Thousands of United Airlines flights across the US were grounded for two hours on Wednesday, after what the airline said was a “network connectivity issue”.
The airline has said it is working to restore flight operations but residual delays were expected throughout the day for all 4,395 daily departures.
Passengers stranded at airports across the United States, and at some international airports, used social media to air their frustrations — some more cleverly than others.
United flights are all grounded and I'm stuck in a small airport with no good food #thanksUnited
— Annie Neal (@AnnieNeal13) July 8, 2015
If today you are flying on United Airlines I suggest you pack a gallon of patience. https://t.co/tARuKGnTDR
— Ana Maria Salazar (@Amsalazar) July 8, 2015
Glad I'm not flying #United tomorrow. New slogan idea: "It's as though you never left the ground". #airlines
— Scott Robinson (@ScottRobinson83) July 8, 2015
@united The technology breakdown this morning set my vacation off on a horrible note! #vacationfoul #UnitedAirlines
— rjmiller22 (@rjmiller22) July 8, 2015
The chaos at LAX is like Thanksgiving times a million. BUT I got a cool handwritten boarding pass and saw the Dalai Lama, so. #United
— Alison Zatta (@zatta) July 8, 2015
@united delayed flight on Sunday and delayed flight today. Guess I should talk to customer service, oh no one here. pic.twitter.com/uC0yKtIUAP
— Tony Reinke (@tjreinke) July 1, 2015
Passengers with multiple flights know they will experience the worst of the delay ripple.
@united will the delay back up flights all day? Made it to LGA now only two flights to go? #United #travel
— Andrew Diffenderfer (@therealdiff) July 8, 2015
And there were a few passengers who expressed sympathy for United airline staff on the frontlines of customer relations.
3 hr layover in DIA, if one more person yells at the gate attendant I'ma flip. It IS NOT their fault technology stopped working. #United
— Kat B (@KatTheKurious) July 8, 2015
I think I'd prefer my flight to be delayed rather then leave and u turn cuz the plane is broken #United #Allegiant
— davis williams (@newspaper_man) July 8, 2015
I'd hate to be a #United #SysAdmin today 😕
— Roberto Martínez (@yukiyu99) July 8, 2015
For many stranded in the airport, their travel plan included a trip to the nearest bar.
Thank you #united for the delay. Cheers! pic.twitter.com/H1xBV5P0uf
— Jayna Flowers (@jay_bird12) July 8, 2015
With the advent of a technical glitch at the New York stock exchange which caused trading to halt, conspiracy theories were quick to hit social media.
Hmmm... I am no conspiracy theorist. But this seems an odd coincidence? Is the U.S. Being hacked?? #United #NYSE pic.twitter.com/lMfA3uyJTU
— Tiffers (@tiffdoh) July 8, 2015
In a bit of unfortunate timing, the last post by United Airlines on Instagram was asking passengers to tell them “where you fly to relax” with this photo of the “most relaxed plane ever”.
