[jojodougherty]

I know I should have made it less wordy, but here is the letter I sent to United yesterday.

Hello.
I traveled to San Francisco over the weekend. I left Boise on Friday, 12/03, for a fun trip with friends. My flight out was great. (FLT # 6380) and the flight attendant was absolutely wonderful!

My trip home was not as wonderful and I want to let you know what happened. I love flying United, but this was NOT a good experience.

My flight was due to depart at 7:35PM. I was at the airport about 4PM (shared a BART ride with friends leaving earlier than I was). I checked the monitor after a while and it was delayed 20 minutes. No big deal. An hour or so later I checked again and now our departure time was 8:20. I grabbed a newspaper and sat down for dinner.

At about 7:40 I went to check the monitor, and my flight was not there. Hmmm. I called my husband and asked him to check on the computer the status of my flight. I thought maybe it was cancelled. He did, and he said departure time was 7:53 (I think,) Whoa! It is now about 7:49. I run to the gate (which is across from the restaurant I am at) and they have already closed the doors and didn't want to let me on.

But, another lady showed up right behind me with the same problem. “The monitor said 8:20!” They let us on. I go to my assigned seat, 1D, and the flight attendant says I cannot sit there. "But my ticket says..." She interrupts mid-sentence and says, "I already counted the front. You'll have to sit in the back of the plane." So I did.

She started the general safety talk with "So, I guess we'll just start this all over again." VERY sarcastically. Even the woman across the aisle from me said, "Do you really think that was necessary?" When we could get up and the FA was starting the beverage service, I got up to use the restroom, thinking she would start at the front of the plane, like the great FA on the Boi - SF flight on Friday did.

When I tried to open the restroom door to go back to my seat, she had it blocked with her cart. After trying to get out a couple of times, she finally said, "Wait a minute!" So I waited for her to give the all clear. And waited. Finally I tried the door again to discover the she had moved down the aisle without letting me know I could leave the restroom. Okay.

She then brings the beverage cart by my seat. I ask for a glass of chardonnay. The FA says, "I am not serving liquor tonight," and turns to the woman across the aisle. I say, "Excuse me. May I have a glass of sparkling water then?" She pours it for me, turns back to the woman and her young daughter and says, "I know. I don't like bubbles either," in a condescending tone of voice. It was, again, not necessary.

She might have been having a bad day, but she seemed awfully nice to everyone else. I am not sure about the lady that was late also; she was sitting quite a bit in front of me. Not sure if she was allowed to sit in her assigned seat or not. I do not think it is hard to add the number one to a head count. No further incidences. I am happy to be home.

I thought you should hear my experience. It was rather unpleasant. Thank you!

[cortney]

this sounds like it was a united express flight and i believe if the flight number begins with a 6 its a skywest flight. i would also write to skywest since they were the operating carrier

[jojodougherty]

Thanks for the tip! I will!

[HoustonFlyer]

Opening a door that was already closed to accommodate a late passenger is a very rare occurrence. Flight Attendants usually are offended when passengers come in late smelling of alcohol. So I trust you were not drinking in the restaurant that caused you to be late. Having to rush to the rest room at the start of the flight, and then asking for Chardonnay would not have helped either. I wasn't there and so I'm not accusing you of anything but if you say she was nice to everyone else, something about you must have made her like that.

I would suggest that if they ever have cause to open a door that has been closed, the passenger should be on his or her ps and qs and be very thankful to have made it on the flight. Don't protest that your ticket says something else when you are motioned to sit at the back. Don't ask for any out of the ordinary drinks. Just my suggestions.

When a flight is late for taking off, you are still required to sit in the area of the gate and so be ready to board. What sometimes happens if the delay is for mechanical reasons, the mechanics give an estimate, and then they get the aircraft ready before they expected and the pilot is ready to leave as soon as he can.

You have nothing to complain about. If you are writing the airline, write them a nice "thank you" letter for taking the trouble to open the door for you.

[jojodougherty]

I really do appreciate that they opened the doors because I would've been stuck at SFO for the night. I was drinking Diet Coke because I was tired and water to stay hydrated. I was getting home really late and I had school the next morning. I always have a glass of wine on the airplane because I am a very nervous flyer. Sometimes even two, but that is my limit. I was planning on going to the gate at about 8PM or so, but double checked the monitor at 7:40 just in case - thank goodness! I had to use the restroom because there was no time to go before I got on the plane like I usually do. I don't like using the restroom on the airplanes. It's cramped, uncomfortable, and usually there is a line. I fly frequently and I have waited for late passengers plenty of times. Sometimes a situation cannot be helped.