A Random Observation About Airline Travel

[hsguy]

You can still find good meals and service on Turkish Air, Royal Jordanian, Etihad, or Qatar Airlines at better prices out of most US hubs.

All essentially subsidized by their government. Royal Jordanian, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways have received government subsidies. Royal Jordanian has been in talks with the government for potential financial assistance, according to Reuters. Etihad Airways, while initially denying subsidies, has been the subject of claims by U.S. airlines regarding unfair advantages due to government support, reported by the Los Angeles Times. Qatar Airways has also been accused of receiving significant government subsidies, according to ALPA.

 

[dodgecharger]

The last time I flew the little liquor bottles were a buck.

That's quite a long time ago Rusty.

 

[Rustyt1953]

That's quite a long time ago Rusty.

That's when airliners had ash trays in the armrests.

 

[bearman49709]

That's when airliners had ash trays in the armrests.

They no longer have them? What are all the smoker's doing with their butts dropping them on the floor?

 

[ladder13]

We "upgrade" on longer flights to more legroom and better seats, sometime s first class. Too late in life to be crammed into a cattle car.

 

[fofoguy]

I fly out of Albuquerque, (Sun Port). Cleanest restrooms and concourses any where! They changed the secure areas, making it impossible to have a beer while waiting for friends/family arrivals..

 

[375hh1973]

Terrified of flying.

That being said, wife and I take a vacation every year to somewhere warm and sandy.

Two things gotta happen-

1. I'm 6'4 and 240 lbs. Need to sit in first class or its damn uncomfortable.
2. Need a few drinks prior to boarding to take the edge off. Few more in the air doesn't hurt either

 

[biku324]

I fly out of Albuquerque, (Sun Port). Cleanest restrooms and concourses any where! They changed the secure areas, making it impossible to have a beer while waiting for friends/family arrivals..

Not as many fights now.

El Paso Intl isn't bad.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I was fondled in front of my wife by a middle-aged man at SFO.

TSA pre-check?

 

[Autonomous]

Arrival from overseas.

 

[white cloud]

I am retired but still fly about four or five times a year. I dread air travel. The food is terrible, the seats are cramped and I arrive at my destination without my model 649. Once I get where I am going, I generally have a decent time but miss the farm. I did enjoy flying on Icelandic Air as the food and service was really good.

 

[Dave_n]

I used to do a lot of flying paid for by Uncle Sam as I had marine and plant collectors world wide. One of my best trips was flying out of Cairo on what was effectively a round the world trip. My secretary when booking the tickets then informed me that the flight from Cairo to Singapore was in business class on Singapore airlines, and I would have to get "permission to fly in other than peasant". It turned out that the cost was all of $120 higher than coach. Out came my personal credit card and that part of the trip was magnificent. Mind you the rest of the trip was not to the same level.

Like others in this set of comments, I often had to fly through LAX on my way to NZ and OZ and other parts of the Pacific Ocean or Countries in Asia, Absolutely the worst international terminal in the US and well below their equivalents in other Pacific countries. The thing that always "made me unhappy!!" was that until fairly recently, there were no bulletin boards showing where commercial flights within the US would leave from any terminal outside of the International arrivals.

LAX also had the most illiterate TSA goons who kept trying to make me take off my shoes when they could easily see from my passport that I was over the age to do so. They seemed incapable of counting above 10!! Dave_n

 

[Rustyt1953]

My flying days are long over. Unless someone wants to drop my ashes off at Woodstock.

 

[Rock185]

I confess commercial air travel used to be enjoyable to me. Now, not so much. TSA never disappoints. I have a KTN, but always get the TSA full monte. I bath regularly, have most of my teeth, and dress appropriately, I even wear shoes. Maybe it's my mouthwash;-)

 

[quikdraw67]

I flew for the 1st time in 30 years in 2022, from Scranton to Orlando, for a trade show/buying group convention.

I'm good for another 30 years.

I was not impressed.

 

[375hh1973]

Im younger than a bunch of people on here so maybe I never flew in the glory days.

I never viewed getting on a plane as something glamorous. It's a way to get from point A to a far away point B, in the quickest way possible that the technology will allow.

Never understood the nostalgia for flying in a 3-piece suit. Suits are not nearly as comfortable as jeans and a fleece

People complaining about having to go thru security, treated like cattle, etc. Yeah, I kinda want them to find a bomb if someone's gonna try to get one on board.

Get me there safely, I already am terrified of planes. Don't need fancy food, blankets, etc. Wifi is nice if available, not a deal breaker.

 

[welldoya]

I've flown 4 times in the past 3 years. I do not enjoy it at all.
Flying used to be a lot more comfortable and the food wasn't bad at all.
I flew to Vancouver and to Alaska on two of those flights and have yet to see anything more substantial than crackers.
And Lord help you if a large person takes the seat next to you.

 

[LVSteve]

That's when airliners had ash trays in the armrests.

I've traveled in countries and with airlines where the planes still do. I recall taking off from Heathrow once and the smoking light was on before the gear doors closed.

 

[LVSteve]

They no longer have them? What are all the smoker's doing with their butts dropping them on the floor?

I see no smiley, so I'm going to assume that you have not been on a US domestic flight for over 35 years. Smoking was banned on US carriers for domestic flights of 6 hours or less in 1990.

 

[bearman49709]

I see no smiley, so I'm going to assume that you have not been on a US domestic flight for over 35 years. Smoking was banned on US carriers for domestic flights of 6 hours or less in 1990.

If you read every post you would see in my first post I have not flown since August 1984, and I don't need to fly to know sometime in the past smoking was banned on airplanes.

From now on I'll try to talk slow so you can understand proper English.
Sorry no smiles available when using quotes.