"beat the system" tip #24: if your flight is delayed ...
 

1) don't trust the airline: call airport authority and ask about the flight delay.
2) if your flight is an international flight in a small airport, don't go trough passport control, there are significantly fewer facilities on the other side
3) if you suspect/know the delay may/will be substantial, go to the telephone (don't queu at the agents desk) to book a seat on the next available flight
4) ask the gate staff to endorse your ticket over to another/the other airline
5) if new reservations are made, make sure you have a CONFIRMED one (status box marked ok)
6) ask for whatever amenities you think are fair
7) if the staff refuses to provide amenities, keep your receipts (meal, lodging, transportation) and send the to the airline's home office
8) check your credit card if it provides some coverage (my Diners does), or you may have a special travel insurance.

from "the Airline Passengers Guerilla Handbook", Strategies & Tactics for Beating the Air Travel System, The Blakes Publishing Group, ISBN 0-924022-04-3, 1989. It is no longer available: that's the main reason why I pass over some of the tips I found.