Yesterday was a disaster. I left Chicago on a Continental Airlines flight to Houston where I was set to transfer to a flight to Northwest Arkansas. We boarded the plane and were immediately delayed by a thunderstorm passing through the area. But this short delay soon stretched into an hour. Then an hour and a half. Finally, we were cleared to take off, but wait, nothing would be that easy today.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” the captains voice crackled through the cabin. “Bad news … our back up hydrolic pump has failed. We are returning to the gate to have it check out.”

At the gate, we were asked to deplane and told it would be 45 minutes or so. After 45 minutes we were told it would be 30 minutes. After 30 minutes we were told it would be another 30 minutes. Then another 30 minutes. Then another 30 minutes.

At 6 o’clock they finally had the plane ready to roll (the flight was originally scheduled to depart at 1PM). BUT WAIT, the crew had timed out. So we waited for a new crew. They gave us drink coupons, but they weren’t redeemable for beer. So I paid $6.50 for a Ziegen Bock just so I wouldn’t lose my mind. At 6:30, I realized there was another flight to NWA at 7PM. I made the switch.

I arrived at 8:30PM. 12 hours after my trip began. I could have driven here that fast. And I wasn’t the only one. A woman sitting next to me had also been delayed for nearly five hours after her plane had experienced equipment trouble. Yikes. Will I ever fly Continental Airlines again. I don’t know, but I’m not looking forward to the return flight.