I was able to score a free hotel night at my turn-around point on my MR to LAX this weekend. The plan was to fly the Saturday morning BOS-LAX nonstop followed by the LAX-IAD redeye connecting to the first IAD-BOS flight on Sunday morning.
Just after touchdown at LAX I found a number of voicemails from United. The first stated that IAD-BOS had canceled. The next said that I had been rebooked to the Sunday morning LAX-BOS nonstop. In other words, they wanted me to overnight in LAX.
The RCC agent wasn't aware of the weather rule but said that she would check into it. She called a number of people and eventually ended up talking to a supervisor at the main check-in counter. After about five minutes I was told to head through security to counter 39 (the special services check-in counter) and they would sort it out. By the time I got there, a hotel voucher (Westin LAX) was waiting. Meal vouchers were also quickly produced upon request.
I guess what separates these two issues is the fact that my connecting flight canceled whereas your originating flight had canceled. Incidentally, my originating flight also canceled but that was later in the day after I had the hotel voucher in hand.
A recent copy of the relevant profile is here if anyone is interested:
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/S*UAL/INVOLUNTARY_REROUTE-AMENITY
HOTEL AND $15 MEAL VOUCHER ONLY 1 NIGHTS LODGING AND A $15 MEAL VOUCHER MAY BE PROVIDED FOR FLIGHT INTERRUPTION IF AT LEAST 1 OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE MET:
.....
- ANY FLIGHT INTERRUPTION INCLUDING THOSE CAUSED BY WEATHER OR ATC THAT RESULTS IN GS/1K/PASSPLUS/UF/UB OR STAR GOLD (INCLUDING DOMESTIC PORTIONS OF AN INTL ITINERARY) CUSTOMERS BEING UNABLE TO REACH THEIR SCHEDULED DESTINATION BY THE LAST DEPARTURE OF THE DAY.
The verbiage about Star Gold in there is quite interesting as well!