Reporters Learn Firsthand About Banes Of Airline Travel

Journalists covering Washington politics lately have heard plenty of indignant politicians condemning those who use private aircraft to meet deadlines the airlines can't handle. Some of that criticism comes from politicians who, themselves, use government-provided jets for personal travel.

General aviation advocacy groups have launched campaigns to stem the tide of bizjet-bashing, and have had some success. But, as often happens, fate has provided a public relations lesson you couldn't buy at any price.

CNN's political blog notes President Obama left Baghdad about 2:00 pm local time Tuesday, aboard his own taxpayer-provided private jet, Air Force One. The mob of reporters which follows him everywhere was to follow a few hours later, on a United 777 departing Istanbul, Turkey.

But, while President Obama pulled out on time, the reporters were told there was a problem. Their plane was grounded by the failure of an electric motor which allows adjustment of the left seat in the cockpit.

Many among the press corps apparently decided the excuse was implausible, and began to blog and tweet a variety of colorful conspiracy theories about secret plans for presidential travel free from press coverage.

Finally, the director of the White House travel office, Peter Newell, addressed the group to explain that United failed to get the needed repair part on the earliest flight from London to Istanbul, then failed to get it on the next flight, and was bringing in another 777 out of Dubai to be a left-seat organ-donor to get the press plane legal.

The correspondents at least got dinner and free rooms for the night in Istanbul, paid for by United. But they also got compensation that itself may provide a lesson in why people who don't have to fly the airlines, don't.

United is giving them double miles for the trip. Now... just try to actually use them...

FMI: www.united.com