CRizzy141,

Welcome to FT! sme2009 is right. Status is everythin in irrops. I would also suggest you call AMEX and have your card registered for baggage and travel delay. Each is 10 per R/T. If you have IRROPS, you go to the hotel, buy clothes, etc. They will re-embuse up to 500 for the two days (250 till midnight, 250 again at midnight) plus clothing.

All that said, the other reason for the status is you'll get a nicer "we are sorry" points. If you email DL with a reasonable tone, you''ll probably get like 500 Skymiles.

Dave