Holiday Flying- What's The Best Part?

[instudiocity]

...airlines have sucked for many, many years as far as service is concerned, even before TSA and now completely out of control. However, each flight is a story onto itself so experiences may vary.

KMEM, I've changed the name from TSA to TIA - Transportation Insecurity Administration - the fact that those idiots cause me a TIA (Trans-Ischemic Attack aka a temporary stroke-like blockage in the brain) is just an added bonus for me.

[KMEM]

RH-

I and others appreciate your commentary about pilots. We always want the pax to enjoy the flight and have it be smooth and otherwise inconsequential. Personally I find the cockpit to not be cramped and the best seat in the house.

 

Charlie-

Thanks for the return accolade. I wanted to reply about your post about living anywhere where you mentioned a plane as part of your "requirements". But, stuff happened. For the flights from west coast to east coast which would be necessary for your "flight of fantasy" it would require a pretty long distance aircraft such as a Gulfstream or Boeing BBJ. Not a shabby ride for those who can afford to lay out 40 - 100 million. Of course, there is the shares option which would require a lot less loot but still sort of be at the mercy of the "industry".

 

Again, thanks for the welcome back.

 

Instudiocity-

 

You are correct, as always. TIA is a very good name for the previous TSA.

 

Thanks.

 

Best regards

KMEM

[+ Lucky]

KMEM, it's nice to see you back. I didn't know that a thread on flying would do it!

[Guest]

lol lol....now that was funny. OK OK, I will admit that sometimes, I get just a little full of myself sitting there with a cocktail in hand, slippers on, the seat fully reclined, and a blanket wrapped around me when everyone else starts boarding. Thanks for that joke and a little slap back into reality. lol lol

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJCA9TqVJDU

[KMEM]

KMEM, it's nice to see you back. I didn't know that a thread on flying would do it!

 

Thanks for the welcome back. If a flying thread would not do it, what would?

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[RockHard]

Personally I find the cockpit to not be cramped and the best seat in the house.

 

The best seat for me is one that offers the possibility of a blow job. I'll do just about anything to make my time on a plane go by faster.

 

I've shared the cockpit with a few pilots in my day. I found the experience thrilling, but not thrilling enough to want to fly my own plane.

[LurkerSpeaks]

Call me a Pollyanna, but instead of dwelling on the negatives of the flight, I think of the fun that lies ahead at my destination.

[+ azdr0710]

Call me a Pollyanna, but instead of dwelling on the negatives of the flight, I think of the fun that lies ahead at my destination.

 

 

perfect attitude...all this complaining/agonizing about travel horror stories is drifting a little too much toward Benjamin Nicholas's blog territory.....deal with it, guys and gals....most of you here don't pay a cent toward your airfare and, in fact, are getting paid to fly, so no complaining!.....

[jimboivyo]

perfect attitude...all this complaining/agonizing about travel horror stories is drifting a little too much toward Benjamin Nicholas's blog territory.....deal with it, guys and gals....most of you here don't pay a cent toward your airfare and, in fact, are getting paid to fly, so no complaining!.....

 

cheap shot, but that was expected. easy to crow when the man in question doens't post here to defend himself anymore

 

if you flew as much as some of these escorts do, you'd complain too. when was the last time you flew more than two hundred thousand miles on an airline in 12 months? i'm sure you'd see and share some of the bad that happened to you too. BNs blog is more about how he travels not the horror stories

[Xander]

At the beginning of the summer this year I flew to NYC. I was looking at the TSA's computer screen next to the x-ray machine (the one that looks at luggage) and an agent walks up in front of me (about two inches from my face) and asks me why I was looking at the screen. I told him it was none of his business. He told me that if I continued to look at the screen, I would be detained.

 

 

And then they screened my luggage and took my lube. My three fire eating torches in my bag didn't raise any eyebrows, though.

 

Morons.

[KMEM]

The best seat for me is one that offers the possibility of a blow job. I'll do just about anything to make my time on a plane go by faster.

 

I've shared the cockpit with a few pilots in my day. I found the experience thrilling, but not thrilling enough to want to fly my own plane.

 

So, you are or are not, a member of the mile high club?

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[KMEM]

I'm beyond 10 years, and I always check two bags. Some flights connect. No problems, so far.

 

I can't even begin to clock my miles: I've been traveling for work for over 30 years. One bag was lost once, by an American carrier. It was delivered to my door a day later and all the valuables inside were still there. Luck has been on my side.

 

Back in the day I never used to check my luggage. After all, when I arrived at my final destination I was going to go to work AT the airport so no need to wait for luggage to be unloaded. However, I can remember two incidences when the airlines lost or nearly lost my luggage. In those days I was riding the airlines at least 2-3 times a week. One trip was to RNO where I went to ORD and the BOI and then finally RNO, a full day of travel, so I decided to check my luggage. When I arrived at RNO and went to the baggage claim, no luggage. So, after making sure I had not overlooked my bag, I went back to the UA 727 which was running by now and walked up to the "handler" and poked him in the back. That surprised him. This was long before the TSA or security of any kind. He removed his headset and I told him my bag was in the belly of the aircraft. He told the crew that and opened the belly and retrieved my bag. Hallelujah. Still, not an everyday occurance.

 

Another time, before DL started flying from Gatwick to ATL, I rode the "big orange" which was a BN 747-100 from Heathrow to DFW and then connecting to MEM. Somehow they managed to lose my checked baggage which was a failed part I was bringing back for warranty credit. It was never found. Ditto for BN soon after that.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[+ Charlie]

I flew once to London on a flight that started in Philly, where only four of us got on, and stopped at Boston, where all the other passengers got on. At Heathrow, all four passengers from Philly were stuck at baggage claim with no luggage. Sure enough, all of it had been stowed somewhere in the belly and been forgotten.

[EZEtoGRU]

..most of you here don't pay a cent toward your airfare and, in fact, are getting paid to fly, so no complaining!.....

Obviously I can't speak for anyone else, but in my case, I'm retired and all my flying is on my dime.

[+ azdr0710]

Obviously I can't speak for anyone else, but in my case, I'm retired and all my flying is on my dime.

 

 

thanks for the clarification, EZE, and I hope retirement is treating you well.....

[EZEtoGRU]

thanks for the clarification, EZE, and I hope retirement is treating you well.....

 

No problem az. For the most part, I enjoy flying commercially. I pretty much roll with the punches when there are problems. Heck, my flight over the weekend from Anchorage to Seattle got cancelled. When I finally got to Seattle (hours later) I had an 18 hour layover before my flight to Houston. Solution: day room at the SEA airport Marriott and then a great dinner at Anthony's inside Seattle airport before the redeye to Houston. Who knew airport food could be so good? One of the things I love about traveling are the surprise gems one finds in unexpected places.

 

When are you headed back to Brazil?

[bigvalboy]

Obviously I can't speak for anyone else, but in my case, I'm retired and all my flying is on my dime.

 

Same here EZE...all of this is on my dime, but I still believe with a little planning much of the hassles of flying can be eliminated. I would estimate the total overall extra cost that I spend on making my flying experience pleasurable is maybe 20% more. Well worth it in my view. I personally love to fly, and have successfully done away with any negatives. From the moment I leave the house till I return, the flying/travel experience as a whole is most enjoyable.

[+ azdr0710]

Same here EZE...all of this is on my dime, but I still believe with a little planning much of the hassles of flying can be eliminated. I would estimate the total overall extra cost that I spend on making my flying experience pleasurable is maybe 20% more. Well worth it in my view. I personally love to fly, and have successfully done away with any negatives. From the moment I leave the house till I return, the flying/travel experience as a whole is most enjoyable.

 

I also agree....not worth getting stressed about...I love to travel, but also am anxious to get there....experience helps tremendously with planning and execution!.....

 

EZE: no immediate plans for Brazil, but RJ sure bit me....would like to hit it again during their fall, maybe in April after the Carnival (sp) hubbub is over??.....

[EZEtoGRU]

I also agree....not worth getting stressed about...I love to travel, but also am anxious to get there....experience helps tremendously with planning and execution!.....

 

EZE: no immediate plans for Brazil, but RJ sure bit me....would like to hit it again during their fall, maybe in April after the Carnival (sp) hubbub is over??.....

Yeah....Carnaval is a bit too hectic. Hopefully the real will weaken further before you travel. I see it's at 2.07 currently.