I have traveled extensively the last several years and always try to observe my environment. I much prefer road trips but sometimes you just have to fly. I used to love flying, but now dread it. If I never had to fly commercially again, I would be fine with that. I have several road trips planned for the future. The nice things about road trips is that you can change plans, directions, time frames and agendas effortlessly. I probably now spend too much time thinking about things and just observing my surroundings, but those are enjoyable exercises. Here are some observations I've made during my travels--for your pleasure:
People are friendly everywhere I have traveled. No one has been rude, curt nor unfriendly when asked for directions or information--even in New York City where you hear of legendary rudeness. This kind of reinforces my confidence that we haven't slipped too far on that slippery slope of
incivility in our country. Of course, you have to couch that in the fact that I'm the eternal optimist. I always try to find the good rather than look for the bad in people. I'm sure there are plenty of rude people out there. I just stay away from them. Generally, people are very nice and helpful everywhere in the United States. I don't think there is one area that I have found better than another. That being said, the mid-west, to me, is still a throwback to the 1960s. It is really laid back and extra friendly compared to either the east or west coasts.
Flight attendants, as a general observation, are getting older. It used to be the group consisted of mainly 20-somethings and a few 30-somethings. Now, my observations indicate most are 40-somethings and even many 50-somethings. Is it the maturing of the workforce or is it the fact that the pay now is so lousy that the younger generation finds other employment while the older generation stays with the job because they have too much time vested. They cannot leave and have to work through until retirement eligibility? That's one job I wouldn't want.
People are getting bigger. As much grief that big people get, it has to be difficult and very uncomfortable for them to travel by aircraft. The seats on airliners are 17-18 inches wide. As uncomfortable as it is flying anyway, think how you would feel if you had to cram yourself into one of those seats as a large person. I feel for them. It can't be comfortable in any way. Kudos for their tolerance.
Public bathrooms are getting better. The best ones have no doors to open, self-flushing urinals and toilets, automatic faucets and automatic towel dispensers. It makes for much better hygiene. On the other hand, why would an architect design a bathroom where you have to grab the dirty door handle
to get out! You should be able to push the door to get out (I use my foot) so you don't have to touch the handle the cretins who don't wash their hands touch on their way out! Maybe I'm too logical--and clean.
TSA is getting better. Sometimes. That is another job I would not want. Always check your socks for holes before you fly because, as you know, you WILL take your shoes off before going through the detector. It used to be I only had to worry about wearing clean underwear in case I got into an accident. Now socks. Life is getting too complicated.
When a pilot comes over the loudspeaker and asks the passengers to put their seatbelts on because up ahead some "chop" has been reported, that is code (or pilot-speak) for hold on we gonna be rockin' and rollin'. Now the pilot may be in a panic, but they all go to the same pilot-speak school and no
matter what the issue, they sound very calm and collected, kind of as though they are on the verge of dozing off. Give me a break! I want to hear the panic in their voices so I know what's coming!
Speaking of pilots, American Airlines pilots seem the most "chatty." Passengers appreciate hearing from their pilots so "chatty" is a good thing. There is one exception. I know of one retired Delta Airlines pilot who used to do a monologue as though he were a Russian Exchange Pilot. It was very funny and everyone appreciated the humor, until one disgruntled passenger complained about something else and put one line in a multi-page complaint letter about the "funny" pilot. The airline made him stop. Shame. In a Russian accent, he would point out landmarks to his passengers and call them "targets", then quickly excuse himself for the slip of the tongue and call them points of interest. We need more humor while flying. It certainly can mitigate the poor traveling experience we all have now.
Seats on some airlines are very nice in that the leather headrest is adjustable up and down (for us tall people) and both sides of the headrest can be cocked forward to cradle your head and neck. After falling asleep, this keeps your head from falling sideways onto your neighbor. The passenger next to you appreciates it as they don't particularly like your drool on their shoulders. Did you ever wake up after falling asleep sitting up and you say "oh no!" because your neck is so stiff you can't straighten
up your head. You have to straighten it slowly to keep from ripping the neck muscles off and your head then rolling down the aircraft isle. Not a pretty sight. Makes passengers queasy.
The food on the airlines is getting better because there isn't any anymore! I would like to take a nice wicker picnic basket with me and spread it out on the floor in the rear of the cabin. Picnics are fun. I normally take a 3 oz. container of peanut butter. It has the bulk to fill me up until I get to a place where the food is edible.
You can drive around all day in Hawaii or San Diego and never get a bug on your windshield. Next time I go to either place I will be bringing a large jar full of bugs to "seed" the area. We have enough flying bugs at home that we won't miss them. Recently, while driving across southern New Mexico, not a single bug smashed on the windshield. Have you driven across southern New Mexico? No self-respecting bug would live there. It is really desolate. They have "Beware of Rattlesnakes" signs at the restrooms at the rest stops. No kidding.
As much as I have traveled over the past couple of years, I have met some very nice people sitting next to me on airplanes. Some even extraordinary. It makes a flight go by so much more quickly and much more pleasantly to engage someone in conversation than to sit staring straight ahead at the
bald spot of the guy in front of you. Take up my challenge to speak and befriend someone next to you.
In the same vein, I have traveled by automobile with some very good friends. It seems so much more fun traveling with a friend or another couple with whom you are really compatible. The experience is much richer. I highly recommend it.
Airports are dramatically changing as they are being rebuilt. They are becoming more people friendly, brighter and more enjoyable than in the past.
Airlines and their methodology of loading passengers feels like a "cattle call." Southwest has the A,B, C loading method with random seat grabbing. The rest load in some sort of indecipherable fashion. The problem is that the airlines charge for extra baggage, so everyone tries to take as much carry-on luggage as possible and if you don't get on the plane early, there is no overhead storage space left. I was once told that the trick with board early is to feign injury or illness. If you go to the ticket counter in a wheelchair or with a cane or crutch, they will load you first. I say we all get together and set up a booths outside of airports and rent out wheelchairs and crutches for passengers. They would then turn them in at their destination airport. Kind of like what you can do with DVDs and books. Same principle.
So there are some observations on travel. Maybe you can identify with some of them. Obviously, I have too much time on my hands. Enjoy.
Thanks for looking.
Enjoy!
Dennis Mook
Fun blog for a change of pace.
ReplyDelete