Quantcast

United Airlines cancels Washington-San Francisco flight after 17-hour delay

United Airlines cancels Washington-San Francisco flight after 17-hour delay
Research
Webp uefmsw7k0lt5f20uxuve40u9xjr0
Airbus A380 | Airbus

Sunday morning's United flight 1116 from Washington Dulles to San Francisco was canceled after passengers waited for approximately 17 hours. The cancellation resulted from a series of issues, including weather delays, mechanical problems, an aircraft swap, and crew members exceeding their maximum duty hours.

Passengers boarded the Boeing 787 twice and even pushed back from the gate before the flight was ultimately canceled. Despite the inconvenience, United Airlines communicated consistently with its customers throughout the ordeal.

One passenger shared a stream of texts from the airline that provided updates on delays, meal vouchers on two occasions during the delay, and compensation when the flight was finally canceled. "That $175 – while not generous or reasonably compensatory for the inconvenience – was given without any request," said one customer. "Customers can always complain and might get more."

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The flight was initially scheduled to depart IAD at 8:35 a.m., but after repeated delays, it was canceled around 1 a.m. the next day. Passengers experienced multiple departures from the gate only to return due to crew members timing out.

United Airlines did not attribute the cancellation solely to weather-related issues but acknowledged that it ultimately had to cancel due to lack of crew availability. This left them responsible for compensating passengers.

In a statement sent via text messages throughout the day, United provided clear explanations for each delay and offered meal vouchers and compensation proactively. The airline also sent an apology email several hours later with an Electronic Travel Certificate worth $175.

"Bad weather happens, and so do mechanical delays," noted one passenger. "You don’t want an airline pushing through unsafe conditions. And crew rest rules are legal requirements." The passenger added that although United failed to deliver the flight, they appreciated how well the airline communicated updates and reasons for delays.

United Airlines' proactive communication efforts were highlighted as impressive by those affected despite failing to complete their journey as planned.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Taking place on July 19 and 20 in Portsmouth, Emirates Airline will be present at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix offering a variety of experiences.

Jul 17, 2025

Flight EK913 from Emirates Airlines arrived at Damascus International Airport, marking the airline's return to the Syrian capital.

Jul 17, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines has announced the launch of a new daily passenger service to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Jul 16, 2025

Etihad Airways has announced the launch of services to seven new destinations—Almaty, Baku, Bucharest, Medina, Tashkent, Tbilisi, and Yerevan—beginning in November 2025.

Jul 16, 2025

Airlines for America has emphasized the need for increased funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to hire more air traffic controllers, update infrastructure, and build on the One Big Beautiful Bill down payment.

Jul 16, 2025

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has announced a complete closure of Aviation Boulevard between Arbor Vitae Street and Century Boulevard from July 14 at 9 a.m. to July 21 at 6 a.m. Shuttle access to the LAX/Metro Transit Center will remain...

Jul 16, 2025