Stop the presses...

No sooner had I pressed send on my last blog update, when the captain came on to announce a further 30-min delay. It seems that maintenance is using tape to secure some loose bits of exterior fiberglass that are "peeling off".

Note to United's stockholders: "Good news. Cost cutting measures are a success. Passengers are now used to hunger...and the mechanics have stopped complaining about using tape to hold the plane together. Consider having the crew act out popular stories rather than paying for in-flight movies."