Not exactly loco but I recently returned from San Diego and when I tried the self check in I found the flight had departed, I was a day late!!!!!!.
United check in staff very helpfull and put me on that days flight at no cost. When I got to Heathrow the Air Lingus transfer desk said there would be a charge but she couldn't get the appropiate person on the phone so she let me go again with no extra cost. As someone else has said depends on who you fly with.