Flying UA for the first time in months last night on a domestic short-haul. After we'd all boarded, and just about the time when we were supposed to depart (though still sitting at the gate), an FA announced that the captain and FO would not be there for about an hour. She furthermore informed us that the passengers couldn't deplane while waiting because the systems were "shutting down in about 15 minutes so we can't re-board you if you if you leave the plane." Seemed kind of odd...
Anyway, the flight crew made it to the plane about 75 minutes later. The pilot nicely apologized for the delay, explaining that they only found out en route from their previous flight that they were supposed to fly ours. When I happened to run into the crew waiting for their hotel shuttle afterwards, I thanked them for at least getting us to our destination and asked what had happened. Not sure I understood the pilot's explanation, but it had something to do with his system in the air not being able to easily communicate with the crew assignment system on the ground.
Sorry I'm being vague here, including erring on the side of caution because I don't want to get the captain in trouble. But does anyone have a sense of what might have been going on with these two IT hassles, and whether they are unique to UA's troubled IT system?
Anyway, the flight crew made it to the plane about 75 minutes later. The pilot nicely apologized for the delay, explaining that they only found out en route from their previous flight that they were supposed to fly ours. When I happened to run into the crew waiting for their hotel shuttle afterwards, I thanked them for at least getting us to our destination and asked what had happened. Not sure I understood the pilot's explanation, but it had something to do with his system in the air not being able to easily communicate with the crew assignment system on the ground.
Sorry I'm being vague here, including erring on the side of caution because I don't want to get the captain in trouble. But does anyone have a sense of what might have been going on with these two IT hassles, and whether they are unique to UA's troubled IT system?