Originally Posted by ATLawyer

Reading threads like this drive me insane. As lawyers, we are taught the "letter" of the law and the "spirit" of the law. Yes, OP may have violated the "letter" of his contract, but he certainly didn't violate the "spirit."

"I'm sorry, I overslept by 30 minutes" should almost always result in the passenger being re-booked on a later flight at no fee. Richard Anderson said as much to USA Today in a published interview (google it), and there has been no indication that Ed has changed anything. (side note, having met Ed on a few occasions, he's one of the more down-to-earth CEOs out there).

Is OP "entitled" to anything? No. Should OP have been accommodated on a later flight for no fee? Absolutely.