Exact time of flight cancellation
 

Is there a place that would show the exact time a flight was cancelled? I was scheduled BHX-EWR then EWR-IAH UA 687 on 8/27 but now I'm wondering why I was ever allowed on the plane in BHX, being that the final EWR-IAH flight of 8/26 was diverted to ORD and the first several flights of the following morning were cancelled (all of them eventually). I ended up being stranded in EWR for 4 days and out of hundreds of dollars for hotel fees. I know much of this is my fault for not checking the flight status of 8/26 and early 8/27 flights when I woke up or simply not making a change to a later date but in a way I feel a bit deceived as well, as if I was being sent to EWR knowing that it would be cancelled. Though to be fair the agents in BHX probably weren't paying attention to news in Houston fully either since their flight only goes to IAH. Also I don't think a boarding pass would be issued for a cancelled flight either. Just wondering if such info is available and any other thoughts. Thanks.

1410Z, which would be D-5.5h. You were already en route, less than an hour out from KEWR.

I'm not sure how you think UA deceived you. They'll let you board one flight even if you're expected to misconnect to your next. You could have pushed your flight for no cost under the IAH waiver if you asked.

You're right in the end it's my fault for not looking into the weather forecast and other flights and the IAH situation in general. It's just a bit odd that UA waited so late to cancel with other airlines like SQ and BA were much more proactive

To provide a generic answer, sites like flightaware or flightstats record this data.

Long haul international is completely different...

In a situation that are a lot of factors as to when the decision is made. UA working from a hub has different set of factors that an airline with just a few longhual flights.

It is interesting to note when UA moves first there are comments of why did UA moved before the others and when UA is not first, folks wonder why not first. The reality is the decision are made at different times due to different factors.

maybe fly to austin instead?

if you were in business class or you have *G on UA then UA will pay the hotel in EWR till they can get you to your destination. Did you ask for hotel vouchers and were denied? If so, send in your hotel bill to United and ask for a check.

I don't know if it's new policy or just specific flughaffens but. Twice in the last three weeks When delayed overnight UA provided a 'Hotels.com' discount instead of a voucher.

I actually did ask and the customer service desk said no. Then later I saw others at my hotel with vouchers, so I am definitely going to send my bill.

Delayed for what reason? If it was for something like weather where they aren't responsible for the delay then this is probably just the new equivalent of their "distressed passenger" rate/discount they did previously.

If it was a delay where they would have previously provided a hotel then that's... umm... interesting...

Indeed...how dare UA not fly you into a major hurricane, one that was forecast to impact the IAH area well before you got on the plane in BHX.

What does your travel insurance say about paying for the extra hotel nights?

Depending on how hard you want to push the EU261 right-to-care rules might apply here - EU generally says final destination but US carriers usually look only at the segment ex-EU - to get the airline to pay for the hotel but travel insurance is likely a far easier path to pursue.

no discount code. UA must pay for hotels for intercontinental premium passengers. Period.

Yes, if SAG or in C-class then *A rules mandate that UA pays for hotels and incidentals irrespective whether the delay is controllable or uncontrollable.

OP, sorry for your troubles. I share the opinion that UA was not trying to deceive you; at the time you departed BHX, they were planning to run your EWR-IAH flight.

Note that on the morning of 8/27, officials fully closed IAH to all commercial flights. (UA doesn't control the closure of the airport). So there was no UA could operate this flight, once the airport was closed.

A lot of really poor information in this thread.

1. OP departed from the EU. Therefore UA's "duty of care" under EC 261/2004 applied. It includes hotels & food. While I doubt that UA will cover 4 days because it likely would have returned OP to the UK via one service or another, at least the first 1-2 nights will be covered. So long as OP's expenses are documented with receipts and submitted with his claim under the Regulation, he should not have any issue in reimbursement. The balance will be covered by his travel insurance.

2. UA does not stop people from boarding their flights because they may misconnect. There are just as many people who would complain bitterly if that had happened in this same situation (although the catastrophic nature of the Houston situation is not the ordinary case). UA has multiple systems which people may check and had a weather waiver in place well before the actual cancellation took place. Passengers have an obligation to do some checking rather than have carriers direct them.

3. UA's "Trip in Vain" provision would have had OP returned to BHX in short order if he had wanted to. UA would have refunded the ticket as well. All on request.