlines and American Eagle will provide amenities for delayed passengers, necessary to maintain the safety and/or welfare of certain passengers such as customers with disabilities, unaccompanied children, the elderly or others to whom such amenities will be furnished consistent with special needs and/or circumstances.”

UNITED

“When a passenger will be delayed because of a schedule irregularity involving a UA flight which, for the purposes of this Rule, for tickets issued on/after Sept. 1, 1992, flight delays exceeding 2 hrs., or UA cancels the passenger’s reservation pursuant to paragraphs a) or d), rule 135 (cancellation of reservations) except for cancellations of reservations due to a work stoppage:

A) UA will transport the passenger without stopover on its next flight on which space is available in the same class of service as the passenger’s original outbound flight at no additional cost to the passenger.
B) if UA is unable to provide onward transportation acceptable to the passenger, UA, with concurrence of the passenger … will arrange for the transportation on another carrier or combination of carriers with whom UA has agreements for such transportation. The passenger will be transported without stopover on its (their) next flight(s), in the same class of service as the passenger’s original outbound flight at no additional cost to the passenger.”

DELTA

“When, as a result of factors within Delta’s control, you miss a connection due to flight delays, your flight is cancelled, or a substitution of equipment results in a change in the class of service that you purchased or prevents us from transporting you, Delta will provide you with the following:

Delta will transport you to your destination on our next flight on which seats are available in the class of service you originally purchased. At our sole discretion, we may arrange for your travel on another carrier or via ground transportation. If acceptable to you, we will transport you in a lower class of service, in which case you may be entitled to a partial refund as set forth below. If space on the next available flight is available only in a higher class of service than you purchased, we will transport you on the flight, although we reserve the right to upgrade other passengers on the flight according to our upgrade priority policy to make space for you in the class of service you originally purchased.”

US AIRWAYS

“When a ticketed customer holding confirmed reservations on a flight will be delayed because of a schedule irregularity (whether a missed connection, flight cancellation, omission of a scheduled stop, substitution of equipment or a different class of service or schedule change), US Airways will rebook the customer on its next available flight to the customer’s ticketed destination without additional charge. If US Airways is unable to provide onward transportation, US Airways may attempt to rebook the customer on the next available flight of another airline with which US Airways has an agreement allowing the acceptance of each other’s tickets.

If US Airways is not able to reroute customers on its flights or other airlines’ flights, US Airways may offer the customer ground transportation to the destination. If the customer does not accept the ground transportation offered, US Airways will refund the value of the remaining flight coupons to the stopover or destination.”

Answer 2

Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers waiting at the airport; there are no federal requirements. If you are delayed, ask the airline staff if they will pay for meals or a phone call. Some airlines, often those charging very low fares, do not provide any amenities to stranded passengers. Others may not offer amenities if the delay is caused by bad weather or something else beyond the airline's control. Contrary to popular belief, airlines are not required to compensate passengers whose flights are delayed or canceled. As discussed in the chapter on overbooking, compensation is required by law only when you are "bumped" from a flight that is oversold. Airlines almost always refuse to pay passengers for financial losses resulting from a delayed flight. If the purpose of your trip is to close a potentially lucrative business deal, to give a speech or lecture, to attend a family function, or to be present at any time-sensitive event, you might want to allow a little extra leeway and take an earlier flight. In other words, airline delays and cancellations aren't unusual, and defensive counter- planning is a good idea when time is your most important consideration. When booking your flight remember that a departure early in the day is less likely to be delayed than a later flight, due to "ripple" effects throughout the day. Also, if an early flight does get delayed or canceled, you have more rerouting options. If you book the last flight of the day and it is canceled, you could get stuck overnight. You may select a connection (change of planes) over a nonstop or direct flight because of the convenient departure time or lower fare. However, a change of planes always involves the possibility of a misconnection. If you have a choice of connections and the fares and service are equivalent, choose the one with the least-congested connecting airport, so it will be easier to get to your second flight. You may wish to take into consideration the potential for adverse weather if you have a choice of connecting cities. When making your reservation for a connection, always check the amount of time between flights. Ask yourself what will happen if the first flight is delayed; if you don't like the answer, pick another flight or ask the agent to "construct" a connection that allows more time.

Answer 3

Compensation for what? Do you think airlines purposely delay or cancel flights to get a laugh out of it? No, they don't.
Flights are delayed due to weather, the need to repair planes at a moments notice, the need to wait for the antiquated FAA air traffic control system to allow the aircraft to fly safely, or other reasons.
The few greedy whiners in the traveling public that demand compensation anytime things don't go their way should try taking a bus next time.

Answer 4

It doesn't really matter what the governent or wesite says, it's the Terms& Conditions that you agreed to when purchasing your tickets. However, you should be able to get some compensation. However, there are delays that are FAR more longer than 5 hours (some lasting days.)

Answer 5

Normally the delay needs to be longer to get compensation. This time period would normally warrant a free drink and food.

Answer 6

whatever you do, if you go to the desk of the airline and explain it and ask, they may give you something. once, we were delayed by two hours leaving newark, but it cause us to miss our connecting flight and we were stuck for 6 more hours in frankfurt. we each got 10 euros for food. once we were stuck for and additional 3-5 hours in syracuse, and when we got to detroit we each got 10$ for food.