Travel chaos as ALL United flights are grounded nationwide 'after computer glitch...

The Daily Mail ^ | July 8, 2015 | Sophie Jane Evans

[Cincinatus' Wife]

United Airlines flights have been grounded nationwide due to a computer system glitch.

Millions of passengers are currently stranded at airports across the U.S. after the airline requested that all planes be prevented from taking off, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In a statement, United spokesman Luke Punzenberger told Bloomberg that the company had experienced a 'network connectivity issue' and was 'working to resolve this' as quickly as possible.

'[We] apologize to our customers for any inconvenience,' he added.

[uncitizen]

Can’t argue with that. We’re all screwed. Unless you happen to be in the with authoritarian-totalitarians. In which case, you’re not screwed until the others decide to screw you.

[LaRueLaDue]

So, who runs their networks? I thought it used to be HP... Whomever it is, there will be some major performance fines in the works...

[cicero2k]

In a statement, United spokesman Luke Punzenberger told Bloomberg that the company had experienced a 'network connectivity issue' and was 'working to resolve this' as quickly as possible.

'[We] apologize to our customers for any inconvenience,' he added.

There's no level of apology that will allow me to ever fly with them again.

[reformed_dem]

A hat, a brooch, a pterodactyl.

[Puppage]

LOL!!!

How about a cup of coffee?

[reformed_dem]

No thanks!

[Puppage]

LOL. Oh, you’re goooood.

[Puppage]

Surely you’re joking?

[reformed_dem]

Perhaps you mean "Surely, you can't be serious?"

I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.

:)

[Puppage]

A hospital? What is it?

[toldyou]

Maybe you should fly Southwest Airlines instead. Oh wait....

Southwest computer glitch. Flights delayed/ canceled June, 2013
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/22/us-usa-southwest-flights-idUSBRE95L08520130622

Southwest computer glitch. August, 2012
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/04/southwest-airlines-says-computer-glitch-caused-ticket-woes/

Southwest maintenance glitch, February, 2015
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/02/25/southwest-inspections-737-rudder-grounding-embry-riddle/24000203/

Maybe American Airlines? Oh wait...

American Airlines computer glitch, grounds all flights, April, 2013
http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/16/4231552/american-airlines-grounds-all-flights-after-experiencing-nationwide

American Airlines computer glitch delays flights, April, 2015
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/04/computer-glitch-delays-american-airlines-flights-tuesday-night.html/

Maybe Delta? Oh wait...

Delta Airlines computer glitch. February, 2015
http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2015/02/02/delta-air-lines-computer-glitch-frustrates-fliers/22771143/

Delta Airlines computer glitch grounds flights, May, 2004
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/05/01/delta.delays/

There’s always Alaska...

Alaska Airlines, flights canceled due to computer outage, March, 2011
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/118735944.html

Alaska Airlines computer glitch, October, 2012
http://www.kpho.com/story/19768274/alaska-airlines-recovering-from-computer-glitch

Alaska Airlines computer glitch, June, 2013
http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/alaska-airlines-flights-delayed-due-brief-computer/nYY4b/

And Virgin...

Virgin Airlines computer glitch, August, 2013
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-06/system-glitch-hits-flights/4869316

I ran out of time...there are many more. :)

[toldyou]

They called it a merge, but it was a takeover by Continental Airlines! The only thing that was kept was the “United” name. Continental’s CEO and VIP’s from Continental are United’s leaders. They changed so much to their liking, and chose to keep their antiquated computer system. It’s been a disaster since March, 2012.

This explains it:

United Airlines has been experiencing a system wide outage of their passenger service system (PSS), SHARES, since at least 3:20p ET. This system is used for reservations, ticketing, check-ins, etc. It is not operationally involved with safety of aircraft, but is critical for checking in and, in some cases, boarding passengers.

The SHARES system is from Continental Airlines and the combined United/Continental airlines switched to a combined SHARES system on March 3rd, 2012.

[toldyou]

Yeah...they were the good old days. A little bit has changed, hasn’t it? Now it’s impossible to check people in for flights manually. The computers are essential.

For example, Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH) is United’s largest passenger carrying hub handling 16.6 million passengers annually with an average of 45,413 passengers daily. That’s just Houston!

[cicero2k]

Perhaps the computer excuse applies to all airlines as you suggest.

But don’t take it from me, JD Powers shows United to be near the bottom in customer satisfaction in 2015, again:

http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2015-north-america-airline-satisfaction-study

[reformed_dem]

It’s a big building with patients. But that’s not important right now.

[toldyou]

I’m not surprised. The CEO should have been fired long ago!

[Puppage]

I am die’n ova here!!!

[tcrlaf]

Hmm...
Coming RIGHT on the heels of UA’s CEO being fired for payola to the head of the NY Port Authority...

[tcrlaf]

“She was supposed to leave at 6 AM. I don’t know what to tell her about her connecting flight.”

It’s Wed. after a holiday.
There are likely PLENTY of empty seats around the system.

Just tell her to stay calm, stay flexible, and find a HUMAN to talk to.

[sportutegrl]

I think I read somewhere that a Untied flight was grounded because of a bomb threat.