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Glitch Delays Travelers at Eppley Passengers Wait 90 Minutes or Longer at the United Airlines Check-in Counter Because of Computer Problems.

Posted on: Wednesday, 4 January 2006, 18:00 CST

By Michael O'Connor

A computer problem that shut down United Airlines' global check- in and reservation system Tuesday evening delayed flights for weary holiday travelers at Omaha's Eppley Airfield.

More than 200 people lined up at the United check-in counter for flights to Chicago and Denver.

The computer problem started about 5 p.m., said Jeff Green, a spokesman for United in Chicago. The system was fixed about four hours later but delayed about 200 flights worldwide as airports had to check in passengers manually, Green said.

Some flights pushed back their takeoff times to allow passengers stuck in long lines to board, while other passengers had to reschedule flights.

The computer problem did not cause any flight cancellations, Green said.

He said the computer problem caused delays of 60 to 90 minutes at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Green said he did not know how long flights were delayed at Eppley, but passengers said they faced waits of 90 minutes and longer.

A United official at Eppley declined to comment on the problem.

The scene at the United counter would have looked familiar to anyone who has faced flight delays.

A toddler had a melt-down, sagging grade-school kids leaned against their parents, adults read books, talked on cell phones or slumped onto their luggage.

Some passengers at Eppley said that they were offered seats to Chicago or Denver but that United told them they could not be guaranteed a connecting flight to their ultimate destinations.

Shawn Griep was visiting family in Schaller, Iowa, and was scheduled to catch a 6:30 p.m. flight to Denver and then board a connecting flight to his home in Seattle.

But after he had waited more than an hour, his line at the check- in counter at Eppley still wasn't budging.

He summed up his experience in one word -- boring.

Melanie and David Edward arrived at Eppley at 5 p.m. for a Denver flight and at 7:30 p.m. were still waiting with their two children, Quintin, 7, and Rachel, 9.

They needed to get back to their home in Los Angeles for work and school after visiting grandparents in Elkhorn.

Melanie Edward said there wasn't much her family could do except hope that the line started moving.

"You have no control over it,'' she said.

Source: Omaha World - Herald

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