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.

This is a common issue for all airlines. I can't tell you how many times I've been delayed, the GA tells me it's either mechanical or crew rest (or something similar that's under the airline's control). Later on, the story gets changed to weather so that the airline has no responsibility to its pax in terms of vouchers, etc.

There was something like a passenger bill or rights a few years back that noted something about telling the true reason for delays, but seems that this gets overlooked quite frequently. Not quite sure that there is any way to complain about this...don't think it's an issue that the FAA would be interested in, but I may be wrong.

It's very frustrating and I've called the airlines on it many times when it turns into something significant (bump, cancellation, etc). They told me that it was weather, I said it's not (helps if the weather is good that day ;-) and that I know it's related to mechanical (or whatever). I politely ask for what I'm entitled to (in terms of meal vouchers, etc) and have never been declined. That said, this changing story hasn't happened to me in quite some time.