WASHINGTON 鈥� People looking to fly on United Airlines on Wednesday should expect long delays and prepare for cancellations, similar to the situation when a major snowstorm hits the East Coast.
That鈥檚 the word from CBS 草莓传媒 correspondent Chris Van Cleave, who told 草莓传媒 Wednesday morning that the 鈥渦ser request automation issues鈥� (the Federal Aviation Administration鈥檚 term) with the airline鈥檚 reservation system are leaving flights paralyzed.
鈥淚f you can鈥檛 check in your passengers, and you can鈥檛 check in your crew, you don鈥檛 know who鈥檚 on your plane 鈥� you really can鈥檛 operate that way,鈥� Van Cleave says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e basically computer-less.鈥�
Regional carriers such as United Express related to United are releasing their planes, which is 鈥渁 hopeful sign,鈥� he says. But still, 鈥渢here鈥檚 not a clear timeline yet as to when they鈥檒l have it back online.鈥�
And as with a major snowstorm, Van Cleave says, 鈥淐ertainly check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport, and expect some delays.鈥�
