any compensation for weather related delay?
Mar 3, 2009, 6:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 278
any compensation for weather related delay?
I went to Boston to attend a conference Friday and was heading back BOS-DCA-CMH on Sunday. Of course the snow and wind made it a hard day for all airports and airlines. The BOS-DCA leg was on time. After I got to DCA at around 3:30, the suffering began. All direct flights to CMH got canceled. Only a certain 9351 flight showed up with the status of 'on time.' All the representative told me that was not a passenger flight. They rearrange me to go through PHL. I arrived at CMH at 1:30 am Monday, instead of the original arrival time of 6:30 pm Sunday. Should I file a complain and is it possible for me to get any compensations? I am Star Gold (UA 1P) and frankly speaking UA gives compensation to elite members readily and generously. But I am not too optimistic about US Airways.
Mar 3, 2009, 6:20 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: GSP
Programs: DL FO, US Silver, MR Plat, HH Silver
Posts: 356
I never heard of any airline giving compensation for weather delays and getting home 7 hours late after a snow storm doesn't seem too bad to me.
Mar 3, 2009, 6:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MHK
Programs: AA Exec Plat - some level of status in IHG, Marriot & HIlton
Posts: 1,524
UA gives compensation for weather delays????
Airlines should not & do not give compensation for weather delays? About all you could hope for would be a discounted hotel voucher or something like that if stranded over night. Do not complain about this issue.
Airlines should not & do not give compensation for weather delays? About all you could hope for would be a discounted hotel voucher or something like that if stranded over night. Do not complain about this issue.
Mar 3, 2009, 6:23 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: mystic island, nj, USA
Posts: 2,377
It's highly unlikely but it never hurts to ask.
It is pretty much common knowledge that weather delays are NOT eligible for compensation. Being given priority on re-booking would seem to me to be of more value then miles or vouchers.
Weather happens. I've NEVER asked for compensation for weather and US has been generous to offer it to me on several occasions.
It is pretty much common knowledge that weather delays are NOT eligible for compensation. Being given priority on re-booking would seem to me to be of more value then miles or vouchers.
Weather happens. I've NEVER asked for compensation for weather and US has been generous to offer it to me on several occasions.
Mar 3, 2009, 6:29 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 278
But I think they made a mistake. The weather in Columbus that evening was not as bad as that at either DCA or PHL, but we still took off at DCA and landed and took off at PHL - the experience of landing and taking off at PHL was not fun, with everybody praying for the plane not to crash. And it's quite obvious that the mystic 9351 flight flew DCA-CMH, empty. It is a management mistake rather than weather caused case!
Mar 3, 2009, 6:39 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 19
But I think they made a mistake. The weather in Columbus that evening was not as bad as that at either DCA or PHL, but we still took off at DCA and landed and took off at PHL - the experience of landing and taking off at PHL was not fun, with everybody praying for the plane not to crash. And it's quite obvious that the mystic 9351 flight flew DCA-CMH, empty. It is a management mistake rather than weather caused case!
Mar 3, 2009, 6:49 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Stuck Between the Moon and CLD or SAN, Your local Taco Bell
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT, DL PM, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,510
But I think they made a mistake. The weather in Columbus that evening was not as bad as that at either DCA or PHL, but we still took off at DCA and landed and took off at PHL - the experience of landing and taking off at PHL was not fun, with everybody praying for the plane not to crash. And it's quite obvious that the mystic 9351 flight flew DCA-CMH, empty. It is a management mistake rather than weather caused case!
You argument holds ZERO water. it's not a "mistake" by management - it's a solution that got you home on a NASTY NIGHT reasonably close to schedule. Complaints like this are exactly why airlines put up such difficult walls to compensation and frankly make traveling more difficult for the rest of us.
Mar 3, 2009, 7:02 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 278
I do thank GOD for saving my life that night. I did make a mistake by 'everyone' - people like me did tremble seeing the snow and feeling the wind but it was not necessarily scary to people brave like you and there might be a few on board that night.
Mar 3, 2009, 7:03 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Stuck Between the Moon and CLD or SAN, Your local Taco Bell
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT, DL PM, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,510
Easy it's not. Reality of the weather situation it is.
Mar 3, 2009, 7:11 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,325
Doesn't seem to bad to me either, especially after I spent 36 hours in december to get from BOS-PDX due to weather then getting stranded for 2 more days trying to get back. All they give me is a E-ACP voucher thats worth about 5-10% off a future flight
Mar 3, 2009, 7:14 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 278
Thank you for making me feel better.
Mar 3, 2009, 9:42 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 656
The 9# flight may have not had any flight attendants. Probably repositioning the aircraft to be the 1st morning flight out of CMH.
During bad weather keep in mind, AC, Pilots and FAs get all out of schedule. For the airline to start on track the next day they have to juggle crews and planes to get people in place not an easy thing by any means. There are also overnight maintenance issues that are schedule to be done each night at specific stations.
That AC could have been due maintenance another reason no passengers on it.
During bad weather keep in mind, AC, Pilots and FAs get all out of schedule. For the airline to start on track the next day they have to juggle crews and planes to get people in place not an easy thing by any means. There are also overnight maintenance issues that are schedule to be done each night at specific stations.
That AC could have been due maintenance another reason no passengers on it.
Mar 3, 2009, 11:06 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: DE
Programs: US-CP; LQ-G
Posts: 64
Ok, we know the airlines can't compensate us for weather, but I've got to acknowledge that landing at PHL onto an icey runway at 6pm on Monday night was pretty freaky.
What was worse was the late declaration at US of special weather conditions and easing of restrictions. If the announcement had been made earlier, people could have made other travel arrangements. It was obvious how bad it was going to be long before the weather problems started.
What was worse was the late declaration at US of special weather conditions and easing of restrictions. If the announcement had been made earlier, people could have made other travel arrangements. It was obvious how bad it was going to be long before the weather problems started.
Mar 4, 2009, 6:19 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA-EXP, MR-PP
Posts: 3,440
Qualified flight crew, engineers that designed the plane, ground support crew etc... surely had nothing to do with your safe flight? Perhaps you should really thank those who really got you safely to your destination in a reasonable time despite severe weather issues. How insulting to those who really worked hard for you and you give credit to something else.