Flat Tire Rule
 

Interesting problem.

I was delayed at the port of San Pedro about six hours, and barely missed a flight LAX-SEA in purchased F (I was in time, but bags weren't). My reading of the contract of carriage is that I should have been able to book the first flight on a published routing with space available in the same cabin, even if it had been on the next travel day.

Instead I was forced into MCS on the next flight, which was delayed an additional four hours.

Am I misunderstanding the policy?

I barely missed the last flight of the day @ ORD and was offered standby on the next available flight (the following morning). Alas I needed to return the same night so I switched to UA and lost the value of the VX ticket.

One would presume you would be booked into the same class that you purchased, but of course that may be sold out on the next flight.

So, if you've arrived prior to your original flight's departure, you should have three choices:

1. Utilize the full value of your ticket to rebook on whatever flight you please at whatever the current price is, and if your new flight is less than the original, then you will get a credit for the difference.

2. At no cost, fly standby on the next flight. If first class seats are available when standbys are cleared, you should be put in first class, if not, you may be downgraded.

3. For $25, be confirmed in F on the very next flight (even if the next flight is the next day), only if this very next flight has availability in F. This is the "Same Day Travel Change" option.

Generally at the ticket counter, an agent would have to be prompted about option one because at least 90% of the time this is a very costly option to the customer in discounted economy.

I was definitely not offered option 1; in fact I was repeatedly told that my only options were 2 (stand by) or 3 (same-day confirmed change)

What I really hoped for was Option 4 - rather than strictly "very next flight", I wanted to confirm into "very next flight with availability in the same class of service, regardless of travel day", which I've been able to do on other carriers.

Thanks for the insight.