Early yesterday morning, we had a death in the family. So, other family members were called, and they began to try and make their way to Oklahoma. One family member lives in Houston, and tried to fly here. After calling the airlines (both Continental and Southwest fly non-stop between the cities), she learned the best she could hope for all day was standby. So, she was forced to either hope she gets on with standby, drive, or fly to another city and drive. She booked a flight to Tulsa and drove.

What does this story tell you about airlines not serving our city they way they should? In any given day, there are 4 non-stop flights on Southwest from Houston Hobby and 9 non-stop flights on Continental from Houston Bush. 13 flights and all she could hope for was standby. I realize it was a Friday during the summer, but it still seems rediculous to me.

I cannot tell you how many times I have flown out of OKC or into OKC on a full flight where numerous people on standby where left behind. And for every example I have like that, I have another one for when I am changing planes to go to a major city/airport (LAX, DCA, IAD, SEA, etc.), my flight that originate or end in OKC are full, but the connecting leg is about 3/4 full. If OKC has a few flights that are 3/4 full, they drop us to a smaller jet or make the flight less frequently faster than you can say "Will Rogers World Airport." Other cities? They just keep flying half-empty 757s to.

On a side note, I hope we don't lose our San Antonio service on United. If I had any reason to go to San Antonio soon, I would book it on United. I hope that everyone else does the same. Losing this service could only hinder us trying to get additional service to other major cities.