Travelling

Today, I planned to travel to Houston. Because snow was predicted I left for the airport, early in the morning. After I had passed check-in, customs and the intensified security control, I was finally at the gate. What could go wrong now?

After the scheduled departure time, there was an announcement about a mechanical problem that would be fixed in two hours. Two hours later the flight got cancelled. I had to go through customs again, pick up my bag and back in line at check in. Only this time there were 200 people in front of me.

Update:
Eleven hours after I arrived at the airport, (a lunch, a few power naps, and a few chapters in Machiavelli's 'the Prince' later), I'm at the hotel desk of Schiphol's Sheraton hotel with a direct ticket in my pocket.

Because the hotel was offered at no charge and more snow and freezing temperatures are predicted for the Netherlands, I decided to stay at the airport.

I guess this a rather expensive failure for United Airways, because they have to pay for 200+ new tickets, a plane fell out of their time table and they had to pay for hotel costs. I might even qualify for a compensation payment that is applicable to these
kind of situations since January first.

Update 2
The surprises aren't over yet. While I was unpacking my suitcase, someone opened the door of my hotel room from the outside. I guess I was as surprised as the lady who opened the door, because she received an access key for my room too. (I didn't bribe anyone at the reception desk.)

Update 3
Dale Carnegie's book 'How to win friends and influence people' was right again, today.
i) After standing a few hours in line, I asked a the United representative politely what the options are for my fight to Houston. Fifteen minutes later I had my ticket for a direct flight to Houston where the rest of the people in line were still waiting.
ii) The breakfast voucher for tomorrow's stranded travelers breakfast was only valid between 8 and 9am. That would be after I already should leave for the airport. Tonight, I politely asked for the options and asked if the receptionist could look into the situation. One minute later the manager had validated my voucher for the regular breakfast restaurant (value 29 euro).