Fortunately it has been awhile since I had to overnight, but a couple years ago they gave me a voucher for some no-name hotel not close to the airport. The voucher had a credit card, ccv, and expiration date, which a nearby Westin was happy to apply as partial payment. I think I then paid for the balance.

In locations with a UC, I wonder if UA has considered paying their staff overtime to keep the Club open all night? It might save money if there are enough people who don't want to leave the airport vs paying hotels to take them. I had a flight finally cancel for WX at around 11pm with the rescheduled flight at 6am (and the nearest available hotel 30+ minutes away). With little time for sleep, I would have been happy to stay overnight in the Club if it hadn't closed. I realize overcrowding could be an issue, but it would be nice to have that option.

My last forced overnight was at ORD in June. UA wanted to put me in a Holiday Inn Express in Schaumburg. I found space online at the in-terminal Hilton. They said it was sold out in their system. This is where trip delay insurance comes in handy. I stayed at the Hilton and Amex reimbursed in cash money.

Last I knew, UC staffers aren't United employees, but I believe the same is true for Delta, et al. One assumes the clubs can be kept open at an airline's request/direction.

I've seen Delta keep the SkyClubs open all night at ATL. Thankfully, I haven't (yet) been in the middle of a United problem that was big enough that it would be considered/necessary.

I have definitely asked (and was given) a specific hotel during irops. Never hurts to ask, but obviously there is no entitlement. Helps to know which hotels they usually book into and then suggest one of them to the agent.

I've never seen a report of someone earning points, qualifying stay, etc., from an airline-voucher hotel room, but some properties will extend elite benefits (e.g., free breakfast) as a courtesy.

The last time I got a hotel voucher, United paid something like $32 for the Hilton near IAD.

let me change that ;)

Marriott IAD ... earned points and stay credit on a UA voucher ;)

Sometimes you can earn points from the voucher, and sometimes you can't. I'm not sure why or why not, but I have had both experiences.

I was in MCO flying MCO-IAD-PHL on a very delayed MCO-IAD flight. The GA said "do you want to spend the night here or in IAD", I said I'll stay here. She offered me the first flight of the morning, I said "if it's that early, then I want to be in the aiport hotel (a hyatt)". She made a call and I got the room.

No on WX delays, the typically don't offer a hotel even though I'm 1K. Sometimes this is good since if you are 1K/GS, you just book the hotel you want then ask customer service for reimbursement. Now the hotels I typically stay at have rates on par with govt per diem rates and not super high end. I'm not sure if UA has a reimbursement limit. I figure even if they don't reimburse me, they'd probably still offer a voucher of similar value. Typically they do both, reimburse and provide a voucher.

I guess a travel insurance's trip delay benefit (either via typical credit card or purchased separately) would cover a situation like this. For example, airline offers voucher for off-airport hotel, but there is availability at on-airport hotel. Decline voucher, stay at on-airport hotel, and utilize trip delay benefit to get reimbursed for on-airport hotel stay.

Most trip-delay insurance only pays for uncovered expenses. There have been reports of people doing exactly as you mentioned, but a smart adjuster is going to check why the flight was delayed or canceled and know that the airline would be on the hook for hotels for, e.g., mechanical or crew-related delays/cancellations.

In Europe, yes, but a US airline operating a domestic US flight is not required to provide any duty of care in the event of a delay/cancellation.

https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights