When a new airliner goes into service, travel fans clamor to be first on board. Airlines love to be first to fly a new jet too. It's a great marketing tool, one reason United Airlines was the first U.S. carrier to take delivery of the twinaisle, threeclass, 250-seat Boeing 787 Dream liner, which is being touted for its creature comforts and fuel efficiency. The carrier is giving domestic passengers a chance to fly on the new plane, with flights from Houston to Los Angeles, Denver and Chicago--even though the Dreamliner is designed for long-haul service.
But breakdowns have broken the Dreamliner...