While the city makes a bad call, [United] at the Presque Isle Airport makes one worse. Traveling to Presque Isle due to the death of my grandmother was the nightmare of all nightmares. I thought the worst part of my trip was over after the funeral. I was completely wrong.
As a practicing attorney in San Antonio, Texas, keeping a busy but timely schedule is a very important part of managing a successful business. Anyone who has ever flown from Presque Isle or is familiar with the airport understands it is a building with one small room and only two flights leave a day. Unlike the majority of other airports in our country, one traveling through the Presque Isle airport wouldn’t expect long lines or much hustle and bustle. Large airports have long wait times and if you’re late they’ll call your name before closing the airplane doors.
Knowing there wouldn’t be a wait and only having one carry-on piece of luggage, myself and my two aunts arrived a half-hour early to the airport. The flight was scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. so we got there at 5:30 a.m. There were three people inside the airport building, one TSA agent and two regular people. The TSA agent let the United Airlines representatives on the tarmac know that we had arrived. Instead of assisting us and letting us board the flight, we were completely ignored. The airplane door was open. United Airlines employees were walking on and off the airplane. Meanwhile, we were still ignored. Once a United employee walked into the building, [we were told] we should be here at the airport at least a half-hour early — which we were. Instead of being helpful, providing any assistance or understanding, [the employee] walked away and we were once again ignored.
The conduct of the United employees is shameful. Presque Isle is a small northern Maine town which echoes core principles and values, including helping others. The conduct of this airline and its employees should not be something that our community accepts. Our community has options. We should be backing the option that will do right by our people and this small community. There is no reason conduct like this should ever be accepted.
The policies, lack of assistance and lack of moral values represented by United and its employees should be something the city council is embarrassed by. Our community deserves better.
Abbie Carrier
San Antonio
