Did some Space-A travel last weekend, and three weeks before.

Used to be: go to the kiosk, press a button labelled "employee." Employee-screen popped-up. Type in your file number, up comes your PNR, print boarding passes to get through security. About two minutes.

Now, new and improved IT and Shares:

Kiosk looks the same, but no "employee" button. Try swiping a credit card; says I don't exist.

(No kidding) about 300 people in line for non-premium ticket counter at SFO. Had two hours until departure, I thought "won't get there in time."

Went to First-class counter and asked if it would be OK to get boarding cards. They helped me, took 10 minutes. (NO checked bags!)

Let's see; Jeffy wants to improve the product and lower costs, but the only option for employees is to tie-up the premium employees?

I haven't had to use this in a while, but the "lost-bag" telephone number is to a voice-activated computer. On my way to training at DENTK, my bags were lost some years back. I called the number and it asked:

"Say the name of the airline you work for, for example, United Express."

Me: "United."

"I'm sorry, I didn't get that. Did you say Lufthansa?"

"No!"

"OK, please say the airline again slowly."

"You-nigh-ted."

"I'm sorry, I didn't get that. Was that Mesaba?"

@#$$%^^!

Click.

(Eventually, I got my bags).