RE: The airline is obligated to get you there, but not necessarily on time.
You will need to read your Contract of Carriage to get a better understanding of what the airline is obligated to do. The Force Majeure clause will likely be applicable. For Delta, Rule 80 addresses FLIGHT DELAYS/CANCELLATIONS in part as follows:
A. Flight Schedules are Not Guaranteed
Delta will exercise reasonable efforts to carry passengers and their baggage according to Delta’s published
schedules and the schedule reflected on the passenger’s ticket, but published schedules, flight times, aircraft
type, seat assignments, and similar details reflected in the ticket or Delta’s published schedules are not
guaranteed and form no part of this contract. Delta may substitute alternate carriers or aircraft, delay or
cancel flights, change seat assignments, and alter or omit stopping places shown on the ticket at any time.
Schedules are subject to change without notice. Except as stated in this rule and as provided in Rule 55,
Delta will have no liability for making connections, failing to operate any flight according to schedule,
changing the schedule for any flight, changing seat assignments or aircraft types, or revising the routings by
which Delta carries the passenger from the ticketed origin to destination.
B. Delta’s Liability in the Event of Schedule Changes, Delays and Flight Cancellations
In the event of flight cancellation, diversion, delays of greater than 90 minutes, or delays that will cause a
passenger to miss connections, Delta will (at passenger’s request) cancel the remaining ticket and refund the
unused portion of the ticket and unused ancillary fees in the original form of payment in accordance with
Rule 90(b) of these conditions of carriage. If the passenger does not request a refund and cancellation of
the ticket, Delta will transport the passenger to the destination on Delta’s next flight on which seats are
available in the class of service originally purchased. At Delta’s sole discretion and if acceptable to the
passenger, Delta may arrange for the passenger to travel on another carrier or via ground transportation. If
acceptable to the passenger, Delta will provide transportation in a lower class of service, in which case the
passenger may be entitled to a partial refund. If space on the next available flight is available only in a higher
class of service than purchased, Delta will transport the passenger on the flight, although Delta reserves the
right to upgrade other passengers on the flight according to its upgrade priority policy to make space in the
class of service originally purchased.
C. Delta’s Liability For Additional Amenities in the Event of Schedule Changes, Delays and Flight
Cancellations
1. Except as provided above, Delta shall have no liability if the flight cancellation, diversion or delay was
due to force majeure. As used in this rule, “force majeure” means actual, threatened or reported:
(a) Weather conditions or acts of God
(b) Riots, civil unrest, embargoes, war, hostilities, or unsettled international conditions
(c) Strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, lockout, or any other labor-related dispute
(d) Government regulation, demand, directive or requirement
(e) Shortages of labor, fuel, or facilities
(f) Any other condition beyond Delta’s control or any fact not reasonably foreseen by Delta
