The truth is non-partisan

While sitting in the Phoenix Airport on June 30, waiting for a flight to Edmonton, Alberta, I wrote about how the flight was delayed by an hour. A US Airways flight scheduled to Memphis was put into our gate, B16, before us. The check-in staff couldn't find the crew for the Memphis flight so they broadcasted a number of times asking for pilots Hunt and Smith. After a half hour of waiting the crew finally showed up. At the same time, the staff at check-in asked for volunteers to take a flight next day in exchange for a free flight anywhere in the lower 48. They were looking for 8 passengers for what they described as an over weight problem. (I assumed they had just overbooked.) Passengers on other flights were also being offered free trips. When they finally loaded, four passengers were left sitting without a flight. One of the check-in staff announced at one point, "I know you're frustrated. I'm feeling frustrated, too."

In the meantime, Edmonton passengers had to show their boarding passes and passports. We were told to wait closeby or we might not get on our flight. Finally after an hour and a half delay we boarded. No one was left behind. Our flight wasn't completely full.

I had assumed the other flights had overbooked. When I got on the plane, I visited with the stewardess who indicated that with temperatures close to 120 degrees planes have trouble getting enough lift if they are over a certain weight. I also learned that flight crews can only fly something like 100 hours a month. By the end of the month airlines have difficulty finding crews to cover all flights.