I don't live on this board 24/7. However, I've been here a while and still try to provide meaningful insight, even on short notice (I did respond within 10 minutes of the request for assistance so that the OP could act quickly).
I have to respectfully disagree with:
Originally Posted by
Often1
5. Do not "invoke" rules, there is nothing for you to "invoke". The quoted section from DL's contract with you is clear that DL may at its option rebook you on another carrier. If it's still feasible, as for that. Not particularly likely that DL will do it, but a polite ask is OK.
To be clear on this, OP stated that DL provided 0645 as the
only option. It was
not the
only option; it was merely the only one that DL offered to provide service on DL. Airlines loathe to give up the revenue; that is quite understandable.
Not all experienced travelers know about Rule 240 (thank you smachiz); inexperienced travelers are even less likely to know about it.
Use 240 as a verb as in "Can you please 240 me over to USAir?" In this circumstance, if space is available and it was, DL would likely do the right thing (it balances out in the end, USAir 240s over to DL as well). DL prides itself on meeting clients' expectations and service (OK -- no comment on its Award IT capability).
So, it begs the question "Has anyone specifically invoked Rule 240 because of a DL disruption
and been told "No" when it was entirely possible to meet the need?"
In my 2MM+ miles on DL and the 18 times that I invoked the Rule over several decades of travel, my requests were satisfied each time that it was possible to do so. My experience indicates that DL does the right thing by its clients when the request is specific.
If a Kettle doesn't know what to ask for, then he/she isn't going to get much. I thought that it was OK to help a Kettle with a problem. At the same time, perhaps others will learn about DL's version of Rule 240, so that he/she may "invoke" it if needed.