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 Air traffic control computers are way outdated.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]

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]

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.