HOUSTON, TX – Passengers at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport shared frustration after enduring delays, canceled flights, and poor communication from United Airlines. Some travelers described waiting for hours on the tarmac, missing connecting flights, and receiving limited assistance or information.
One passenger, LaToya, explained her experience: “I got here at about 10:00 yesterday morning. My flight was scheduled to leave at 12:25. It was delayed due to the weather conditions from yesterday. And then we were kind of given this additional every 30 minutes, 45 minutes that our plane would, be taking off. And it was estimated we ended up getting on the plane, actually. And then we taxied and went like we were going to take off. And then we were told there was a mechanical issue on the plane. However, we later found out that that wasn’t true either.”
LaToya added, “Our flight was canceled at about midnight. After all of the lies of ‘we’re going to leave, we’re going to leave,’ and we had to… we’re waiting on this and we’re waiting on that. And so now we can’t even get our bags. We’re having to file claims and to wait in this long line here about getting our bags that we may get them in a couple of days.”
Another passenger, Dylan Walsh, shared, “I had a flight to Philadelphia from here. At around six, I got pushed back an hour by an hour, and it is now close to 2 a.m. I don’t know where my luggage is. They took that when I boarded my first flight back in Dallas. They refused to give us any information except to say that it’s the weather. It’s not the weather because the pilot on the flight before they deplaned us said that they needed a flight attendant and couldn’t find one. That, to me, is a management issue. It is not weather.”
Dr. Patricia Russell Chapman, who has been stranded for three days trying to reach Philadelphia, expressed similar frustration: “I’ve been here for three days, and I’ve been trying to get to Philadelphia for three days. No one’s doing anything about the problem. We can’t get anybody in United. There are many other people that are here with me that are doing absolutely nothing. I’m trying to find my baggage that they never took to Philadelphia.”
Gloria, one of the affected passengers, described the chaos and lack of support she faced during the ordeal.
She shared, “I don’t know where my luggage is. I don’t know where I’m going to be. I don’t know where I’m going. I don’t know where I’m staying. You know, I’m really, really lost right here.”
Gloria explained that her flight was delayed multiple times before ultimately being canceled around 1:30 a.m. She added, “They kept delaying the flights. They always kept saying that they couldn’t get a gate, that there was no gate available. And then when we finally got to the gate, they moved us to the other side of the airport.”
W. Leach described his frustrating ordeal, stating, “I got here on a layover at 11:00 this morning. I was supposed to leave at 12:30. I finally got on a plane at 2:30, sat on the flight line on the runway until 5:30, and then they boarded us and said, ‘Okay, we’re going to take another plane.’ We sat there for two hours and then they said, ‘Oh, we don’t have a pilot, so you have to get off.’ Two flights canceled. Here I am, supposed to leave at noon today, and here I am. I don’t even know where my luggage is.” Reflecting on the experience, he added, “It’s definitely not the friendly skies, you know what I mean?”
Passengers also voiced disappointment over the lack of compensation or meaningful assistance, with some receiving only $15 meal vouchers. Many called for improved management and accountability from United Airlines.
United Airlines has not yet responded to these complaints. Travelers are urging the company to address the situation and improve its handling of delays and cancellations.
It was definitely all of the things described in the article. It was sad to watch all of the folks who had probably just enjoyed the holidays and then to have to endure what was going on all day and night. After 6 bogus gate changes we were cancelled at midnight. Ended up spending an additional thousand dollars for an early morning flight home Sunday. Shout out to Hobby airport and Southwest Airlines. It was a flawless experience. Lesson learned!!
It will only get worse if the flight attendants are forced to go on strike because of the CEOs endless stubbornness and greed.
My daughter had a trip planned with 10 other family members, it cancelled with no help from United.
She went to Southwest at Hobby Airport. She has been texting me how WONDERFUL AND HAPPY everyone has been. She said how Happy and caring and friendly. Just over the top Southwest flight attendants were!
They are making memories on Southwest 💞🎄💞