It’s here... the worst travel day of the year. And this day is going to be particularly nasty because of weather delays, overcrowded airplanes, stringent security measures, and the increasingly miserable “customer service” from many of our airline carriers.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been corresponding with the media relations department at United Airlines regarding one particular incident brought to my attention by one of you—a hardblogger fan.

On Saturday November 13, hardblogger reader “Rebecca” (and ten other passengers booked on her flight to Detroit) arrived at a Dulles airport gate 12 minutes before departure. They were told, without explanation, that the flight had been “closed.” Furthermore, as Rebecca wrote in her formal United comlaint (which she cc’d to me) the gate agent was, “the most inappropriate, rude, and unprofessional United representative I have ever encountered. He did not attempt to provide an explanation, nor did he extend the slightest bit of courtesy. A number of times, he actually shouted at the passengers.”

Unfriendly skies (David Shuster) continued