I took a flight on United in late March and due to a mechanical problem the flight was delayed by 4 hours. An oil leak (if I am not mistaken) was found in the engine and everyone was asked to disembark until they could bring another plane. The problem is that there was no compensation offered of any kind, and when we approached the GA for a meal certificate to use at the airport (it was supposed to be a 6 pm flight), she just said that "dinner will be provided on the plane" .

I wrote a letter to United 3 weeks ago describing the situation. I checked my account today and apparently also United didn't send me a reply, they gave me 9854 (yep) bonus miles. However, my travel partner whose info was also included in the letter, didn't receive anything.

Two questions: why such a strange number for compensations, and why no reply to the letter. Also, should my travel partner call United to have the bonus credited to her as well?