Do they just make up flight information on the Internet?

[Kermit]

My mom is flying into town today, and I'm supposed to pick her up. United's website said that her flight was scheduled to depart around 2:00. So around 2:20, I checked the website again, and it said that the plane was in flight and that it departed at 2:15. Now it says that the flight departed at 2:45. But I just spoke to my mom on her cell phone, and the flight hasn't even departed at all yet. So why does it say that the plane is in flight, and how on earth did they come up with the fake departure times?

 

[Patrick IL.]

Amy when awaiting someones arrivial or checking on them I like to use this site. I has always given me very accurate information and you can actually track the flight through the course of the trip...just punch in airlines and flight number. I have found it much more accurate then calling or checking with the airlines for that information.
http://www.trip.com/trs/trip/flighttracker/flight_tracker_home.xsl

 

[Grog]

I just read where the worm that was causing the internet slowdown yesterday was also responsible for causing problems with airlines as well. That might have been part of the problem. Here is a link to the story.