September 19, 2005
Domestic flights in America
Peter King, who covers football for Sports Illustrated made this interesting digression in a recent article:
This is why Americans get ticked off at air travel.I must say that I've had similar experiences on American Airlines. I know there's no controlling the weather, but I also think there needs to be more planning in situations like this. Posted by James Trotta at September 19, 2005 11:33 PMWednesday night, United (good airline, bad night) flight from Chicago to Newark, due to leave 5 p.m., arrive in Newark around 8. They board the plane, though they're not going to leave "for a while'' due to weather on the East Coast and air-traffic delays. After an hour sitting there, passengers are told the flight won't leave for an undetermined time, and passengers can de-plane. Passengers de-plane. Re-board at 7:45. Go to the end of the runway, wait out the air-traffic control delay. Sit. And sit. Guy in the row in front of me has some Internet device. He's calling out AL East scores. Yanks at Tampa. Sox at Toronto. "Ortiz just hit a two-run homer in the eighth,'' says Internet Man. "Five-3, Sox. Yanks are tied, 4-4.'' Brutally warm on the plane. It's got to be 88 degrees. "Are we at the point of cruel and inhuman punishment yet?'' I ask my neighbor.
Around 9:45, we take off. We get over Williamsport, Pa. Start circling. "We've been put on a hold,'' pilot says. Nice planning. You didn't know an hour ago planes would be stacked on top of each other? Forty minutes of circling. In turbulence. Lady a couple of rows back uses air-sickness bag. Land about 12:50. Walk in the front door at 1:45. For an hour-and-43-minute flight, it took eight hours and 15 minutes from the time I arrived at the gate to the time I stepped into the house. And I think: It would have been slightly longer but significantly more relaxing to have driven the 780 miles than to have flown.
I wish you all would stop cring you know the risk you take when you fly the people who make and fly these planes are human to just like you! So for all your complaining call your mommy! Becouse you are probable planing another flight right now. So give these people a little respect you dont want them coming to your work and pointing out all your flaws!
Posted by: adam mcbride at September 22, 2005 2:32 AM
Wow Adam, are we a little defensive? First of all, when I tell people this story I don't blame anyone for anything, fate maybe, but fate is intangible, not human. Second of all, I wasn't complaining I was merely conveying my own personal experiences in traveling, that is very human. Anothere point, I am not disrespecting anyone in anyway and I'm definately not going into anyones place of work to complain. Therefor your post is completely moot and has no business here. And yes I am planning another flight, yes I have faced my own demons and have realized that my fear of flying is completely irrational. Yes I know the danger and the risk but it is worth seeing my grandfather before he dies. And more importantly, what is life without risks?
Posted by: Serafine at September 22, 2005 4:42 AMAmerica land of the free and the home to the impatient.
Posted by: Relax at September 29, 2005 7:04 AMYears ago, United dumped me in cleveland on a flight from Newark to Chicago because of a "snowstorm". I rented a car and drove the rest of the way to Chicago. Now, the only time is fly is across oceans or when traveling deep into Mexico. Otherwise, the seatbelt across my lap is in my car. Oh, and I never fly United, or any other bankrupt airline for that matter.
Posted by: fred arnold at October 14, 2005 1:43 AM