Labor Day weekend is here and everyone is going to the airport again, including me. Here’s a little secret I found for United Alrline’s fliers, but first WHY I found it: This past Memorial Day I had a 3pm flight to Chicago. I had planned to leave work early, but had a light week so took Friday off – hoping to standby to an earlier flight. Fortunately United flies to Chicago every 90 minutes to two hours, but I knew the morning or midday flights would most likely be full.

So I showed up at 5:15am for the 6am flight. Even if it was sold out I figured people often miss these yawn inducing early morning flights, plus there are no passengers who’ve missed earlier flights to roll in front of you. I was number three on the 6am standby list, but didn’t make it. I rolled over to the 8am flight where my chances were high. Unfortunately 20 minutes before boarding the 8am flight word came down that the 10am flight was canceled, so they crammed as many folks as possible onto this and subsequent flights, ending my chances for that flight or any other flight before my scheduled time.

I spent the day lounging on the Concourse B Mezzanine level – which is actually pretty nice. If you do need to kill time, and don’t want to purchase a Red Carpet Club pass, it’s the best place to relax if you don’t need to hover near a gate. There are some comfy soft seats spaced around tables, plenty of outlets, and about 15 free business cubicles to plug into and surf the net. I really didn’t mind it – and just read and napped and watched the bored Crocs employees.

For a break I decided to walk to the far east end of Concourse B, where non-mainline flights to non hub cities depart from. Flights to places like Bozeman and Aspen depart from here.

I didn’t realize how far this was – Not exactly Columbus falling off the earth, but it’s quite a hike. Wandering around I found a UAL staffed customer service desk! Normally when flights are canceled the passengers need to shuffle over the the customer service areas, and with a few hundred people that can make for awfully long queues. I see this first hand every time when walking past the desks on the east and west side of Concourse B.

This “secret” customer service area is at the east end of Concourse B, down the stairs, and then halfway to the end of the “finger” pictured below. I believe it’s at gate 88. It’s a long walk, but takes less time than waiting for 50 people in front of you to be helped.

Enjoy it next time you’re waiting around.