Houston Mayor's flight delays came at bad time for airline

March 20--Talk about a bad time to keep the mayor waiting at an airport.

United Airlines is trying to block a proposal by Southwest Airlines to begin international flights out of Hobby Airport. But while United's lobbying team was pressing its case at City Hall last week, the airline delayed Mayor Annise Parker on her departing and returning flight from San Francisco.

Upon her return to Houston, Parker tweeted: "Just landed from spring break trip with girls. 1.5 hours late leaving Houston and 8 hours late coming back from SF. Great merger, United!"

United responded to a request for comment with a statement: "We regret the mayor's inconvenience. We are reviewing the circumstances of her travel and will respond directly to her."

Although United and Continental merged in 2010 and the two reservation systems were consolidated March 3, the two companies haven't completely integrated. CEO Jeff Smisek has said he hopes to accomplish that by year's end.

Parker took her daughters to San Francisco last week, where she received an Out & Equal Leadership Award. The honor recognizes leaders who are public about their gay or lesbian identities and successful in their careers.

KPRC-TV (Channel 2) reported that on her way home, Parker and her children got stuck in a long line at the airport in San Francisco. Here's what happened next, according to the station:

After making it to the front and checking in her children, Parker said, the deadline for check-in had expired so she wasn't allowed to check herself in.

"The not very helpful gate agent came up and said, 'The person who is not checked in is just going to have to stay,'" Parker said. "And I said, 'No, you don't understand. I'm an adult traveling with two minors. Who do you suggest stays behind?' "

Parker told KPRC the entire family was forced to wait six hours for another flight.

Asked if the incident hurts United's chances at quashing the Hobby deal, the mayor's spokeswoman replied in an email: "The mayor's tweet has nothing to do with the current discussions about adding international flights at Hobby."

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