Originally Posted by
Rommie2k6
I don't see why people are so ready to accept weather problems as a trump card excuse every time the airlines feel like it.
Right now, the weather on my side is rainy, but it is not severe enough to warrant a cancellation of flight, and Chicago weather's was OK when I checked earlier this afternoon. It's not as if there is a tornado or some major earthquake here. If their planes can't handle a little rain, then perhaps it's time for them to design better ones.
This is ridiculous, in the first place what is there from stopping the airlines from outright LYING to their customers in order to avoid compensation? Why not simply write off every delay as "weather related" problems?
I remember reading years back that compensation was required if the flight delay exceeds a certain number of hours (I think it was 4hrs). What happened to those rules? Or were those only applicable to EU nations? Sad to see how bad the legislation is here in the US...
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,52939,00.html
If United is letting anyone flying through Chicago change their tickets without penalty fees, then there is pretty much no argument that there's weather issues going on. Issuing these waivers can cost the airline a lot in lost revenue, plus the complication of having to rebook those who take the airline up on their offer to fly another day instead of today. They don't do this just for giggles.
Originally Posted by
CaptainMiles
If the passenger wouldn't be able to absorb the cost of a weather-related delay, the passenger should have bought travel insurance. Travel insurance exists for exactly this scenario. UA even offers it during the online ticket purchase process, for 4.5% of the cost of the ticket. It can also be purchased from many third party providers. It seems that the passenger declined to purchase this insurance and is now regretting it.
+1 in giant 48-point font.