It's not just guitars United breaks

[DFW]

As smoothly as everything went yesterday, United cancelled our flight up to Maine this afternoon, and there are no others with seats except for Agony Airlines (US AIR) at 10 PM for $1000 a seat. We MUST be there this evening, and there are no others left unbooked. So, we're cancelling our day in NYC, renting a car, driving to Portland Airport to pick up the car we originally had rented for the weekend.

Our travel agent in Dallas said he talked with the airport cops, and they said not a day goes by when they don't have to intervene to keep frustrated passengers from beating up airline personnel for leaving passengers SOL. I am beginning to understand why.

[liberal N proud]

1. The Un-Friendly Skies of United

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. How awful, my dear DFW!

I'm really sorry to hear about this mess. But you're an inventive couple, and I know you can find your way through this.

Don't let the bastards get you down!

Have a great time in spite of them.

[mnhtnbb]

3. Oh, no. What a PITA.

United was the airline that gave us the trip from he!! last fall when we flew
to Vienna. We did get there, eventually, and I hope your drive is pleasant.

Did you check train schedules?

[KamaAina]

4. Wheelchairs, too.

So does every other airline. They always act as though no one using a wheelchair has ever flown before, going back to Wilbur and Orville Wright.

[hermetic]

5. Told you so

Bring books. Flying in the US is totally fecked. People on the interior don't experience it so much. But coming in from another country?

But, we're not supposed to get all down and grouchy here in the Lounge. So, I will again just wish you safe travels and hope you get to all your destinations on time.

[mainer]

6. I am so sorry to hear that. Flights to Maine often get cancelled.

We're the end of the line.

The drive from NYC to Portland isn't too horrible, so I hope you're here in time.

[DFW]

7. The drive from NYC to Portland was no picnic

Friday afternoon traffic out of Manhattan, rush hour traffic through Hartford, and rain from Sturbridge to Portsmouth, NH.

But we finally made it. I had forgotten how beautiful it was up here. Besides the Zumwalts, we met a great many friends, and I reconnected with Sen. Angus King, whom I had first met almost 20 years ago at a Gridiron dinner when my dad was president. He was Governor at the time.

I'll post about the ship christening at a later date, but besides the speech by Ann Zumwalt, the best speech was by Sen King, who said the biggest blessing the ship and its crew could have was for it never to need to fire a shot in anger.

Most everyone refrained from making jokes about the ship's commanding officer, whose name is Captain James Kirk (really!).

[mainer]

8. Yes, we Mainers have laughed about Capt. James Kirk.

All he needs is a medical officer named McCoy.

Angus is a gifted speaker, and even though I don't always agree with him, I do believe he's not beholden to any interests except the state of Maine. We've known him since his first campaign for governor, but the person I most adore is his wife!

[progressoid]

9. Yeah, my M-I-Law has finally given up on United.

She's been a faithful patron from a couple decades and has overlooked a LOT of their crap. This last trip broke the camel's back though. No more.

[Arcanetrance]

10. I will never fly United again if I can avoid it

I'm legally blind and I use a white cane when I go places. Well four years ago I flew United from EWR to IAH and only had my rigid cane. The flight attendant broke my cane and United wouldn't take responsibility for it saying it was my fault for not having a collapsible cane.

[raven mad]

11. Slouse used to work as Loadmaster - he called UAL

"UNTIED" Air.