Ah, the joys of air travel...

[LVSteve]

Just because British Airways (BA) sends you an email showing your new return flight from the UK does not mean that the electronic ticketing system also knows. No, I don't understand that either, but when I mentioned to the supervisor that the whole thing was done through BA Holidays, she held up her hand and said, "Don't go there". Left hand, right hand thing I guess. Eventually we were assigned seats, but not together, and only because the plane was delayed. Swapping seats to get us together proved impractical, which was my fault, according to my wife. On reflection, I was allowed a pass.

Next time, we will talk about the junker Avis/Budget gave me as a rental.

[Rudi]

Never flew BA. But US air system is messed up. Air traffic control computers are way outdated. Looks like we are short 18,000 pilots. Glad my flying days are over.

[FlyTyinFool]

In a previous life I was a road warrior, 100% travel except holidays and time off.

I started before 9/11, then I saw the ridiculousness that ensued, and continued in that job for 6-7 more years.
To say that it became a joke (TSA, etc.) is a complete understatement.

When I changed careers and remarried, I told my bride that I will vacation anywhere we can drive to and I haven't budged from that for 20 years.

I traveled 3 times for work in the last 5 years. Well, it was really only 2½ trips. All the destinations were Ohio.
One ended in Chicago, with bad weather closing the airport. I just booked a return flight home the next day, and cancelled the rest of the trip.
The company wasn't happy about that, but I told them to take a flying leap (pun intended).

I told the last Company I can't travel for health reasons. That's partially true... Other people will get hurt if I am forced to do air travel.

There is zero romance in air travel any more.

[Doug M.]

A few years ago I got a Delta American Express card; some parts of it are a scam or at least too expensive, but I have a lot of miles. As a realistic matter I can't use them now due to daily dialysis (without a lot of PITA work with my treatment folks), and my isolationist tendencies got worse with Covid restrictions. However, I did learn t upgrade to first class every time. I do not fit well in sardine class, and the perks of first class make flying a lot less awful.

[HOUSTON RICK]

Since flying frequently the defunct Eastern Airlines for business back in the day and several near misses, I have learned to be grateful when the plane lands how and where it is supposed to, even better if I am not asked to assume the crash position, and still better, if i am not asked to assist in manually cranking down the landing gear that failed to lock into place. Safe travels.

[Onomea]

I've got coast to coast travel coming up in October. Family reunion. Not looking forward to the air travel....

[Sistema1927]

Recent trip to Germany, and two of the legs were on BA (Heathrow to Stuttgart, Stuttgart to Heathrow). BA "customer service" was decidedly lacking, to say the least. Leaving Heathrow, they did not announce a gate until 15 minutes prior to departure. My wife and I, along with quite a few other passengers, were camped out at a display awaiting gate assignment, hoping that we wouldn't need to make a mad dash to our gate. And even then, we were put on a bus from that gate to the airplane out on the tarmac. Those with lower boarding group numbers were shoved to the back of the bus, and the higher groups by the doors on the front, effectively reversing the boarding order.

[LVSteve]

Originally Posted by Sistema1927

Recent trip to Germany, and two of the legs were on BA (Heathrow to Stuttgart, Stuttgart to Heathrow). BA "customer service" was decidedly lacking, to say the least. Leaving Heathrow, they did not announce a gate until 15 minutes prior to departure. My wife and I, along with quite a few other passengers, were camped out at a display awaiting gate assignment, hoping that we wouldn't need to make a mad dash to our gate. And even then, we were put on a bus from that gate to the airplane out on the tarmac. Those with lower boarding group numbers were shoved to the back of the bus, and the higher groups by the doors on the front, effectively reversing the boarding order.

Heathrow is stupid overloaded and last minute gate changes are the norm there. Anybody who thinks O'Hare is bad gets a reality check at Heathrow.

As for BA "customer service", you are spot on. In the days before our return flight I tried to choose seats. The website said "Nope, only after check-in 24 hours before the flight". Like a fool, I believed it. Come the day before the flight and I cannot check -in. Website says it's document check thing with flights to the US. However, I still wanted to get seats so my wife and I could sit together, so I called the "customer service" number. All I ever heard was "We are experiencing a high level of calls, please try again later" followed by a loud screech to encourage me to hang up. After several goes I gave up. The experience may be a clue as to why it costs 25-30% more to fly with Virgin from Vegas to London. Properly manned and equipped customer service facilities cost money.

Rumor control in the UK says that BA have been hacked multiple times in the last few months and that they are desperate to keep it under wraps. Whether this is true, or if such activity could have caused our pain on Thursday I cannot say.

[twodog max]

I love flying but the process of getting on and off a plane these days stinks on ice.

[zeke]

Hopefully will never fly on airplane again. However willing to make exceptions for emergency medical helicopter ride to good hospital (fairly common up here)

2 hr drive to airport with jets to get there hour early (you can tell haven't flown in some time). 6-7 hours flying and connecting. Simply don't have the stamina for it anymore. Haven't even driven straight for 2 hrs in number of years.

[SMSgt]

As long as you continue to feed the tiger, it will try to eat you.

[NYlakesider]

If we go to Hawaii again will fly, last visit took a cruse back and forth and all those days at sea was very boring. Have flow there 4 times in the past

Getting to the point unless some sort of a emergency any place CONUS will drive or possibly take a train. That will eliminate the three bad things about flying. The airports in general, TSA nonsense and the airplane.

[F4phantom]

I flew a lot in the 70's and 80's. I was really nice men wore coats and ties and women wore dresses. Everyone was civil boarding and deplaning. The meals weren't the best but they served the purpose. Security was a x-ray scanner and somone to look at it. Maybe you got stopped, mostly not. Boarding at the last minute was the rule. The 90's hit and shorts and flip flops were the standard. Meals were non-extant. By the 2000's it started to be a big pain in the backside. No meals and peanuts were the exception and not the rule. Flying turned into a **** show. I would go to Huntsville a lot and it was easier to get a flight to Nashville and drive the 100 miles to Huntsville. I'm glad I don't fly anymore.

[Retired W4]

My former boss had the right idea. Her own jet for cross country and her own helicopter for the short hauls. Of course her net worth was measured in the billions and a few million a year for operating expenses didn't matter much to her. When her husband died, the investment bankers/money handlers tried to explain to her how much money she was wasting by owning her own flight department. She practically kicked them out of her house. I know, I was there. I know many wealthy people get a bad rap, and some deservedly, but she was one of the sweetest people I've known.

[Xfuzz]

Never been on a bird...have no intention
of ever getting on a bird.

[Skeet 028]

Ya shoulda taken the train...you know The new Railroad line. Commercial flying sucks these days

[Rustyt1953]

My air travel days are over but if I had to fly somewhere I would self medicate, grab a shoe horn, squeeze myself in and watch the movie playing in my head.

[steelslaver]

Air travel really sucks when you are a 6'4" 285# man.

It is disgraceful that this country does not have an effective railway system. Trains are much more comfortable to travel in the planes. Plus, they are way more fuel efficient than planes.

The Chinese have built 26,000 miles of high speed rail and plan to have 43,000 miles by 2035

We have a whole 375 miles cleared for 100mph trains.

Interestingly it cost about 4 times as much per mile to build high speed rail in the US as it does in Europe to built high speed rail. This despite the fact that most of Europe has stronger unions and a 32 hour work week

[SMSgt]

Originally Posted by steelslaver

Air travel really sucks when you are a 6'4" 285# man.

It is disgraceful that this country does not have an effective railway system. Trains are much more comfortable to travel in the planes. Plus, they are way more fuel efficient than planes.

The Chinese have built 26,000 miles of high speed rail and plan to have 43,000 miles by 2035

We have a whole 375 miles cleared for 100mph trains.

Interestingly it cost about 4 times as much per mile to build high speed rail in the US as it does in Europe to built high speed rail. This despite the fact that most of Europe has stronger unions and a 32 hour work week

All fine and dandy until that high-speed rail line is laid across your front lawn. They are trying to force one down the throats of every oceanside town from Orlando to Miami, and it is being fought tooth and nail all the way. The line runs right through the busiest areas of each town and gets someone killed about once a week. It's all about money.

[biku324]

It's just about practice with the rules.

1. Don't try to carry the kitchen sink in your backpack to avoid luggage fees.
2. Have your boarding pass and ID in your hand when you approach the first TSA checkpoint.
3. Put your phone, wallet and everything in your pockets in your backpack instead - that goes right through the x-ray.
4. Follow the dam' rules on prohibited stuff for carryon.
5. Don't wear metal anywhere on you.
6. You know you're going to take off your shoes - don't wear lace-up high tops.

You'll be fine. If the lines bother you, use Xanax before getting to the airport.

[LVSteve]

Originally Posted by SMSgt

All fine and dandy until that high-speed rail line is laid across your front lawn. They are trying to force one down the throats of every oceanside town from Orlando to Miami, and it is being fought tooth and nail all the way. The line runs right through the busiest areas of each town and gets someone killed about once a week. It's all about money.

That problem seems more Darwinian than monetary. We have a similar problem with I-15 running through the middle of Las Vegas. At least once a month somebody decides to play Frogger and loses.

[ladder13]

Originally Posted by biku324

It's just about practice with the rules.

1. Don't try to carry the kitchen sink in your backpack to avoid luggage fees.
2. Have your boarding pass and ID in your hand when you approach the first TSA checkpoint.
3. Put your phone, wallet and everything in your pockets in your backpack instead - that goes right through the x-ray.
4. Follow the dam' rules on prohibited stuff for carryon.
5. Don't wear metal anywhere on you.
6. You know you're going to take off your shoes - don't wear lace-up high tops.

You'll be fine. If the lines bother you, use Xanax before getting to the airport.

All the above! Especially #1, but I see it on domestic flights , not international. The domestics never enforce it.

AND, the slicksters who try putting their excess, which should be checked, in my overhead. That lasts about 5 seconds 😀

[LVSteve]

Originally Posted by ladder13

AND, the slicksters who try putting their excess, which should be checked, in my overhead. That lasts about 5 seconds 😀

Worse are those who don't want to put their second personal item under the seat in front. Then there are the IQ zeroes who don't know to put their carry on wheelie into the overhead on the narrow edge so we can get more in there.

[pharmer]

I flew twice a month as a pharma rep, 1998-2005. Before 9/11/01, after “synergy meeting” I would catch a ride to the airport and slide into a vacant seat, saving myself from the “red eye.” Since 9/11 flying has steadily deteriorated where it is unreliable/ unpleasant now. The airlines/FAA tout their “ safety record”, not difficult when the motto is: “You can’t get there from here.” Joe

[ladder13]

Originally Posted by LVSteve

Worse are those who don't want to put their second personal item under the seat in front. Then there are the IQ zeroes who don't know to put their carry on wheelie into the overhead on the narrow edge so we can get more in there.

I was heading to Vegas some 10 years ago. Guy gets on and immediately puts his bags in the first couple bins, then heads to the back of the plane. Probably thought he was going to pull the “I have a plane to catch” routine, attempting to beat feet to the front.

FA looked at me and smiled like “watch this”. When the plane was just about ready to push back, she took his bags and cheerfully brought them back to him. Justice.

[GreyOwl]

Originally Posted by Rustyt1953

My air travel days are over but if I had to fly somewhere I would self medicate, grab a shoe horn, squeeze myself in and watch the movie playing in my head.

And hope it’s not the Twilight Zone Movie!🤣🤣

[Dave_n]

Used to fly quite extensively for Uncle Sam to points East and West outside of the US. One (perhaps only) advantage was that when flying between what are known as "City Pairs" if you ended up with a cancelled plane you were on the next one. One phone call to a 24/7 number, you had a ticket issued. Then around the late 1990s you could accumulate airmiles. So I now can upgrade on most US airlines. Dave_n

[DWalt]

I had an interesting experience with United this week. It convinced me that their personnel department requires that all new hires must undergo a brainectomy. After approximately three hours on the phone with their customer services line getting shuffled back and forth among at least four knuckleheads and halfwits (all of whom seemed to speak English as a second language) over what I originally thought would be a simple resolution to a minor problem, I finally prevailed. But never again will I fly United.

[jeffrefrig]

More reasons why I have never, nor will I ever, fly anywhere. My ex best friend was an avionics technician. I will never fly if he's an example of the people who inspect/repair/certify the electronics on commercial aircraft.
And he's actually a true genius.

[dmn57]

Just returned from a European expedition and since we couldn't find a decent route to get there from TN we were forced to fly. All in all, and in spite of take-off being delayed by 2+ hours in each direction, it wasn't, well, horrible. Our traveling companions came from AZ and IL, and their experiences were much worse. Although not completely unexpected, it is amazing that for what it cost - a lot - none of the four couples involved had a flawless trip. As long as the airlines can continue to fill planes there is no real incentive to assure that the contracted services are delivered as promised.

[LVSteve]

Originally Posted by dmn57

Just returned from a European expedition and since we couldn't find a decent route to get there from TN we were forced to fly. All in all, and in spite of take-off being delayed by 2+ hours in each direction, it wasn't, well, horrible. Our traveling companions came from AZ and IL, and their experiences were much worse. Although not completely unexpected, it is amazing that for what it cost - a lot - none of the four couples involved had a flawless trip. As long as the airlines can continue to fill planes there is no real incentive to assure that the contracted services are delivered as promised.

Funny you should mention delays. I've now made the trip to the UK using the BA direct flight twice. Not one of the four flights has left on time. Fair play to the plane (Airbus A350) and pilots. Last time we left Vegas an hour late, but we landed nearly on time, only to be stymied by a squatter at our gate for 20 minutes.

[Bekeart]

They currently have all the customer that they can mishandle!

Originally Posted by dmn57

As long as the airlines can continue to fill planes there is no real incentive to assure that the contracted services are delivered as promised.

[Greyman50]

Back in the late 70’s thur 90’s flew a lot for work. Always dressed up as that was almost required. Last time I flew was to grandaughters HS graduation in NJ. Absolutely the last time. Consider if I want to fly to Asheville, N.C. or Roanoke Va. there is about an hour drive to airport. Then by chance there are no problems there is another hour or maybe 2 before boarding. Then if all is well with landing and take offs there is another 1/2 hour wait. Then the plane goes to Charlotte, N.C, deplane, wait maybe another 2-3 hours. Board another plane to final destination flying another hour or little less, Land and if lucky deplane in about 1/2 hour. Go to baggage claim and wait for your bag to come out.
Give me a break. I can drive to Asheville in about 6 hours on pretty decent interstates, Roanoke trip is broken up in 2 days as there are lots of interesting place to stop. Why fly????

[LVSteve]

Originally Posted by Greyman50

Back in the late 70’s thur 90’s flew a lot for work. Always dressed up as that was almost required. Last time I flew was to grandaughters HS graduation in NJ. Absolutely the last time. Consider if I want to fly to Asheville, N.C. or Roanoke Va. there is about an hour drive to airport. Then by chance there are no problems there is another hour or maybe 2 before boarding. Then if all is well with landing and take offs there is another 1/2 hour wait. Then the plane goes to Charlotte, N.C, deplane, wait maybe another 2-3 hours. Board another plane to final destination flying another hour or little less, Land and if lucky deplane in about 1/2 hour. Go to baggage claim and wait for your bag to come out.
Give me a break. I can drive to Asheville in about 6 hours on pretty decent interstates, Roanoke trip is broken up in 2 days as there are lots of interesting place to stop. Why fly????

The hub system makes it easy to live in a place where if you want to go to certain cities, don't start from home. I have .gov friends working at Nellis who bemoan the fact that all the other .gov places they have to visit require at least one change of plane. Pretty amazing given how well connected Vegas seems to be at first sight.

[Greyman50]

Flew into OHare before the new “ improved” terminal, would not go back to bean town for love nor money. Detroit Metro was ok IIRC, detest Charlotte.

[biku324]

If you fly internationally, consider using Turkish Airlines, Qatar, Etihad, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, or Royal Jordanian. All have better service than domestic carriers and often have better prices.

[WR Moore]

While it's not the airlines, the following is worth a mention. I don't recall exactly when it was, but I once had to fly to Dallas/Fort Worth and needed to bring some trailer brake components with me to avoid further adventures in the Tennessee mountains on my return trip. Knowing what the X Ray was gonna look like, I put the stuff up top so the search would be quick & easy.

While I'm going through the metal detector, I see the TSA guy running the X Ray's head jerk back in shock. Another TSA guy asks me if that's my bag.

Yep! Takes me and the bag some distance to a table, puts the bag on the table and then steps back. After a minute of so, I ask him if he wants me to open the bag and display the contents. "Yes!"

OK, you've got a suspect bag and a possible terrorist and you want them to open the bag. What could possibly go wrong?

[Greyman50]

LOL, back in 80 was flying to bean town then Peoria for an emergency with one of our machines. Carried some of my basic tools in a briefcase( bought in RVN), included a socket holder with metric “ dic pins”, Mics, dial indicator with magnetic base. Was in a hurry as they got me off the floor of the shop. Had to rush home, get clothes ready, pack, call wife and tell her and get to airport. Parked and went inside with ticket to check in. They had x-ray machines set up and you should have seen the look on the woman’s face when my tools showed up. She about had a cow, called her boss and said,” looks like he has a timer and a “ bullet strip”. I gave them a business card showing I was a machine tool tech on my way to Cat. Opened the case to show them and another boss had to come. Well, missed my flight after the C.F., then some higer up came and looked, said it was ok. After I got to bean town OHara I called our president and told him what happened. Next day flew into Peoria, rental car and to Cat. Easy fix and back home in day and a half. When back at work president came out on shop floor and told me I would not have any more problems with United. He said he called some higher up and told them if they can not hire inspectors that know what common tools are we would change airlines. LOL

[Doug M.]

I used to fly United. No more. Period,, full stop. No.

[TheHobbyist]

LVSteve, have you considered Aer Lingus to Dublin, then a connecting flight?

I have had outstanding customer service from them; good lounge (Dublin); and they are very friendly. BA folks were friendly too, though. I don't know, just food for thought.

[LVSteve]

Originally Posted by TheHobbyist

LVSteve, have you considered Aer Lingus to Dublin, then a connecting flight?

I have had outstanding customer service from them; good lounge (Dublin); and they are very friendly. BA folks were friendly too, though. I don't know, just food for thought.

That would involve another change of flight somewhere in the US. Every time you change flights you invite some kind of luggage disaster. It becomes especially fun when entering the US and getting your bags rechecked to a domestic airline. The airport may appear to have a facility for this, but it doesn't mean it's actually manned and active.

[Bekeart]

Passenger uses Air Tag to track the bike his airline lost

Customer/Victim flew out from Heathrow.
But his bike did not fly.
Customer/Victim made it to Zurich.
Bike did not arrive at Zurich.

Customer knew WHERE his missing bike was.
Airline INDIFFERENT - would not accept the location.

The “Find My” app, which traces Apple devices including AirTags, showed the bike at Heathrow.

Sherry wasn’t too concerned – he could see where the bike was, and it had at least made it across the Atlantic. He reported it to the lost baggage desk, showing her the app. “I said, ‘Look, I can tell you where it is.’ She looked and said ‘Oh!’ I can’t believe that it was the first time someone was using the Find My app, but she seemed surprised that I could show her where it was in real time.”

The staff member was unable to log the bike’s location, but reassured him that the majority of lost bags are reunited with their owners within 24 hours.

“My first thought was that it’d be on the next flight, so it wasn’t too bad. But when it didn’t make the next one, or the one after that, with each successive flight it didn’t arrive with, it got worse and worse,” he says.

Took days to get staff and the bike in motion.


Passenger uses AirTag to track the bike his airline lost | CNN

Bekeart

If you have time to spare go by air.

[ladder13]

We use AirTags on checked and carry ons.


I’d fly with this Captain any time.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...o&opi=89978449

[LVSteve]

Originally Posted by ladder13

We use AirTags on checked and carry ons.


I’d fly with this Captain any time.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...o&opi=89978449

Our AirTags were quite positive our bags were in Salt Lake when we landed in Vegas returning from London. After about 20 minutes, they magically appeared in Vegas. I must assume that some dodgy government agency in Utah permitted the use of their Star Trek transporter to relocate our stuff.

[MDF4]

My last commercial flight, as a passenger, and hopefully the last, was a red eye out of LAX n/s to Cancun on a 73-9ER that was max pax. The Fa's were very nice and accommodating but I have to say...not too impressed with the FD crew that looked like they were on a turn around. I'm not what you would refer to as a comfortable passenger in that I tend to critique what's going on up front. I got a couple elbows from my wife..."Hal', quit counting they know what they're doing. And yes, I did check the performance specs' on that AC prior to departure.

[mtgianni]

Got back from Maui last week. Returning home, we had a 2 hour notice that our flight was being delayed 2 hours so we were in the airport when we got it. That made for 2 minutes in between connections in San Francisco so we tried to change flights. United put us on Alaska to Sea-Tac then to SLC. Alaska took our checked bag when they ticketed us. When we went to board they refused us as they were not sure United was going to pay them. We went back on our original flight, which now was delayed 5 hours. When we got to SF we had a 3 hour wait in the customer service line as they were sure we were on Alaska. United ended up giving us a hotel room and meal vouchers and we had an extra travel day. Maui was great but travel makes you wonder if it's worth it.

[ladder13]

The major airlines are operating like the cheapos.

[Dave_n]

Aer Lingus is part of the same combine as Iberia and BA. Have used them from PHL a couple of times as they have a convenient connection on another airline to Liverpool Airport (a mere 80 miles due East from Dublin) but the reverse requires over-nighting in Dublin though the Guinness is fresh!! Dave_n

[LVSteve]

Originally Posted by mtgianni

Got back from Maui last week. Returning home, we had a 2 hour notice that our flight was being delayed 2 hours so we were in the airport when we got it. That made for 2 minutes in between connections in San Francisco so we tried to change flights. United put us on Alaska to Sea-Tac then to SLC. Alaska took our checked bag when they ticketed us. When we went to board they refused us as they were not sure United was going to pay them. We went back on our original flight, which now was delayed 5 hours. When we got to SF we had a 3 hour wait in the customer service line as they were sure we were on Alaska. United ended up giving us a hotel room and meal vouchers and we had an extra travel day. Maui was great but travel makes you wonder if it's worth it.

So the obvious question is what happened to your checked bag?

[hsguy]

A bit of a different perspective. My late wife was a Flight Attendant for (gasp) United. We and our children were afforded the opportunity to travel a fair bit of the world and enjoyed it immensely. After she passed I continued to travel as it brought me solace, comfort and wonderful memories. Unfortunately, in the eight years since she passed I have been unable to travel via air for 3-4 years due to medical issues and the pandemic lockdown and have missed it terribly. I am hoping my doctor will advise me air travel will be possible early next year as I will be 75 and not sure how many long trips I have left in me. I had a rather rigorous medical procedure in October last year and told my doctors I was not willing to go through it for a few years of sitting watching TV but wanted an opportunity to resume my previous life to some extent before I consented to it.

Travel is not like it used to be in the 70's and 80's but what is? I have never found the security particularly onerous as there are clear rules published to follow that will prevent issues if you read them.

I am always excited, even after many trips, to board a plane and arrive in Europe, Hawaii, Oceania or other areas. I hope to be back in the air again, I'll be the guy with big smile on the plane. The world is a wonderful place well worth seeing.