Flight delayed with clear skies? United Airlines will show you why weather is to blame

• United Airlines will now send passengers real-time weather maps to explain flight delays.
• Specialized customer service representatives will sit alongside operations managers to get a better understanding of what’s causing delays across the network.
• Airlines are typically not held responsible when weather delays flights, because the cause is seen as being out of their control by regulators.

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It can be confusing when you’re looking up at a clear blue sky but your flight is delayed by weather. United Airlines knows that and will now send passengers real-time weather maps to explain those kinds of delays.

Because flights usually cover large distances that overfly different regions of the country, the weather over the Great Plains, for example, can still cause significant headaches on transcontinental flights, even if the conditions are perfect on both coasts.

“With more people traveling this summer than ever, we wanted to give our customers an easier way to stay connected to real-time information about their flight and texting was the simplest solution,” Jason Birnbaum, United’s Chief Information Officer said in a statement. “We know customers appreciate transparency and by combining innovative technology-enabled tools with people power, we can give more people, even more in-the-moment details about their flight.”

According to United, specialized customer service representatives will sit alongside operations managers to get a better understanding of what’s causing delays across the network. They can then send texts or emails to affected travelers to explain what’s going on.

When weather is behind the disruptions, those updates will include links to live, local weather maps that highlight the conditions affecting their flight. United said customers can also access weather maps in its app.

What you’re entitled to when your flight is delayed by weather

Airlines are typically not held responsible when weather delays flights, because the cause is seen as being out of their control by regulators.

That said, United offers flexible rebooking options in the event of delays or cancellations. All airlines are required to provide full refunds if a flight is canceled for any reason.

The Department of Transportation has a dashboard that outlines airlines’ customer commitments for delays and cancellations that are in the carriers control, which typically includes those caused by staffing or mechanical issues. 

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.