jp12687

i was going to be on this flight then waived off it.

UA app showing diverted and flatware shows it taxiing/left gate but appears to show it flying EWR-SFO

a gone know anything?

WineCountryUA

Appear delayed departure (6 hours) from EWR due to MX and stopping in SFO for crew timeout / swap? Before continuing to HKG. With the weather issues in EWR, replacement crews may be a problem.

jp12687

WineCountryUA

UA's flight status states
And as it recently departed, the diversion was scheduled prior to depart -- a standard situation for a crew swap.

The mechancial issue was posted long before the scheduled departure time, so the weather was not an issue related to the delay.

jp12687

That’s an awful diversion on this route length wise

WineCountryUA

While I am speculating on the crew issue, you go where you can get the needed crew members.

It 9,500 miles vs 8,100 -- 17% increase

So, ORD might have been better, there may have been other reasons for selecting SFO

jp12687

Time wise it’s sinilar length EWR-HKG and SFO-HKG

so add a 6 hour flight and delay.

WineCountryUA

SFO-HKG is 2 hours shorter (14 vs 16 hours) at 6,926 vs 8,065 miles

Yes the total trip time is longer but what was the alternative? once there was an almost 7 hour MX.

ErikStratton

I was on that flight.
We boarded pretty much on time. After maybe a 1.5 total wait on the aircraft (for de-icing, etc.) we finally start rolling down the runway.
just as we approach take off speed - BAM! It felt like we hit a pothole and blew a tire.

we coast to a smooth stop and the First Officer comes on and calmly says it was some sort of blown air gasket (?) on the starboard engine and we will be returning to gate.

i immediately got on the phone to the Premier Desk. They said they “didn’t know anything about it yet”. Then they put me on hold. A few minutes later they came back on the line and said they had rebooked us on the same flight for the next day. We even got our same Polaris seats.

When we deplaned, they announced “everyone please remain at the gate as we will try and get another plane and crew (original crew announced “unfortunately we will time out).

Ive been tracking it. Apparently they did get another plane. But it left 7 hours late and was diverted to San Franandblandedbtherevatb4am NYC time. Then the “new leg” of UA 179, SFO-HKG, was “Cancelled due to operational difficulties (original flight was non stop EWR-HKG).

Just received an email from Customer Care with an apology and choice of $400 ETC or 20,000 miles.
not happy about that. The $400 will just about cover my forfeited hotel reservation in Hong Kong.

But, as the pilot said, it could have been a lot worse. Everyone was able to safely walk off the plane.

(I hate typing on an iPhone!)

jp12687

Wow that’s a story. Glad everyone is safe

TonyBurr

ErikStratton, thank you for the report. If I am (unfortunately) reading it correctly, after the major delay, the diversion to SFO, the flight was canceled and the passengers are in SFO? What a day for them.

ErikStratton

Yep, that’s the sum of it.
(now if I was a United PR guy, I’d put all those pax stranded in SFO on a bus, take them on a tour of Chinatown. Then treat them to a meal at one of the great restaurants there. ).

Hammer0425

That's brutal if they actually took off 7 hours late with the intention to change crews in SFO, landed there in the middle of the night, and then that plan fell apart and they had to cancel. I'm sure more than a couple unhappy passengers who would have just assumed go home in Newark 12 hours earlier to try again today over dealing with standing in lines waiting for a hotel vouchers at 2am west coast time.

jp12687

agreed at this point leaving today from EWR will most likely get you there at the same time. The crazy part is this wasn't weather related despite the craziness of the weather (and the reason i switched off the flight)

764toHI

Trying to look for a silver lining for you - I think since was a mechanical issue and not an "Act of God", you may be reimbursed through any travel insurance (credit card). I would definitely screenshot/save any messages from UA detailing the events of UA179 yesterday. Also doesn't hurt trying to speak with the hotel staff to see if you can get refunded.