2 unloading baggage, 1 to hold a green plane side luggage check tag to inform people who checked luggage at the plane to stop and wait for the other two to unload the luggage, 4 to direct people into the terminal.

How many United Airlines employees does it take to operate a concourse to concourse shuttle? Answer: 9

Starting Point: 1 person at the gate, 1 person at stairway landing, 2 people by the door, 1 person driving the shuttle.

Ending Point: 3 people by the door, 1 person at the gate.

How many United Airlines employees does it take to operate a ticket counter during heavy delays? Answer: 3 or less (total 6 possible stations to be manned.)

I’m at the Cedar Rapids airport (CID) and there is one UA flight to Chicago and its delayed 80 minutes or so. There is one lady helping a ‘vip’/first class person and 2 others helping the rest of the crowd at a time where most of them will have to visit the ticket counter to rebook flights due to delays.

What a mess. We see headline after headline about how airlines are hemorrhaging money. The same thing is happening in Detroit. Companies are being forced to keep staffing levels at an unnecessary level based on threats from Unions. I mean seriously; it doesnt take nine (9) people to operate a damn shuttle.

IMG_2195, originally uploaded by e53.

I was scrolling through some photos looking for an image to use in the header of this new template and I came across this photo from the e53:immortal in NYC trip last summer. I can’t believe its coming up on a year since we took that trip. Hands down one of the greatest times I’ve ever had.

In this photo you can see a bit of Zeman (also taking a photo of something), a semi-posing Torin, Emily, and Brandon. With any luck maybe some of us will be heading off on another epic journey in 2009. *crosses fingers*