As some FTers deduced, the MCI - SFO E175 that was cancelled on 12-21 was flown directly to YVR that evening with 4 pax (!) who must have been heading somewhere in Western Canada or perhaps SEA. The crew that did this ferry flight was deadheading on the today's YVR-SFO and talked about it. They were not happy because they were supposed to go off duty in SFO, which is where they were based.

While this maneuver got our plane in the right place at the right time, there was no catering done/available in YVR. So our breakfast flight (front cabin) turned into apple juice and water. No warning at check in or the gate, and no voucher to buy something in the terminal ahead of the flight.

So OO/UA get a B from me on this IRROPS recovery move. They almost got it right. Probably if the YVR ground staff that UA outsourced a year and a half ago had still been there, they would have come up with a full recovery plan.