Can the Fabled 'Rule 240' Help During a Pilot Strike?

Q: I have traveled for over 30 years love to fly and now I need help. If my flight to Orlando is canceled due to a pilot strike what do I do? Would rule 240 help me and my family ? Would trip insurance be a good hedge?

A: Even if your airline had a "Rule 240," a regulation that some airlines have in their contracts of carriage and that stipulate that they will put you on another airline if your flight is canceled,  it probably wouldn't apply to a strike situation. And with planes so full, it's unlikely that there would be many seats available to put you in. Travel insurance also won't help if a strike has already been announced by a labor union.