I’m in the midst of trying to settle a score with a major American airline. To those seeking to do the same thing, I offer this simple piece of advice: Be patient … if you can.

My nightmare began the evening of June 6 on a United Airlines flight from Amarillo to Portland – the one in Oregon. The plane took off from AMA a bit late that afternoon and headed southeast toward Houston. About 20 minutes out, the pilot told us we would be diverted to College Station because inclement weather had shut down Houston’s Intercontinental Airport.

I glanced at my watch. I had a long layover at IAH so I figured, “No sweat. I’ll still get to Portland on time.” I knew how the Gulf Coast weather changes quickly. We landed in College Station.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, the pilot told us IAH was reopening and we would take off shortly … after the plane was refueled.

Then the fun began. About an hour later, the pilot came back on the air and said the ground crew put too much fuel in the plane and had to “defuel” the bird before we could take off. More time elapsed. Pilot then told us we couldn’t defuel the plane and we would take off and fly around for awhile so we could burn off the “excess fuel.” A 20-minute hop to IAH turned into an hour-plus.

I looked at my watch again. Out of luck. I would miss my connection to PDX. We landed in Houston. We sat on the taxiway for about, oh, an hour. Weather-related bedlam at the airport had backed gate traffic up. The pilot eventually parked our bird. We got vouchers for a hotel and some meals and then were bused to our hotel.

I took a three-hour power nap. Woke up. Got back to the airport in time for a 7:33 a.m. flight to Denver, where I would connect to another flight to Portland. We boarded the plane, a shiny new 787 Dreamliner.

We sat there. Pilot told us the plane wouldn’t start. We exited the plane, walked to another gate and boarded another Dreamliner. Our 7:33 a.m. departure was now set for 9:30 a.m. Then that departure was delayed while the crew awaited the arrival of the drinks they would serve us en route to Denver. We left around 10:30 a.m.

I looked at my watch … once more. With any luck we would arrive at Denver and I could make my connecting flight to Portland – but only if the airline would ensure the plane could wait a few minutes for me and some other passengers needing to make that connection.

We got to Denver about 15 minutes past the departure time. I deplaned, went to the agent at the end of the gate and was told my connecting flight already had taken off; I needed to rebook another flight.

I did. I then waited nearly 10 more hours in Denver before taking off for Portland at 9:22 p.m.

I landed safely at PDX.

Moral of the story: If it had been just the weather, I would have made every connection the previous evening and would not have lost a full day of vacation.

But now I’m trying to work through the airline’s website to get someone’s attention. The link I’m supposed to use keeps giving me “error” messages. I go to the “feedback” link. I’ve filled out three forms telling the airline what happened and asking for some kind of compensation, either a refund or a travel voucher.

I’m still waiting to hear from them.

I’m trying desperately now to follow my own advice about being patient. But my patience is running thin.