A major technology outage grounded all United Airlines flights Wednesday evening, sparking widespread delays and cancelations across the U.S. While United says it expects a mostly normal schedule to resume by Thursday, hundreds of travelers are still facing disruptions.
🔧 What Happened?
United Airlines confirmed that a technical issue halted all flight departures nationwide, impacting operations from major hubs like O’Hare Airport and Newark Airport to regional terminals. According to FlightAware data, over 150 United flights were canceled and nearly 180 were delayed by early Thursday morning.
The root cause of the outage has now been resolved, according to the airline, but flight schedules are still catching up.
💸 Passengers Eligible for Compensation
United has categorized the service issue as a “controllable disruption.” This classification is crucial — under U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, airlines are required to provide hotel accommodations, meals, and other reimbursements if the delay or cancelation is within the airline’s control.
✅ “We paid customer expenses such as hotels when applicable,” a United spokesperson confirmed.
Affected passengers are encouraged to check the United Airlines flight status page and DOT’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard to understand their rights.
🧳 What You’re Entitled To
If your United flight is canceled, you are legally entitled to:
- A full refund, even on nonrefundable tickets, if you choose not to rebook.
- A rebooking option at no additional charge.
- Compensation for controllable delays (hotel, transport, food, etc.)
If your flight is delayed, here’s how it breaks down:
- Controllable delays (like tech issues): United must assist with accommodations and compensation.
- Non-controllable delays (like weather or FAA issues): Less compensation is required.
🔎 Tip: Always check whether the delay was “controllable” — it determines how much help you can demand.
📍 Affected Airports & Routes
The outage hit both domestic and international routes, including flights departing from:
- Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
Travelers have reported long lines, rescheduling issues, and increased wait times on United customer service lines.
🔄 What United Is Doing Now
The airline is actively working to normalize operations. United said it expects to return to its regular flight schedule by Thursday evening. However, minor residual United delays may continue into Friday.
United’s tech team has reportedly patched the system outage, and the airline has not disclosed specific details about what caused the glitch.
🔔 Stay Updated: How to Check United Flight Status
You can monitor your flight and reschedule as needed by visiting:
- United Airlines Flight Status
- FlightAware – Real-Time Tracking
- [United App or Text Alerts]
📌 Final Thoughts
For frequent fliers and business travelers alike, this event is a reminder that even the biggest carriers like United Airlines are not immune to system-wide tech issues. While United is stepping up with compensation and support, passengers are encouraged to stay informed, know their rights, and use available tools to track flight status and delay updates.
