I was rushing to gate A14 at EWR around 5.10pm on Sunday 12 November to catch UA729 to DEN (scheduled departure time: 5.25pm) until I saw a huge queue and then checked the departure monitors. The new departure time was 7:05pm. Avoiding the queue, I went to the RCC and enquired about my connection (UA1183 to SAN, scheduled departure time: 8.55pm). The RCC agent told me that there was inclement weather in DEN, so I should not worry because my connecting flight to SAN was most likely going to be delayed.

I waited in the RCC and proceeded to gate A14 again at 6.35pm. I approached the podium to check on my connecting flight, and the agent told me that the flight to SAN was scheduled to depart on time. Hence, I would definitely miss the connection, so she rebooked me on UA1183 (scheduled departure time: 11.27am on Monday 13 November). The agent also told me that UA would not cover overnight accommodation in DEN because of ATC, which began to confuse me (not to mention the less-than-ideal arrangement). En route to DEN, the pilot mentioned that ATC at ORD actually exerted control by blocking the departure of the flight, which delayed its arrival into EWR and hence, its departure of my flight to DEN. We arrived into DEN at around 9.35pm. I received an itinerary with a pink Airport Accommodation voucher for discounted overnight accommodation (I had a choice between the Radisson Aurora for US$48 or Renaissance for US$65, not inclusive of taxes; I chose the former). No more flights seemed to be departing, but the weather seemed fine.

Does anyone know what happened at ORD with reference to ATC and/or at DEN with reference to the weather?