Exactly what sort of refund is due?
 

Here's a puzzler.

Flying CHS to CLE via DTW. The CHS to DTW leg is late taking off, over two hours, because of 'unscheduled maintenance'. As a result, the original connection is missed, so I'm reassigned to a later NW flight from Detroit to Cleveland.

That later flight takes off. Normally flying time to CLE is about a half hour. We circle Cleveland about an hour, but the long runway still has snow on it, so we return to Detroit. Total time on that leg: 3 hrs.

We deplaned at Detroit, no NWA agent to advise any of the deplaning passengers what to do. A nearby gate agent told us to find a telephone and phone NW to see if we were placed on another flight (this was now 8PM), or whether they would put us in a hotel, or what.

Well, the next and last flight out was full, and there was no telling if it would be landing in CLE anyway. They knew nothing about hotels.

So I went to Hertz and rented a one-way to CLE, about a 2-1/2 hr drive.

There was no compensation or hotel or meal offered. I would at least like to get a 1/2 refund from my ticket.

The entire chain of events was set off because of a NW mechanical problem on my original flight. And NW never got me to CLE. And never advised me on options, or rebooked me, etc.

Am I entitled to a 1/2 refund, or any other compensation? Refund of my one-way car rental ($140?).

Please, has anyone any thoughts they might share?

Your best bet is to just contact NW Customer Relations. Fastest response is by E-mail.

I would go for half the ticket or the one way car rental, whichever is more expensive. They might be more willing to offer you the money back as a credit on a future flight, if you are inclined to fly NW again.