MSNBC highlights how to invoke Rule 240 to get a new flight fast any time your flight is canceled for anything other than weather.

I invoked Rule 240—which states that in the event of any flight delay or cancellation caused by anything other than weather, the airline would fly me on the next available flight—not their next available flight, which might not leave for another 24 hours. And guess what happened? A lot of United passengers made it to Boston that day&mdash on American.

A relic of pre-deregulation airlines, the article says that most newer airlines won’t honor rule 240, but apparently most of the older airlines still respect this rule as a matter of company policy. If you know anything more about rule 240—maybe you’ve invoked it yourself?—let’s hear about it in the comments. For more details, check out Consumerist’s rather extensive guide to Rule 240. Photo by dougww.

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