COS -> IAH Scheduled for 3.5 Hrs - Via New and Old Mexico!
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
COS -> IAH Scheduled for 3.5 Hrs - Via New and Old Mexico!
Boarded UA3742 this afternoon but nothing doing. We were eventually informed that, due to weather in TX, we had been given routing via New Mexico down to skim along Old Mexico and then out over the Gulf for a total flying time of 3.5 hrs! Obviously extra fuel, and requested volunteers to deplane. Since there was little doubt of making the last flight out of IAH to MIA, I volunteered. Nice certificate ($600). Interestingly, wouldn't give me my checked bags back. Meh. Be interesting to see the final track...
#3
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,184
Looks like they didn't quite make it to Mexico.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/U...115Z/KCOS/KIAH
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/U...115Z/KCOS/KIAH
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
Looks like they didn't quite make it to Mexico.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/U...115Z/KCOS/KIAH
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/U...115Z/KCOS/KIAH
Sorry, I fly COS->IAH pretty regularly and found routing all the way down to Mexico a bit extreme, esp since they had to deplane six PAX to take on that much fuel. I'm not sure that it was correct since I don't ever recall such a short journey, but the pilot said our original routing was at 1hr 20mins (in reality was probably 1hrs 50mins) that went up to 3.5 hrs. I also found it interesting that they allowed volunteers to deplane, but didn't deplane luggage, but perhaps that's allowable given the circumstances. I further found it interesting that they gave what I regard to be fairly generous compensation, given that it was WX and there were standbys onboard they could've forced off. Apologies if I wasted anyone's time with a who cares thread.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
Always more to learn, love FT.
Additional learning opportunity for OP here:
Is it normal to rebook into B under such circumstances, or is it just what's left at the time of rebooking? This was originally a very inexpensive L fare (am a recent P fare refugee, no longer really seeing the value in the extra $$ outlay). I know that the "accruals for this flight" is pretty flakey, but that's what I'm seeing now (actually a combination of B/R, but presumably B/B to start with).
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 23, 2017 at 7:37 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member -- please use multi-quote
#7
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,830
However, generally, when the flights post, it will be based on the purchased fare, not the re-booked fare. (in the past the re-book fare earnings was more common, but not so nowadays)
#8
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
Thank you. It's easy to feel like a fool around so many knowledgeable members.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: riding the lifetime status. DL MM / AA MM
Posts: 2,968
my last rebook in B, I was upgraded to R on one leg out of two. The upgraded leg posted as ZV, 1x earning. The economy leg posted as B with 1.5x earning.
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
My guess is the original ATC plan had them going south of the the bigger storm in South Texas and then things cleared up enough that they got to cut through between the cells. Or they needed additional fuel because of expected circling or alternate airports further away.
Nasty weather down there today.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
Better than not flying at all, though.
My guess is the original ATC plan had them going south of the the bigger storm in South Texas and then things cleared up enough that they got to cut through between the cells. Or they needed additional fuel because of expected circling or alternate airports further away.
Nasty weather down there today.
My guess is the original ATC plan had them going south of the the bigger storm in South Texas and then things cleared up enough that they got to cut through between the cells. Or they needed additional fuel because of expected circling or alternate airports further away.
Nasty weather down there today.
Cheers
Strangeness. I'll be interested to see how this shakes out (exact same scenario at this point), although either way it's not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things.
#13
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
#14
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,184
Got a re-route on EWR-IAD last Spring that took our 0h46m flight time up to 1h31m. Fuel burn was way up because they also limited our altitude to 8,000' (in a 737).
The weather often changes, of course, so you don't end up flying the new plan, either. That can cause problems if you're planned, and fueled, for a very long route that ends up being significantly shortened enroute. You may arrive at the destination too heavy to land because you haven't burned a lot of the fuel that you were originally planned to burn.
Some days you just can't win. Heading home, or the hotel, with a nice voucher in your back pocket can really pay off.
Last edited by LarryJ; Jul 24, 2017 at 10:04 am
#15
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,023
Back when UA flew ONT-LAX (planned at 17 minutes w/u to w/d), we once got re-routed in a giant clockwise circle when the LAX landing pattern shifted to the unusual from-the-west landings and the 17 minute flight became an hour and 15 minutes. On a bouncy EMB120 (which was cool; I love turbulence - reminds me of learning to fly in the summer in the west Texas desert!)