airlines

Delays and cancellations
What does my airline ticket guarantee?

Your ticket is a contract to get you from point A to point B, but not necessarily on time. If a delay creeps into a cancellation, in most cases the airline will only rebook you on its next available flight. Don't expect compensation for the inconvenience of lost time.
If the next few flights out are booked solid and another carrier has open seats to your destination, your airline may agree to put you on the other flight. But because it has to pay for your seat, this is a last-resort option, and the cheapest restricted tickets and frequent-flier-award tickets may not be endorsable to another airline.

What perks can I expect if I'm delayed?
When a delay is the airline's fault, it may offer stranded passengers meal vouchers and even foot the bill for a hotel stay. Mechanical problems and flight-crew staffing issues (but not strikes) usually fall into this category.

Unfortunately, weather and air-traffic-control delays — two of the most common reasons for schedule troubles — do not. These are considered force majeure events outside the airlines' control, along with labor disputes, wars and natural disasters.

During force majeure delays, airlines will generally provide information only, and after several high-profile cases of passengers trapped for hours on the tarmac, access to food, water and lavatories.  "With force majeure events, all bets are off," advises Terry Trippler.
Airlines may provide additional amenities to stranded passengers, but only if delays are under airline control. These vary by carrier and are spelled out in their contracts of carriage, available online.  For example, US Airways will give out calling cards after a two-hour delay and a meal voucher at the three-hour mark, while Delta hands out meal tickets after four hours. Overworked gate agents may not distribute these perks, so you may have to ask for them.
When am I entitled to a hotel room?  Landing a free hotel room isn't easy, and again, it's offered only for airline-caused delays and according to set rules.
Continental and Delta give room vouchers only if delays are four hours or more, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. United will pay for a room only if your flight is diverted overnight to another city but not for flight cancellations or missed connections.  If you get stuck overnight and the airline won't put you up, ask if it has negotiated discount rates at nearby hotels.

Missed connections
What if I miss a connection because of a delayed flight?

The onus to rebook you is on the carrier that delivered you late, not the airline whose flight you missed. In the best-case scenario, the airline will make new arrangements before you land, and agents at your arrival gate will fill you in.  "We have people on our 'day of departure' desk who work with our airport agents and do nothing but re-accommodate passengers who cannot make their original itinerary," says American Airlines representative Tim Smith.  But when widespread delays affect thousands of passengers, you'll probably have to stand in that dreaded long line at the customer-service desk. While waiting, call the airline's reservations number to see if an agent there can fix things faster, but remember that airport agents have more options, such as booking you a seat on another carrier.

If you can't get out that day, the airline will provide a meal and accommodations only if the original delay was its fault (see above).

Bumping
What are my rights if I'm bumped?

Airlines oversell flights to offset no-shows, but when they miscalculate, travelers who get the boot may be entitled to denied-boarding compensation. The rules of engagement are set by the DOT, which also spells out required compensation.   Airlines must first ask for volunteers and usually try to entice travelers to give up their seats with flight vouchers, often worth $200 to $500. Before volunteering, find out when you'd get a confirmed seat to your destination, whether a hotel will put you up overnight and details of voucher restrictions.
If enough travelers don't volunteer, the airline will choose passengers to bump, typically based on who checked in last, the amount of the fare paid and frequent-flier status. Compensation depends on the length of the delay and the price of your ticket.
If you reach your destination within an hour of your scheduled arrival time, you aren't entitled to anything. If you're less than two hours late, you'll receive up to $200; for four hours, up to $400.   The key words here are "up to," because compensation is based on the fare you paid for that leg of your journey. Carriers usually offer vouchers, though you are entitled to cash. But if you're traveling on a $79 discount fare and the airline offers you a $200 voucher, you're probably better off taking the voucher.

The fine print: Denied-boarding compensation rules don't apply if you don't check in on time, or for aircraft seating fewer than 60 passengers.

Lost luggage
What should I do if my suitcase doesn't appear at baggage claim?

With the new prohibition against packing liquids and gels in carry-on bags, fliers are checking more suitcases, further taxing a luggage-handling system already under stress. U.S. airlines lost 10,000 bags a day in 2005, the highest percentage since 1990 — and that was before the recent increase in checked luggage.  If your luggage doesn't show up in baggage claim, don't panic; 98% of lost bags are located within hours or days.

File a lost-luggage report with the airline, and don't leave the airport without a file number and phone number to call to track your bags' progress.  Most airlines will reimburse you for necessities you buy while waiting for your luggage. Keep in mind that reimbursement is typically capped at $25 a day, up to a maximum of $125, and you'll have to produce receipts. You may be able to plead for more leeway and cash up front if you need to buy replacement clothing for special events, such as a wedding or job interview, but this is at the airline's discretion.
If your suitcase doesn't turn up in 45 days, you'll be compensated by the airline according to its policy and, for overseas flights, international treaty. Domestic fliers can receive up to $2,800 per person for lost or pilfered luggage.