Greyhound boss barks back at Baldwin

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DALLAS, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The chief executive officer of Greyhound says he was "disheartened" by negative remarks actor Alec Baldwin made this week about his bus company.

Baldwin recently was asked to leave an American Airlines flight after he refused to stop playing an online game and was allegedly rude to staff.

He later railed against the airline in a statement to the Huffington Post, criticizing the airline for its "filthy planes, barely edible meals, cuts in jet service to less-traveled locations."

"One of the big changes, in my time, is in the increase of the post-9/11, paramilitary bearing of much of the air travel business," he added. "There are many now who walk the aisles of an airplane with a whistle around their neck and a clipboard in their hands and they have made flying a Greyhound bus experience."

The head of Greyhound said he took umbrage with the comparison.

"I was disheartened to hear about the comments you made regarding our company," Greyhound President and CEO Dave Leach said in an open letter to the "30 Rock" star.

"I'm the first to admit that Greyhound has had some challenges in the past, so I understand that you probably were basing your comments on that alone. But we've made so many changes in recent years to significantly improve the travel experience. My guess is you've never traveled with us, but I ask you to give us a try for a number of reasons and see for yourself that we're really a great way to travel."

Leach went on to say the company recently added to its fleet hundreds of new buses with more legroom, leather seats, power outlets and free WiFi.

"I think you especially would find the latter two amenities exciting, because we don't require our customers to turn off their electronic devices … ever," Leach's letter said. "You could, therefore, play 'Words with Friends' during your entire trip and nobody would give you any grief over it. As a matter of fact, we have a Facebook page, so if you wanted to start a 'Words with Friends' game with us, just 'Like' us and we'd be more than happy to take on the challenge."

Leach also noted Greyhound "is an American icon, a proud company that many people depend on to get them to their destinations -- the same people who watch your films and TV show."