United Airlines: By far the worst company that I have ever had to deal with. In 2006, we had a flight from Denver to Providence. In both Providence and Chicago, they let us stand in hour-long lines to enjoy the following experience:

First, they cancelled two consecutive planes from Denver to Chicago—which are two hub cities for them. They lied to us about the reason (weather—however, I am a pilot and can read weather reports). Eventually, some attendant mentioned that they just did not have the crew—this is not a case of heavenly intervention, but a case of lousy management.

We paid to fly American Airlines from Denver to Chicago ourselves. Arriving in Chicago, United then cancelled the first Chicago to Providence plane, leaving only one that day. They put us on standby for the Chicago to Providence airplane to depart 6 hours later. When the time came, they then put other standby passengers who arrived later than us onto this last airplane, instead. (I guess we were unpreferred customers; they never explained to us how they decided to do this.) Late at night at this point, they asked us to stand in another long line for hotel arrangements in the boonies, probably cheapest first.

There is a hotel in the Chicago airport, which was wide open. I guess they deem it too expensive for the customers that they are stranding. So, we left the long line and booked a room in the airport hotel. Despite repeated requests by letter (they no longer have a customer complaint line), they never paid us anything for the Chicago airport hotel.

The sooner United disappears from this planet, the better for the world. Congress: please do not save them. United deserves to die in the market. Instead, please give us a passenger's bill of right. My advice to any passengers: fly Southwest.

Volkswagen: "Fahrvergnuegen.".

AT&T Wireless: "Your mobile life made better."

Hewlett Packard: "Invent."

Ford: 100th Anniversary Celebration. They have a lot to celebrate.