A319
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 249; Flight Crew Total 13320; Flight Crew Type 7298
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted
Human Factors; Weather
Enroute to DEN we attempted several times to contact Dispatcher to inquire about the conditions at DEN; and the respective arrival gates going into DEN; with impending thunderstorms impacting all the above. We were unable to get any answers; or establish any communication with this dispatcher; which created an unsafe situation for us. Had we been able to get some timely weather information; we could have immediatly altered our course to be at the only arrival gate that was accepting arrivals into DEN. As a result; we were sent there by DEN ATC late; which created an unnessessary delay in holding; and a subsequent divert to COS; when we could have been landing at DEN. The divert to COS put us in another situation on the ground at COS. We got into the 'Passenger Bill of Rights' issue while on the ground in COS due to the an inabity to refuel (stationary storm that didn't move; and had lightning within 7 miles). Upon finally getting refueled; we flew up to DEN in weather that was precarious at best; and landed at DEN with a thunderstorm lurking off the South end of runway 8. Not a safe situation!  This whole episode could have been prevented if we had been able to communicated with our dispatchers in a timely manner....which is A FEDERAL LAW! These lapses in communication with our dispatchers is a recurring theme as of late; and is flat out UNSAFE!
A319 Captain reported he was unable to contact Dispatch to discuss options and planning; which in his opinion created an unsafe situation.