Almost two weeks ago I was flying from central MN to MSP. Long story short, the flight was canceled due to mechanical issues then crew time out (told to us by PA updates in the airport). Eventually we were bused to MSP. I heard the agents talking about making notes in affected passengers' reservations that the reason for the flight cancellation was WAA. I inquired what WAA meant and she said, "Weather, Air Traffic and I don't recall what the other A is for." She knew that was a total lie - she was the one who earlier mentioned the mechanical problem on the inbound flight, return to the gate and the subsequent crew time out. Note that the flight never made it to our city - we were an intermediate stop en route to MSP.

Then on a return flight a week later from Vancouver to MSP, the flight was completely full, it was right at departure time and the flight attendants realized one of the passenger's seat belts was broken. The gate agent insisted on closing the boarding door and then if they found an extra seat belt, the gate agent would pass it through the cockpit window - obviously an attempt to show an "on time departure." We sat for at least 15-20 minutes with the boarding door closed waiting for that seat belt. I asked the flight attendant about it and she said that she thought the GA's get docked somehow for flights that don't show as departing on time.

Of course this raises at least ethical questions if not legal ones. Fortunately I didn't have any claim to amenities like food or hotel vouchers, but if anyone did, the agents in MSP would see "WAA" in the reservation and say, "Sorry it was a weather delay, not our fault." What a joke.

Is this SOP for NWA? If so, it is very sad.