Originally Posted by
dmunz
I know it is ancient history but look at the AT&T failure from 1990. One sketchy switch and a few lines of code shut down almost the entire long distance network. Or more recently the massive power outage in the northeast in 2003. Both cases where a relatively minor hardware issue mactched with a minor sorftware bug resulted in unexpected and dramatic failure.
he bottom line is that as long as we need (and want) the technology, there will be failures. The real issue is not that it happened but how UA deals with it. You can not prevent every possible failure path but you can prepare and respond to support your customers.
FWIW
DLM
PS, It is still rippling at 20:37 WST. My 00:38 from SMF to IAH is delayed by 1:50 waiting on inbound aircraft...
Technology can fail. But, I think bringing up things that happened in 1990 or 2003, (as others have done here too to point out failures that happened prior to the merger) are too relevant are they? Isn't this ancient history in terms of "tech-time".
I feel for people who were inconvenienced because of this, I was in Peru an extra 2 days thanks to UA's tech failure in March 2012 (which United didn't do swat for). I'll agree with other's too, I'm impressed at the recovery.