Comments on: Airplane travel observations http://blog.evandodds.com/2007/05/28/airplane-travel-observations/ Evan's non-work-related blog Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:02:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Allen http://blog.evandodds.com/2007/05/28/airplane-travel-observations/comment-page-1/#comment-3489 Allen Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:10:45 +0000 http://blog.evandodds.com/2007/05/28/airplane-travel-observations/#comment-3489 ah the life of a traveler. :) I agree with most points except that upgrades are impossible. Upgrades at the airport for those people that do not have "status" with the airline are impossible. I have never been successful using miles/points to upgrade at the time of check-in. However, I have had several upgrades to first class for free since I have Elite status on Continental. I get mad when I don't get upgraded. :) If you do have status, your best bet is to check in online as soon as it opens up. Your name will get placed higher on the first class upgrade list. Of course this list depends on ticket class/fare, elite status, and order checked in. Your rant about people in the airport reminds me of something I wrote a while back about a commute to NYC. :) http://blog.susanandallen.com/blog/2007/04/13/thoughts-and-advice-for-commuting-to-new-york-city/ ah the life of a traveler. :) I agree with most points except that upgrades are impossible.

Upgrades at the airport for those people that do not have “status” with the airline are impossible. I have never been successful using miles/points to upgrade at the time of check-in. However, I have had several upgrades to first class for free since I have Elite status on Continental. I get mad when I don’t get upgraded. :) If you do have status, your best bet is to check in online as soon as it opens up. Your name will get placed higher on the first class upgrade list. Of course this list depends on ticket class/fare, elite status, and order checked in.

Your rant about people in the airport reminds me of something I wrote a while back about a commute to NYC. :)
http://blog.susanandallen.com/blog/2007/04/13/thoughts-and-advice-for-commuting-to-new-york-city/

]]> By: James Sloan http://blog.evandodds.com/2007/05/28/airplane-travel-observations/comment-page-1/#comment-3487 James Sloan Mon, 28 May 2007 21:09:03 +0000 http://blog.evandodds.com/2007/05/28/airplane-travel-observations/#comment-3487 I'm sure this doesn't surprise you that I find it annoying too. That's why I'm at home this weekend. Holiday weekends amplify the "I've never seen an airplane before" effect, adding the "and I've brought along my whole family, who's also never seen a plane" effect as well. My favorite is the security line, where people seem unable to comprehend that METAL will set off the METAL DETECTOR. I don't know how these people dress themselves. There is a pretty funny Dane Cook sketch about it too - about how these people could be Fortune 500 CEOs, but the minute they step into the airport it's like they're in the backyard playing with poop. I wrote a short story about it once, since it was the only way to keep from absolutely freaking out on the flight that day. That's when I came up with "ASSWISE" (patent pending). It was only a matter of time before bankrupt airlines figured out that they have a captive audience of hapless lemmings for advertising, but being a pilot I smile and laugh when the pilot comes on, unable to resist his absolute excitement that he gets paid to fly planes, and describes the entire route in language uninteligible to most: "We'll be departing runway 5L today with a light left crosswind. We'll climb out on a 220 heading along the VERBOSE 4 departure until we reach OVRKL intersection, at which point we'll join Victor 75 to Akron. We'll squak 2347 and communicate with Bud, our controller, on 124.75. We'll arrive via the ILS 27L approach to O'Hare. It's a bit chilly and windy aloft today, with winds 260 at 36, and minus 40 degrees. By the way, we apologize, but the volume knob for the intercom is inoperative." At least you have your lovely wife to experience and "enjoy" this with you. Then it becomes a journey, not a means to an end. I’m sure this doesn’t surprise you that I find it annoying too. That’s why I’m at home this weekend. Holiday weekends amplify the “I’ve never seen an airplane before” effect, adding the “and I’ve brought along my whole family, who’s also never seen a plane” effect as well.

My favorite is the security line, where people seem unable to comprehend that METAL will set off the METAL DETECTOR. I don’t know how these people dress themselves. There is a pretty funny Dane Cook sketch about it too – about how these people could be Fortune 500 CEOs, but the minute they step into the airport it’s like they’re in the backyard playing with poop.

I wrote a short story about it once, since it was the only way to keep from absolutely freaking out on the flight that day. That’s when I came up with “ASSWISE” (patent pending).

It was only a matter of time before bankrupt airlines figured out that they have a captive audience of hapless lemmings for advertising, but being a pilot I smile and laugh when the pilot comes on, unable to resist his absolute excitement that he gets paid to fly planes, and describes the entire route in language uninteligible to most:

“We’ll be departing runway 5L today with a light left crosswind. We’ll climb out on a 220 heading along the VERBOSE 4 departure until we reach OVRKL intersection, at which point we’ll join Victor 75 to Akron. We’ll squak 2347 and communicate with Bud, our controller, on 124.75. We’ll arrive via the ILS 27L approach to O’Hare. It’s a bit chilly and windy aloft today, with winds 260 at 36, and minus 40 degrees. By the way, we apologize, but the volume knob for the intercom is inoperative.”

At least you have your lovely wife to experience and “enjoy” this with you. Then it becomes a journey, not a means to an end.

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