No compensation for flight delay? ...?
 

This is ridiculous. I have a family member whose flight got canceled and is stranded in Chicago (ORD) for 24 f-ing hours (yes, apparently that is the earliest time United can get for them)... and there's no compensation given out because it is a "weather related" cancellation. Seriously? W T F?

Does United expect their customers to pay for their accommodation and food for 24hrs? I'm not being unreasonable here, it's not a few hours annoyance, it is one bloody day! And what happens if tomorrow the same thing happens again? So what happens if there is "weather related" problems tomorrow?

Can anyone direct me to some resources on how to contact United Corporate? Not the form that you fill up on the website, but I want my feedback to reach higher up the corporate ladder.

Going higher up the ladder isn't going to get your complaint anywhere; the rules in the contract of carriage pretty much let the carrier out of any obligation during weather-related issues, and even if you didn't read them, you agreed to those rules when you made your ticket purchase. Here in the States, there's nothing expected from the airlines when it is a weather delay/cancellation (and there has been some severe weather in Chicagoland the last few days). The best you can hope for is a discounted hotel rate and/or a small meal voucher but they're not required to give those to you. If there's another weather cancellation tomorrow, then your relative will be paying for a second night of hotel at ORD. And given how full flights are these days, and the extent of the weather issues lately, I'm actually surprised that they actually have an empty seat on tomorrow's flight. Count your blessings even if it feels like you don't have any right now: some people will probably be waiting 2-3 days to get home.

In the EU, the carrier's obligation to the passenger does indeed cover hotel/meals even when the cancellation is weather-related; however, in last year's volcano issues, which dragged on for many days, the airlines lost millions paying that compensation. Given the thin margins on which airlines operate, I'd imagine they are lobbying very hard against such legislation being passed in the US.

the delay wasn't because of wx?....i would complain in that case....good luck...

I think it's pretty standard in the US to only pay if the delay is the result of an issue on the airline's part. Providing room and board for every person who needs it would easily run to tens of thousands of dollars, so unfortunately, it is unreasonable to expect them to pay for something that isn't their fault.

I don't see why people are so ready to accept weather problems as a trump card excuse every time the airlines feel like it.

Right now, the weather on my side is rainy, but it is not severe enough to warrant a cancellation of flight, and Chicago weather's was OK when I checked earlier this afternoon. It's not as if there is a tornado or some major earthquake here. If their planes can't handle a little rain, then perhaps it's time for them to design better ones.

This is ridiculous, in the first place what is there from stopping the airlines from outright LYING to their customers in order to avoid compensation? Why not simply write off every delay as "weather related" problems?

I remember reading years back that compensation was required if the flight delay exceeds a certain number of hours (I think it was 4hrs). What happened to those rules? Or were those only applicable to EU nations? Sad to see how bad the legislation is here in the US...

Yes, it's customary for the airline to not have to help the passenger during a weather event. And as dcpatti points out, it is even spelled out in the contract of carriage.

If the passenger wouldn't be able to absorb the cost of a weather-related delay, the passenger should have bought travel insurance. Travel insurance exists for exactly this scenario. UA even offers it during the online ticket purchase process, for 4.5% of the cost of the ticket. It can also be purchased from many third party providers. It seems that the passenger declined to purchase this insurance and is now regretting it.

Just because the weather looks okay from the terminal doesn't mean it is safe to fly. In addition, weather issues at the destination can also cause a flight to be cancelled. Equipment for your flight may also be stuck at an airport closed due to wx. Airlines can lie about weather but anyone can look up METAR information to verify.

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,52939,00.html

If United is letting anyone flying through Chicago change their tickets without penalty fees, then there is pretty much no argument that there's weather issues going on. Issuing these waivers can cost the airline a lot in lost revenue, plus the complication of having to rebook those who take the airline up on their offer to fly another day instead of today. They don't do this just for giggles.


+1 in giant 48-point font.

They still exist and are actually something that have been improved recently [so the legislation is getting stronger, not weaker]. Of course those rules are for when are on a plane and stuck for 4 hours, not waiting in the airport or at home.

It's not the airlines who get to decide how many planes land in a day.

Airlines book tickets 365 days a year and the weather doesn't schedule in advance. We've all be in your friend's shoes, believe me, it sucks but that doesn't make it the airline's fault or responsibility in the least. If the airlines paid out for every stranded PAX to have a hotel [there is after all no way to enforce who is a visitor, who lives nearby and who just left their parent's house] the price of a ticket would have us all taking the train. That's just reality.

Truth is, as several others have pointed out, it costs the airlines insane amounts of money to cancel flights for weather. Sure you have the fog delays and cancellations in SFO and similar places that happen for just a few hours but usually these are delays that impact dozens if not hundreds of flights. It creates chaos in the system as flight crews don't make it to their next location (nor do the planes), baggage loaders and flight services still have to be paid, and thousands of people flood the call centers.

So again, every member of this site has been in a similar spot and knows the aggravation it causes. I'm in agreement that the handling of those delays can be poor [it can also be good] but beyond that you have to realize that while you want someone to blame, there's just the clouds.

This isn't a car, you can't just take off, realize it's worse than you thought and stop...

I would agree..

But hopefully the airline is a little more compassionate about the situation and give a hotel night stay and some food.. but otherwise, just roll with what's going on.. visit somewhere relaxing and make the most of it.. and hopefully get out of there sooner rather than later.

I was in Italy last December trying to get home via LHR, which was closed due to a snow storm. There was a big, complicated poster in the airport detailing EU rules on the airline's responsibility for compensating the passenger, and weather was excluded.

Other exclusions are earthquakes and Volcanoes. Then there is the all inclusive "Acts of God".

If any government tries to legislate mandatory all inclusive compensation for flight delays of any reason air travel to and from that country would cease.

Hotel and meal expenses are not "compensation".

Refunds are not "compensation".

"Compensation" is restitution provided over-and-above the actual costs to make up for the inconvenience.

Funny thread.

It's weather related, they are on their own. United's hub is Chicago, and the planes are very full out of there, even more so with delays. As we saw over the winter, one messed up day weather wise could have people stranded for days.

Over 500 flights were canceled in Chicago today, mostly due to low visibility. Not sure where you got your credentials to determine the weather was fine to fly, but apparently the airlines thought different.

The United States does have regulations regarding delays. They do not apply to canceled flights, and do not apply to weather related delays.

You can call, you can write, you can rant, you can drop the F word a hundred times. You will get nowhere, as it's a weather delay.

Does they have the "Act of God" clause in the USA? Could you not argue to the airline that it is unconstitutional and quote the first amendment.

The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed.

I think you could probably argue that your full and equal rights of conscience as an atheist have been infringed and they would probably give you a hotel voucher and a sandwich