What are the rules for delays?

[UMTerp]

Recently flew from Tampa to Dulles, VA on Independence Air. Upon arrival at the airport was told flight was delayed at least 3 hours due to air space being closed the previous day. I noticed that no other airline had the same problem - all of those flights were on time. The earliest Independence Air flight was delayed 1 hour. The second flight - mine - ended up being delayed for 5 hours. The aircraft was at the gate on time, the crew was all there except for the pilot. We requested meal vouchers since the delay would cause us to have to buy lunch which we were not planning to buy. We were told no vouchers were available because the delay was due to weather. The weather was fine and no other airline had the problem. Anyone else ever experience anything like this? What are our rights in a situation like this?
TIA!

UMTerp

 

[Anthony1971]

In most cases an airline will offer meal vouchers if the problem is thier fault. If not they do not have to offer anything some will and some will not. You were flying on a discount airline that tries to keep overhead low so they will not offer anything unless they have to.
I can tell that flights are often delyed due to the wether and there is nothing to do. I have been stuck in airports I would say about 30% of the time I travel. it is not always for hours but sometimes it is.
I would rather know that the planes take off in safe conditions then not even if you are waiting due to yesterdays weather conditions.

 

[UMTerp]

I agree Anthony1971, I would rather be safe at all costs! It just seemed strange that no other airline had the delay problem, even ones on the same route. I guess you get what you pay for with a discount airline!

Thanks!
UMTerp

 

[ducklite]

Just because the weather is fine where you are doesn't mean the weather is fine system wide. It's possible that your flight was coming in from an area with weather problems.

Weather problems aren't controlled by the carrier, thus they generally give no compensation for them.

I prefer to fly larger carriers for exactly this reason, I can get them to reroute me on a different route and generally get me to my destination faster than if I had waited for my original flight, even if I have to change planes along the way.

Anne

 

[CarolA]

The other thing that can happen and may have in your case is that the flight the day before was delayed due to weather. There is a mandatory crew rest period which means if your pilot got in too late, they have to delay his next flight to give him time to meet the mandatory rest.