I'm not sure why a hotel wasn't arranged for them. I found this on the US Airways website:
Quote:
Young adults - Upon request, service will be provided by US Airways for young adults ages 15 through 17. The Unaccompanied Minor Request for Carriage form must be completed, and the unaccompanied minor fee applies.
- In the event of a delay or cancellation, US Airways personnel will assist the young adult by making alternate travel arrangements. In the event that flights are unavailable until the following day, we can arrange for overnight accommodations at a hotel.
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Note this policy only applies to "young adults" ages 15-17 who have been designated as unaccompanied minors and the UM fee has been paid. (Ages 15-17 can travel without UM status and are treated like any other passenger even when cancellations/re-bookings are concerned.) There is no mention of hotel accommodations for UMs aged 5-14 years old. This may be why US Airways opted for them to remain at the airport as their UM policies for ages 5-14 only applies to non-stop flights. It may be that UMs on connecting flights are booked "at your own risk."
I'm not sure which hotels US Airways uses in Phoenix for displaced passengers but most hotels near the airport are decent and safe. There are only two or three which come to mind (a Best Western, Comfort Inn and EconoLodge) which I've never stayed in (I live in Phoenix) but look a bit "sketchy" from the outside and are not in the best neighborhood. Knowing how cheap US Airways is the would most likely have wound up in pedestrian accommodations to say the least but I would still write a letter or e-mail to customer service and demand an explanation of why the only option was for them to "camp out" in an office at the airport all night.
As for your concerns about the equipment malfunctions believe it or not cracked windshields happen more often than you'd think. It's not a huge deal and the only reason they had to declare an emergency is because it's FAA mandated. They were never in any danger.
As for your description of "
The WHEEL BROKE upon take off" are you sure the wheel actually came off? My guess is that it was most likely just an issue with a tire. This is another fairly common occurrence and again your kids were in no danger.