No Hotel accomodations for ATC/Weather-related delays?
Dec 9, 2012, 10:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13
No Hotel accomodations for ATC/Weather-related delays?
I had originally planned to travel back home to Houston from Minneapolis on December 10, 2012 on a southwest flight but I decided I needed to get home to Houston earlier for an 8:00am meeting so I used award miles to book flight UA697 and UA1155 MSP-ORD;ORD-IAH.
It was supposed to depart at 6:59pm but the flight was delayed until 7:30 due to late inbound aircraft. Around 7:15pm after all the passengers had deplaned, the gate agent said that there was a maintenance issue for the flight and we did not board until around 7:35 (20 minutes later).
I realize that the weather conditions in Minnesota were not ideal as it was snowing and they had to de-ice the plane but they never mentioned that was the reason for the delay. With that being said, my flight didn't end up leaving as we spent another hour on the tarmac waiting to be de-iced and then being de-iced. I realize that it is outside United's control for Air Traffic Control issues but that wasn't the sole reason for the delay. When I arrived at 8:55pm..my Houston flight had departed roughly 10 minutes earlier at 8:45pm which I would not had missed had there not been a mechanical issue.
Sorry for the long text but my question is, after talking to the rep, her supervisor, and another supervisor, they refused any accommodations or meals saying that she had already told no to other people and that it was only fair for me not to get a room as well. They said their flights show that it was a Air Traffic Control Issue and then they also mentioned that the weather was bad in Minnesota. (Honestly, they just don't want to give me a hotel). My next flight is at 5:00am and i've decided to sleep at the airport (which is probably my own fault) but its a principal thing.
I know I am going to write to united.com/appreciation but I don't understand why they wont' just put me in a hotel room and make my life easier. I'm not even angry that I won't get into Houston on time now I just want a decent night's rest.
It was supposed to depart at 6:59pm but the flight was delayed until 7:30 due to late inbound aircraft. Around 7:15pm after all the passengers had deplaned, the gate agent said that there was a maintenance issue for the flight and we did not board until around 7:35 (20 minutes later).
I realize that the weather conditions in Minnesota were not ideal as it was snowing and they had to de-ice the plane but they never mentioned that was the reason for the delay. With that being said, my flight didn't end up leaving as we spent another hour on the tarmac waiting to be de-iced and then being de-iced. I realize that it is outside United's control for Air Traffic Control issues but that wasn't the sole reason for the delay. When I arrived at 8:55pm..my Houston flight had departed roughly 10 minutes earlier at 8:45pm which I would not had missed had there not been a mechanical issue.
Sorry for the long text but my question is, after talking to the rep, her supervisor, and another supervisor, they refused any accommodations or meals saying that she had already told no to other people and that it was only fair for me not to get a room as well. They said their flights show that it was a Air Traffic Control Issue and then they also mentioned that the weather was bad in Minnesota. (Honestly, they just don't want to give me a hotel). My next flight is at 5:00am and i've decided to sleep at the airport (which is probably my own fault) but its a principal thing.
I know I am going to write to united.com/appreciation but I don't understand why they wont' just put me in a hotel room and make my life easier. I'm not even angry that I won't get into Houston on time now I just want a decent night's rest.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Dec 10, 2012 at 4:47 am Reason: vague thread title
Dec 9, 2012, 10:33 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
I had originally planned to travel back home to Houston from Minneapolis on December 10, 2012 on a southwest flight but I decided I needed to get home to Houston earlier for an 8:00am meeting so I used award miles to book flight UA697 and UA1155 MSP-ORD;ORD-IAH.
It was supposed to depart at 6:59pm but the flight was delayed until 7:30 due to late inbound aircraft. Around 7:15pm after all the passengers had deplaned, the gate agent said that there was a maintenance issue for the flight and we did not board until around 7:35 (20 minutes later).
I realize that the weather conditions in Minnesota were not ideal as it was snowing and they had to de-ice the plane but they never mentioned that was the reason for the delay. With that being said, my flight didn't end up leaving as we spent another hour on the tarmac waiting to be de-iced and then being de-iced. I realize that it is outside United's control for Air Traffic Control issues but that wasn't the sole reason for the delay. When I arrived at 8:55pm..my Houston flight had departed roughly 10 minutes earlier at 8:45pm which I would not had missed had there not been a mechanical issue.
Sorry for the long text but my question is, after talking to the rep, her supervisor, and another supervisor, they refused any accommodations or meals saying that she had already told no to other people and that it was only fair for me not to get a room as well. They said their flights show that it was a Air Traffic Control Issue and then they also mentioned that the weather was bad in Minnesota. (Honestly, they just don't want to give me a hotel). My next flight is at 5:00am and i've decided to sleep at the airport (which is probably my own fault) but its a principal thing.
I know I am going to write to united.com/appreciation but I don't understand why they wont' just put me in a hotel room and make my life easier. I'm not even angry that I won't get into Houston on time now I just want a decent night's rest.
It was supposed to depart at 6:59pm but the flight was delayed until 7:30 due to late inbound aircraft. Around 7:15pm after all the passengers had deplaned, the gate agent said that there was a maintenance issue for the flight and we did not board until around 7:35 (20 minutes later).
I realize that the weather conditions in Minnesota were not ideal as it was snowing and they had to de-ice the plane but they never mentioned that was the reason for the delay. With that being said, my flight didn't end up leaving as we spent another hour on the tarmac waiting to be de-iced and then being de-iced. I realize that it is outside United's control for Air Traffic Control issues but that wasn't the sole reason for the delay. When I arrived at 8:55pm..my Houston flight had departed roughly 10 minutes earlier at 8:45pm which I would not had missed had there not been a mechanical issue.
Sorry for the long text but my question is, after talking to the rep, her supervisor, and another supervisor, they refused any accommodations or meals saying that she had already told no to other people and that it was only fair for me not to get a room as well. They said their flights show that it was a Air Traffic Control Issue and then they also mentioned that the weather was bad in Minnesota. (Honestly, they just don't want to give me a hotel). My next flight is at 5:00am and i've decided to sleep at the airport (which is probably my own fault) but its a principal thing.
I know I am going to write to united.com/appreciation but I don't understand why they wont' just put me in a hotel room and make my life easier. I'm not even angry that I won't get into Houston on time now I just want a decent night's rest.
Dec 9, 2012, 11:00 pm
#4
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,731
When there are multiple reasons for a delay, weather will dominate and especially when the weather delay was >2 times the mechanical delay.
Dec 9, 2012, 11:20 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,933
I had originally planned to travel back home to Houston from Minneapolis on December 10, 2012 on a southwest flight but I decided I needed to get home to Houston earlier for an 8:00am meeting so I used award miles to book flight UA697 and UA1155 MSP-ORD;ORD-IAH.
It was supposed to depart at 6:59pm but the flight was delayed until 7:30 due to late inbound aircraft. Around 7:15pm after all the passengers had deplaned, the gate agent said that there was a maintenance issue for the flight and we did not board until around 7:35 (20 minutes later).
I realize that the weather conditions in Minnesota were not ideal as it was snowing and they had to de-ice the plane but they never mentioned that was the reason for the delay. With that being said, my flight didn't end up leaving as we spent another hour on the tarmac waiting to be de-iced and then being de-iced. I realize that it is outside United's control for Air Traffic Control issues but that wasn't the sole reason for the delay. When I arrived at 8:55pm..my Houston flight had departed roughly 10 minutes earlier at 8:45pm which I would not had missed had there not been a mechanical issue.
Sorry for the long text but my question is, after talking to the rep, her supervisor, and another supervisor, they refused any accommodations or meals saying that she had already told no to other people and that it was only fair for me not to get a room as well. They said their flights show that it was a Air Traffic Control Issue and then they also mentioned that the weather was bad in Minnesota. (Honestly, they just don't want to give me a hotel). My next flight is at 5:00am and i've decided to sleep at the airport (which is probably my own fault) but its a principal thing.
I know I am going to write to united.com/appreciation but I don't understand why they wont' just put me in a hotel room and make my life easier. I'm not even angry that I won't get into Houston on time now I just want a decent night's rest.
It was supposed to depart at 6:59pm but the flight was delayed until 7:30 due to late inbound aircraft. Around 7:15pm after all the passengers had deplaned, the gate agent said that there was a maintenance issue for the flight and we did not board until around 7:35 (20 minutes later).
I realize that the weather conditions in Minnesota were not ideal as it was snowing and they had to de-ice the plane but they never mentioned that was the reason for the delay. With that being said, my flight didn't end up leaving as we spent another hour on the tarmac waiting to be de-iced and then being de-iced. I realize that it is outside United's control for Air Traffic Control issues but that wasn't the sole reason for the delay. When I arrived at 8:55pm..my Houston flight had departed roughly 10 minutes earlier at 8:45pm which I would not had missed had there not been a mechanical issue.
Sorry for the long text but my question is, after talking to the rep, her supervisor, and another supervisor, they refused any accommodations or meals saying that she had already told no to other people and that it was only fair for me not to get a room as well. They said their flights show that it was a Air Traffic Control Issue and then they also mentioned that the weather was bad in Minnesota. (Honestly, they just don't want to give me a hotel). My next flight is at 5:00am and i've decided to sleep at the airport (which is probably my own fault) but its a principal thing.
I know I am going to write to united.com/appreciation but I don't understand why they wont' just put me in a hotel room and make my life easier. I'm not even angry that I won't get into Houston on time now I just want a decent night's rest.
Dec 9, 2012, 11:22 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13
No worries. At the end of the day, everyone is just trying to do their job. no one is obviously going out of their way to piss me off. Its just a tough situation because I should have just stuck with my original plan, stayed on my original flight and not tried to take a shortcut back home
Mar 25, 2013, 11:31 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, Bonvoy Platinum, HH Diamond; others
Posts: 739
Really? UA doesn't provide hotel if overnight weather delay?
Is that really true? That UA will just dump me at an airport overnight without providing a hotel if the delay casuing me to miss my connection is weather?
Mar 25, 2013, 11:34 am
#9
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Posts: 66,731
This is different than the EU rules. Honestly there is probably not enough hotel space at most airports to do this, plus the cost based on domestic ticket prices.
Mar 25, 2013, 11:34 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
Yes that's right. The law in the US does not require airlines to provide accommodations to passengers if delays/cancellations are due to weather and none of them do. UA will do it for 1K's/Global Services..but everyone else is on their own.
Mar 25, 2013, 11:35 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 396
Ummm.... UA nor pretty much any other airline pays for your hotel due to overnight weather delay. Only exception would MAYBE be in F or Biz or GS but even then they will often do everything they can not to.
Have you been under the impression all these years that UA would provide this??
Have you been under the impression all these years that UA would provide this??
Mar 25, 2013, 11:35 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,619
Yes. Delays due to "acts of god", which includes weather, are not compensated by UA or any other airline for that matter. Your best bet if you feel you will misconnect due to weather or another act of god is to work with UA or other air carrier to delay your travel until the next day, which in most cases they will do without a charge provided that seats are available, especially if you are starting a trip from your home town when the weather is an issue.
Mar 25, 2013, 11:40 am
#14
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Mar 25, 2013, 11:40 am
#15
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