Being on Other Side of Cockpit Door Proves Frustrating

Flying as a passenger proves infuriating for this airline pilot.

Les Abend

Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Next ski trip the author says he may just skip the ticket counter and fly Abend Air via Piper Arrow. [Courtesy: Les Abend]

Key Takeaways:

A retired airline pilot experienced a highly frustrating multi-day journey for a ski trip, plagued by mechanical delays, weather cancellations, and missed connections.
The airline's inflexible IT system and reservation policies repeatedly complicated attempts to rebook or get on standby lists, often making the author's proactive efforts counterproductive.
The ordeal led the author to feel embarrassed by the poor travel experience, realizing his former passengers may have endured similar frustrations, and consider private flying for future trips.

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On the third day of attempting to leave Durango (KDRO), Colorado, after our ski trip, it appeared we would be successful in making the 6 a.m. MDT departure to Dallas-Forth Worth (KDFW). Although not exactly the comforts of an international B-777 flight, we were nonetheless grateful that our American Airlines AAdvantage status got us upgraded to a first-class seat on the CRJ-700.

Nothing could go wrong.