Hell's Airline

[Stephanie B]

I had to fly for work a bit in the `80s. My favorite flight was the 8AM Republic Airlines 727 to Atlanta. They served a hot breakfast of eggs, bacon and hash browns and this, mind you, was in coach.

I didn't fly much after that. But in `12, I made a few trips on Untied. Those RJs were not at all comfortable. The D-400 turboprops were a nicer ride. And most of the people who worked for United seemed to have all of the good humor and eagerness to please of a Soviet prison guard.

I now fly 3-4 trips year. I switched to Southwest, as some else mentioned. Bigger airplanes, decent seats, I can check my bags for free and of all of the SWA employees I've come in contact with, only one gate agent even approached the level of surliness that seemed to be par for the course for United.

 

[johngalt]

My worst flying experience was New Years 1999. I was in northern Wisconsin, flying Northwest out of Wausau, through Detroit to Cincinnati. A huge winter storm shut down pretty much the entire upper Midwest and northeast. Airports were shut down across the entire region.

Got to wausau, asked them if the airport in Detroit was open, was my flight cancelled, etc. ticket punches keys on the computer, "You're flight is on time"

So I got on the flight to Detroit. Big mistake.

We get to Detroit, and the airport is still all but shut down. Flights were still arriving, but almost no one was leaving. The airport was a zoo. People had been camped out on the floor for days. Lines hours long for everything, no food, no place to even sit down. Northwest knew full well the situation, but continued flying people and stranding them there.

I ended up doing a one way car rental and driving home.

 

[walkin jack]

Did you have Tom Selleck in mind?

Nah, he has too much hair. More like Stone Cold Steve Austin

 

[Cyrano]

In the '80s, I spent Christmas in Connecticut and was trying to fly back to El Paso. Big snowstorm in Chicago. The flight from Bradley Field to DFW never even arrived, to say nothing of leaving. I spent the night on a bench at Bradley Field. Got a flight out the next day but it was delayed too, so I missed my flight from Dallas to El Paso; spent the second night on the bench at DFW. I try not to fly in the winter now.

 

[the ringo kid]

My worst flying experience was New Years 1999. I was in northern Wisconsin, flying Northwest out of Wausau, through Detroit to Cincinnati. A huge winter storm shut down pretty much the entire upper Midwest and northeast. Airports were shut down across the entire region.

Got to wausau, asked them if the airport in Detroit was open, was my flight cancelled, etc. ticket punches keys on the computer, "You're flight is on time"

So I got on the flight to Detroit. Big mistake.

We get to Detroit, and the airport is still all but shut down. Flights were still arriving, but almost no one was leaving. The airport was a zoo. People had been camped out on the floor for days. Lines hours long for everything, no food, no place to even sit down. Northwest knew full well the situation, but continued flying people and stranding them there.

I ended up doing a one way car rental and driving home.

Why does the excellent movie: Planes, Trains and Automobiles come to mind? John Candy and Steve Martin had it easy compared to your ordeal.

 

[the ringo kid]

Nah, he has too much hair. More like Stone Cold Steve Austin

Since it is your story--ill give you 51% of the profits.

 

[walkin jack]

Since it is your story--ill give you 51% of the profits.

Deal!! And I choose George (I can't get that stupid "look at me" )grin off his face to play the pilot. I have long fantasized about givin' that pretty boy a knuckle sammich. The disheveled ticket agent in Lawton could only be played by Sandra Barnhardt.

 

[timn8er]

I haven't flown in years, & I'm cool with that. Many years ago, when I was a traveling musician based out of Dallas, I would fly to be home in San Antonio for Christmas if that was the only way my schedule would allow it. One year, we were on the plane, sitting on the tarmac, while the ground crew fought a really bad ice situation. The captain would announce periodically that if "we could just keep the ice off the plane for a few minutes we could take off". Some of us were getting nervous about the condition of the strip, as it looked pretty shiny & icy. The pilot finally announced "we're going for it, prepare for take off!" We went slipping & sliding down the strip, getting into one or two nasty slides. One of the drunks on the flight(no, not me!)hollered "we're all going to die!" We left the ground finally & before we had even leveled out the pilot announced that as soon as the stewardesses could safely move about the cabin the drinks were on him. I'll never forget that flight!

 

[hangnoose]

Tough flight?

Trying to get from Long Island to the outer banks of N.C. turned out to be quicker to just jump in the car & drive for 9 1/2 hrs, less stressful, & more comfortable. I just flew into town and boy are my arms tired. Ba dump dump.

 

[M3Stuart]

I quit flying when the TSA started handling everyone's junk. Have no plans to ever fly again out of the USA airports.

So you DON'T like that?!?

Just kidding.

I travel a LOT - mostly international. My favorite part of travelling is all the strange sandwiches. I have an extensive collection of pictures of strange 'sandwiches'.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Take comfort in the fact that commercial aircraft are only built and repaired by the lowest bidder.

 

[the ringo kid]

Deal!! And I choose George (I can't get that stupid "look at me" )grin off his face to play the pilot. I have long fantasized about givin' that pretty boy a knuckle sammich. The disheveled ticket agent in Lawton could only be played by Sandra Barnhardt.

Ill take Sandra over babs Streisand anytime as the ticket agent. Babs drives me nuts when i hear she has her own national Security Advisor.

 

[the ringo kid]

Deal!! And I choose George (I can't get that stupid "look at me" )grin off his face to play the pilot. I have long fantasized about givin' that pretty boy a knuckle sammich. The disheveled ticket agent in Lawton could only be played by Sandra Barnhardt.

This is wierd, typed messages disappear when sending.

Anyway, 3rd attemt. Ill take Sandra anytime--over Babs Streisand--who drives me nuts when I hear about her needing her own National Security Advisor...

 

[walkin jack]

This is wierd, typed messages disappear when sending.

Anyway, 3rd attemt. Ill take Sandra anytime--over Babs Streisand--who drives me nuts when I hear about her needing her own National Security Advisor...

It has always bugged me how her eyes cross when she sings. I've never been a fan but Ms Barnhardt is just plain nasty and gross. She's so ugly she'd make a freight train take a dirt road.

 

[the ringo kid]

It has always bugged me how her eyes cross when she sings. I've never been a fan but Ms Barnhardt is just plain nasty and gross. She's so ugly she'd make a freight train take a dirt road.

Ha ha ha--glad I finished my glass of tea before reading this-orid have no access to the internet.

The only time I liked Babs in a movie--was in Whats Up Doc? but then she was still more than annoying.Gimme Cher anytime.

 

[Doug M.]

I'll say it. This has to be United. I have flown on United a few times, but thankfully have not had to in a long time (I only fly when there is simply no choice). My opinion of that airline would take the paint off a battleship.