Rule 240 applies to All Delta Air Lines flight delays, cancellations or misconnections are as a result of a
1.Schedule Irregularity, or 2.A Force Majeure Event.
SCHEDULE IRREGULARITY
Delta Air Lines defines a schedule irregularity as:
A delay in the departure or arrival of a Delta Air Lines flight that results in a misconnection, or A flight cancellation or omission of a scheduled stop, or any other delay or interruption of a Delta Air Lines flight, or A substitution of equipment to a different class of service, or A schedule change that requires you to be rerouted.
If your flight is delayed, cancelled or you miss a connecting Delta Air Lines flight, due to a schedule irregularity &
1.Delta Air Lines must confirm you on their next flight (on which space is available) at no additional cost. 2.If there is an alternate Delta Air flight that will arrive at your destination earlier than the alternate you have been offered, you have the right to be confirmed on this Delta Air Lines' flight at no additional cost, even if first class space is all that is available. 3.If the alternate Delta Air Lines flight is not acceptable to you, you have the right to be confirmed on the flight of a different airline at no additional cost. 4.If there is an alternate "different airline" flight that will arrive at your destination earlier than any alternate flight you have been offered, you have the right to be confirmed on this flight at no additional cost, even if first class space is all that is available. 5.If no alternate flight (on Delta Air Lines or a "different airline") is acceptable to you, Delta Air Lines must refund your money - even if you have a non-refundable ticket.
FORCE MAJEURE EVENT
Delta Air Lines defines a force majeure event as:
Any conditions beyond Delta Air Lines' control, including weather, acts of God, civil commotion, wars, hostilities, strikes, labor-related disputes, government regulation, shortage of labor or fuel, or other facts not foreseen by Delta Air Lines.
If your flight is delayed, cancelled, or you miss a connection to a Delta Air Lines flight due to a Force Majeure Event (and this includes weather), Delta Air Lines' only obligation is to refund your ticket. Delta Air Lines will probably try to reroute you to an alternate flight, but according to Rule 240, they are not required to do this.
AMENITIES
First Class Passengers: If you have been delayed 2 hours or more due to a flight delay or cancellation, Delta Air Lines will provide you with one 3-minute phone call within the Continental U.S. If the delay exceeds 4 hours, Delta Air Lines will provide you with meals at the appropriate times (not to exceed 24 hours). If the delay is expected to exceed 4 hours between the hours of 10:00 p.m. through 6:00 a.m., Delta Air Lines will provide hotel accommodations and transportation between the airport and hotel (some exceptions).
Business Class and Coach Passengers: If you have been delayed 2 hours or more due to a flight delay or cancellation, Delta Air Lines will provide you with one 3-minute phone call within the Continental U.S. If the delay is expected to exceed 4 hours between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., Delta Airlines will provide hotel accommodations and transportation between the airport and hotel (some exceptions).
If you are delayed because of a misconnection from a Delta Air Lines flight to a Delta Air Lines flight, and the delay is expected to exceed 4 hours between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., Delta Air Lines will provide hotel accommodations provided alternate transportation is not available and you missed the last flight of the day. You are required to standby for all Delta Air Lines flights through the last flight of the day.
The amenities listed above do not apply, if your delay is due to weather conditions unless you are a connecting passenger or if you are deplaned at a point other than your origin, destination and/or stopover point.
Delta Air Lines may provide amenities as they feel are necessary to maintain the safety and welfare of certain passengers such as invalids, senior citizens, unaccompanied minors, etc

Delta's Contract of Carriage provides for a meal voucher, accommodations for an overnight delay, and transportation to the hotel if necessary. So basically he is being compensated per the terms of the contract.

Of course asking nicely could get him another voucher for breakfast perhaps. Sending a complaint will probably result in a visit from the SkyPeso Fairy

Most importantly, did your friend use his 3 minute phone call to contact you? ;)

Does your friend have Medallion status? Delta does seem to have an "unpublished" benefit of compensation on a sliding scale depending on the legnth of the delay and level of Medallion status - when it's clearly their fault. I think they also give a very small amount to non-medallions (something like $25), depending on the situation. Since it's unpublished, sometimes you have to know about it and ask for it - sometimes they give it to you voluntarily. Any comp is in Delta Dollars - I thought I better mention that, before you start thinking you hit the lottery!! :D

Not really sure this qualifies as a "delay fiasco." Sounds to me more like a "delay," assuming your friend arrives in AUS this morning.

If your friend complains, I am sure some "Skymile grease" will be applied to the squeaking wheel.

Officially in my vocabulary as of today. Thank you.

Thanks Everyone for the replies!:)

You are right. Per Delta's Rule 240, no additional compensation is warranted other than the meal voucher and hotel.

They did give him a $200 travel voucher this morning. (Not sure if he'd fly Delta again after this experience)

So it turned out much better than expected.

Thanks!

Huh?!?!?

Do you think ANY other airline could / would have handled a mechanical problem better? Flights get canceled all the time! It just happens. It's a fact of air travel. If he stops flying every airline that cancels a flight on him, he'll soon find himself on Greyhound!

I'm thinking that if he got a $200 voucher, he must be an upper level Medallion.

+1. Listening to ploppy passenger pouting just cracks me up....

Lol I know BP will fly Delta again. He got good compensation there. I'll kick his butt if he keeps complaining.

+1.

If you're disappointed in DL, send a note that you're disappointed. They can't get better with out your feedback. And if they send you some miles that's okay too.

+1

On the many flights I've had delayed this year only ONCE has proactive compensation been issued and that was $100/pax @ SLC for a 4+ hour mx delay.

Did I miss anything here? Everyone's flaming me now for complaining...but just in case you skipped a line or so...I did say that it turned out much better than expected....what part of that don't you get?

BTW, he's not a SkyMiles Member....he's with Alaska Mileage Plan...regular member :D

Either way, you won't be seeing me on a DL flight anytime soon. For all the times I've flown them, I've always gotten an "impromptu" seat change at the gate from the first few rows of coach...to the last few rows...due to an "equipment" change on the same aircraft B757, with my original seat still in existence...just with someone else in it.

Peace Out.

I really don't think anyone here flamed you! (my posts included) If you think anything said here was flaming, surely you haven't been around the Delta forum too much! :)

Now - - the important stuff . . . . Since niether you nor your friend will be flying Delta again, please feel free to forward his $200 eVoucher number and anything else you won't be needing to my FlyerTalk mailbox, or anyone else here you may choose, as I'm sure we can put them to good use! :D

Compensation for mechanical (intl business)
 

Flying DL17 ATL-LAX-SYD last night as part of a business class award ticket. Flight had a mechanical issue in ATL. Replacement ac was found and we boarded, then spent an hour loading cargo (according to crew). Departed 9.15pm approx 2 hours late. DL17 (change of ac) left LAX without us as we were waiting on the ground 30 mins to be towed in. Crew would not tell pax if they were holding DL17 and there were no GA's at gate 57 to assist the large number of stranded pax.

Ran to the sky club and managed to be the first of the "Atlanta people" in line. Agent spent over an hour trying to rebook me and best they could offer was same flight tonight in coach. (middle seat too). No compensation (other than hotel/meal) was offered. Medallion line was also not helpful.

Complicating things is a Virgin Blue connection to MEL I had to pay cash for as DL has no award agreement with DJ or any way to get to MEL with miles. This cost $300 to rebook this morning as they don't allow a change <24 hours out.

As a plat member what can I ask for here? Can I be rebooked on another carrier? In business? What compensation have others been offered in similar situations?

I did not redeem a business class ticket to fly tpac in coach. I would've rather paid $ for a coach ticket.

Thanks for your help.