The joys of air travel... NOT!

[Road Rat]

During the 1980's and 90's I flew from west coast to east coast on a regular basis. The stupid questions were just getting started: Is there anything in your bag that you don't know about?

***......

I retired in 2000 and have only flown once - a have-to-case. Will NEVER do that again.

Idiots "in charge" of security are the biggest, most expensive, waste of money ever foisted upon the American public!!

ONE idiot attempts to blow up his shoe(?) and a billion travelers have had to remove their shoes in order to board an airplane!!

Anyone catch the TSA check testing on the news tonight?
NINETY-FIVE percent FAILURE rate..........

Just one more government joke . . . . I ain't laughing.

 

[LVSteve]

Anyone catch the TSA check testing on the news tonight?
NINETY-FIVE percent FAILURE rate..........

Just one more government joke . . . . I ain't laughing.

Yeah, that's gonna work real well on my forthcoming vacation flight.

Coming as I do from Europe I was staggered at the lax airport security in the US pre-9/11. Then that day came and I discovered you could take box cutters on a plane as a "tool of the trade". Yep, anything not to upset the business traveler. Oh, and at least one congress-critter wants to allow them back on again.

Somebody else mentioned the huge "carry-ons" that the airline staff seem reluctant to stop folk using. That gets real funny when the next aircraft is a small turbo-prop puddle jumper with overhead bins the size of a car glovebox. Now the bag HAS to be checked and the owner throws a sulk worthy of a five year-old when you take away their favourite noisy toy.

 

[johngalt]

Funniest story I ever heard was from a former coworker. He was in the military during the Vietnam war. He was sent overseas, back n the day it was ok to carry unloaded firearms on the plane, so he took his rifle with him. Walked onto the plane, stashed it in the coat closet, picked it up again when he landed. Repeat for the trip back.

The problem was the rules changed while he was gone. So he gets back is strolling through the airport with his cased rifle, and all of a sudden he is surrounded by police yelling at him, while he has no idea what the issue is.

 

[steveno]

back in the early 1970's when you flew in uniform airlines like United and Braniff would automatically sit you in first class. I wonder if United would still do that?

 

[glenncal1]

Three words... SPIRIT AIRLINES.... DON'T

+1000 once and only once

 

[NYlakesider]

With all the delays and getting to the airport early to "run the gauntlet", no direct flights which entitles a plane change after waiting normally a few more hours, my flying days are pretty much over. Add to the above all the things that were well enumerated by the OP that occur on the plane!

If I can drive it in 15 hours I will. Going to Florida from upper NYS for a couple weeks we drive. About the only thing I see as of now to make me fly is going to Alaska or Hawaii.

 

[GatorFarmer]

If you want better service, you have to pay for it. People for the most part seem unwilling to do that. Thus steerage class travel predominates.

 

[Old TexMex]

I fly to Mexico pretty regularly, usually commercial, occasionally private...
Private is better, oh Lordy, so much better. The stories I could tell about the raucous crowds southbound to Cabo San Lucas and the morbid, green and smelly flight back. Since I haven't flown drunk or with a hangover in well over ten years, sitting through it is often a pest, but I developed ways to deal with it.
I have three choices: American, United or Southwest. I'll quote a long dead outlaw for my opinion on the airlines: "I'll take hangin' to burnin' and shootin' to both, but not many bad men get a choice."

 

[GatorFarmer]

A quick bit of googling shows that flying across the country cost the equivalent of about $1100 of today's money back in the era of Mad Men (1964). A first class round trip ticket to Hawaii (from Phoenix) is $1200. Interesting.

 

[JayAychOh]

I just returned from a two week visit to Australia on the Qantas time machine. This was not my first flight with them and I'll say that, as modern airlines go, Qantas is unique in my experience. They actually make the trip as nice as 17 hours on an airplane can be.

All the rest of my travel stories pretty much parallel those of the OP and the others already mentioned.

Remember when people used to DRESS UP to fly?

 

[JayAychOh]

Three words... SPIRIT AIRLINES.... DON'T

Another hearty "AMEN" to this advice!

 

[johngalt]

When I lived in Cincinnati, there was a private charter service that ran a small number of regular routes out of Lunkin for similar costs as the regular airline flight out of CVG. A few coworkers used it when they made business trips to Washington DC.

They would buy their ticket, arrive at the airport 15 min before the scheduled departure time, park next to the terminal building, and get on the plane. Absolutely no TSA involvement of any kind.

 

[chaparrito]

I've flown all over the world and hated every minute of it. Somebody once said to me "you know, there are treatments you can go through to get rid of irrational fears, like the fear of flying."
What's "irrational" about fear of an 877,000 POUND craft as fragile as an egg 35 thousand feet up in the air going 600 miles an hour??
I am quite certain the only thing keeping that plane up in the air is the collective will of the passengers gripping their armrests and WISHING it to fly.
The part about arriving 2 hours prior to departure doesn't bother me a bit because the Xanax and Bourbon prep I need before boarding takes that long. If I never fly again, it's a good thing.

 

[Hapworth]

Hate flying, always have. Still fly anywhere I need to. The aggravations and indignities are fine by me so long as I arrive at the chosen destination in one piece.

...but when they started shooting down commercial flights with surface to air missiles I figured it was a good time to hang it up...

Okay, I'll bite...

 

[old bear]

As Steve mentioned in his second post, once upon a time, many years ago flying was fun and exciting. No more, it's akin to a long inner-city bus ride, at 2:00 A.M.

The above is based on four years of flying across country four times a year to see my Mother and take care of family business. The first two trips I flew standard seating and was miserable the entire time. Being the smart lady she was, her response was simple, "we've got more money, by a small amount, than years left, so enjoy it." "Use the family American Express card, have AMX book your flights, and fly first or business class only." This made flying almost bearable. My seat mates generally were business travelers who flew on a regular basis. All of whom understood that the only way to make the best of bad situation was to act like a decent and civil human. I never had to deal with a drunk, seat or luggage hog, and every one of them had taken a shower sometime in the last 12 hours, and were wearing clean clothing.

Remember that the flight crew can be your best friend or the attendant from hell, so always treat them with common courtesy.

 

[federali]

Flying Annoyances

When they board the plane from the rear first, the people often put their carry-on bags in the first available over head compartments to avoid carrying them through the plane. When your section is called, the bins are full, unless you want to walk back to find room, in which case, you must first wait for the plane to empty in order to retrieve your bag.

Then there's the flight crew pampering first class passengers, who board first and block the way for the unwashed to get to their seats.

Then there's the brain-dead moms who change infant diapers on the fold-down serving trays that you will use next.

Then there's the brain dead flight crews who use the blue bag to collect refuse and the clear bag for recyclables, exactly the opposite of the rest of the nation.

Then there's the idiot behind you pounding on the touch functions of his TV screen which is part of the back of your seat.

I don't mind paying a bit extra for better food. I would also pay a premium or extra for a flight crew certified to be free of mental health issues.

 

[Xfuzz]

NEVER been on a bird with NO
intentions to ever get on one.

I'm with Iggy no drive no go.

 

[Old TexMex]

When they board the plane from the rear first, the people often put their carry-on bags in the first available over head compartments to avoid carrying them through the plane. When your section is called, the bins are full, unless you want to walk back to find room, in which case, you must first wait for the plane to empty in order to retrieve your bag.

Then there's the flight crew pampering first class passengers, who board first and block the way for the unwashed to get to their seats.

Then there's the brain-dead moms who change infant diapers on the fold-down serving trays that you will use next.

Then there's the brain dead flight crews who use the blue bag to collect refuse and the clear bag for recyclables, exactly the opposite of the rest of the nation.

Then there's the idiot behind you pounding on the touch functions of his TV screen which is part of the back of your seat.

I don't mind paying a bit extra for better food. I would also pay a premium or extra for a flight crew certified to be free of mental health issues.

Oh, daddy-o you are so right. Makin me laugh to keep from cryin.

I know there's more than a few here that remember that things didn't really get dangerous until AFTER we got off the flying machine....
I just can't drive to work anymore, Laredo to Mazatlan is just too risky
I'm glad the people that meet me at the airport are friendlies, so far

 

[tobimaru]

I had a much better time flying the last time I went anywhere by not bringing a carry-on. Unless you're traveling a very long distance, what all do you need in a cramped plane with 1-2 ft of personal room? I have to stare in amazement when people bring bags stuffed with electronics and toys all for distraction. Is it that hard to sit for a few hours? Is there something you HAVE to do on on THIS flight with your laptop that your cell phone and tablet could not also do? That's why you brought it? Technological redundancy is at an all time high, I think people buy devices simply to say they own them.

My friend ships her luggage separately when she flies. Not sure if it's any cheaper, but she swears by it and even shipped her luggage to Australia and back without issue.

 

[Arik]

I've flown all over the world and hated every minute of it. Somebody once said to me "you know, there are treatments you can go through to get rid of irrational fears, like the fear of flying."
What's "irrational" about fear of an 877,000 POUND craft as fragile as an egg 35 thousand feet up in the air going 600 miles an hour??
I am quite certain the only thing keeping that plane up in the air is the collective will of the passengers gripping their armrests and WISHING it to fly.
The part about arriving 2 hours prior to departure doesn't bother me a bit because the Xanax and Bourbon prep I need before boarding takes that long. If I never fly again, it's a good thing.

Clearly we are related! If I don't get some kind of a mind altering drug in my system before a flight I could hold that plane up in the air out of shear willpower and a massive dose of fear. My last flight from Philadelphia to Amsterdam none stop I drank all night and all day and still didn't feel any effects, I was that nervous. I held onto those arm rests for dear life and eventually fell asleep from exhaustion! On the way back I was ready to crawl out of my skin on every bump. And I just about had a heart attack when the pilot came on the laud speaker mid flight! All he did was point out some stupid island we were flying over [emoji35] [emoji35] [emoji35]

I don't care if I have to walk bare foot through the airport, get searched,,wait in long lines... they can have my DNA for all I care as long as they can guarantee a 100% safe flight. I just want the flight done and over with as fast as possible. There is nothing exciting or fun about it