Jane spent the time trying to get the marine tank into shape: I came back to discover she’d bravely resolved the plumbing problems with the tank, moved and cleaned all the equipment, worked out the water quality problem…What more can you ask?
I have more to say about the airlines…Lord! what a mess! I’ve flown in Turkey on an airline where they closed the doors DURING the takeoff run, an airline in which goats figured…and it ran more smoothly. Passengers are glum, nobody talks. On three of my flights, nobody would even open a windowshade. Sheesh! The most beautiful country in the US under our wings, and the stews want us to have the shades drawn so we can watch the same television dvd as we watched on the last flight…And rude! Don’t get me started!
I would like to add, I found it puzzling and slightly amusing when I flew out to Las Vegas last summer. I started out in Columbus, OH, went through security wearing flip-flops, told I had to take them off and put them in the basket. Okay, so I walk on a dirty floor barefoot and go through the metal detector. BEEEP!!, I have an artificial knee, so I got to go through the little room in the center of the two areas, wait until someone from TSA was able to come over and “wand” me, I had them do my knee and my right hand (also an artificial thumb joint), then they ask me to sit down, and raise my feet. Um, these are MY feet, they aren’t made of C4 and the only scars you’ll see on them are from 13 years ago when I had them operated on. So, what’s the reasoning for raising my feet – so you can see how dirty the floors are and then judge when they should be cleaned? I’m all for security and safety in flight, but remember, these people are providing a SERVICE to US, the paying passengers. Anytime you get into one of those aluminum tubes, you’re hoping the flight crew and maintenance crews are competent, thorough, and have had enough rest before starting their shifts. Otherwise, 300+ people can suddenly become ashes in the wind.
Spence, I’ll be leaving home Friday and will be back the following Friday. Doubtful you’ll have much time, but if you don’t mind my cluttered house, you’re welcome to come up.
Oh, too funny! You obviously can’t be too careful about foot-based assumptions if you’re TSA! Sort of like asking someone getting in an elevator on the bottom floor of a building “going up?”
My flight horror story involved no flight. We were headed to Seattle from NYC the Saturday after Christmas four years to visit the in-laws on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary – a big party planned, everyone was to be there. So we got to the airport the hour ahead of time that was recommended those days, only to find that the Delta baggage handlers were having a bit of an unauthorized, unscheduled slow down. The company was still in bankruptcy and it was trying to modify its union contract, which was not being taken well by the union. It was not possible to check bags at the curb because some of the equipment allegedly wasn’t working – we discovered this after waiting in line at the curb for 15 minutes. We then went inside, to a madhouse of people trying to check in, check bags, get the attention of someone. We spent the next hour doing everything possible to check our bags, and we were still trying to do that when our plane took off – on time, naturally, probably the first on time flight of the year. No person employed by Delta was of any help to us at all during this time. We did get instructions from several people, but the instructions always proved to be erroneous – wait on this line, no – who told you to do that, it was supposed to be the other line, and so on. The shortest member of the family – then only 4 – and I were both in tears – everyone very tired because we had gotten up at 4 am to make this very important flight. When we got home, we attempted to reach Delta on the phone to discuss a refund for the tickets – no way we were going to try to reschedule for the next day, since there was no reason to believe that the union difficulties would have abated in less than 24 hours. I was on hold for 45 minutes, and then attempted to reach them on line. Eventually I was told that the tickets were nonrefundable. I very calmly – hard to believe but true – asked to speak with the supervisor, and that person did in fact ultimately provide a refund after hearing the full story. So, it wasn’t all abject horror, but we never did get to Seattle for the party.
It was like those nightmares where you are trying to run and your legs are like lead.
But Welcome Back, CJ! we have missed you and have had you in our thoughts.
It may be a difference in perspective, but I can’t say that I’ve seen much difference in flying now versus when I started. My first flight was to go to college back in 1986, and I don’t think that the crew or passengers have changed much since then. I do miss being fed during the flight, but the airline food was never really great. So now I just prepare by bringing something that I actually want to eat. But generally I get on the plane, read a bit, nap a bit, look out the window a bit. The other passengers are generally polite, the crew is generally polite. Things cost more now, and it is almost impossible to get a direct flight to most places, and I could do without the “enhanced security”, but for some reason I separate that from the actual flight experience.
I think that part of the difference between me and the other posters is that I started flying after the time that it was an “experience”. It’s always been more of a glorified bus to me. And to the person contemplating taking the train…. that takes longer, costs more, and is even less comfortable than flying. And, much like flying first class, the cost to upgrade to something other than coach is steep. Although possibly not that bad if you have an actual family going on the trip, since they charge per room not per person in the room. So I would be charged the same as a family of four if I want a room that can sleep four.
Welcome back, CJ, and sorry you had such a poor experience. The recent trip to and from Spokane was typical. Supposedly, when I booked the trip several months ago, I picked my seats. Of course once you get there, those coices go out the window. I had center seats all 4 legs. Check in via kiosk wasn’t bad, and someone called my name immediately to take my one bag (and my $15), but Kato had to wait quite a long time before they called her. Then we stood in line for 30 minutes, it seemed, to go through the single security entrance to the gate area. People were friendly enough, but seemed wrapped in their own thoughts and business. I heard there’s opportunities to pay extra for 5 more inches of legroom, but have never had that offered on any flight I’ve ever booked.
I think you have to ask for the extra legroom. Either they move the seats in front of you up by 5 inches, or they take 5 inches off your legs. Hmmm….maybe that would work for the clown behind me who keeps sticking his knees into my back, or his feet are up against mine under the seat.
I have taken Amtrak from Newport News, VA to New York City. I had a great trip up, but then, I paid the $158 extra for Business Class (I couldn’t sit cooped up in a narrow seat for 8 hours with Restless Leg Syndrome). The trip back was a blur, since I fell asleep soon after departing and woke up just outside Richmond, Va with about an hour to go to my station. I thought the trip was really nice, I enjoyed the ride, the scenery, even though we went through some not-so-nice areas of various cities, and I felt more connected with the route than I would have flying. The crew were all very nice to me (maybe the jacket and tie helped?), and I just wish that our passenger rail system would have been viable, but as railroad historians point out, passenger service has always been a losing business for railroads, freight is where the income is generated.
I’m taking a long-dreamed-of trip in September: flying to Toronto and taking VIA Rail to Vancouver, flying back home from there. Will board the train in the evening and arrive in the morning, 4 nights and 3 days on the train. So I’m really hopeful that Canadian passenger service is still something to appreciate. I did pay for a “room”; it is the same size, just about, as my bunk when it’s unfolded. There’s a shared shower room at the end of the car. Observation car to watch the scenery, dining car (meals included in the cost of the room). Haven’t been on Amtrak lately, just haven’t had the time when I’m actually going somewhere; but my experience was like Joe’s in that the crew were always very helpful and pleasant.
Sounds just wonderful. It’s on my list of trains to do as are the Indian-Pacific and The Ghan (both transcontinental Oz, one west to east and the other south to north or vice versa).
I’ve usually had good service on the Australian long-hauls.
I’d like to do the east-west (or west-east) across Australia’s Nullarbor Plain (is that the right name?) but if I make the trip there I’d want to take lots of time to do other things as well. I spent a month in New Zealand some years back, loved it, never been to Australia though.
I live in Iowa, have taken the train east and up and down the coast (Boston to DC), to Texas, and once took the Delta Queen down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and the train City of New Orleans back. All good trips except that when I went to Texas the train was something like 6 hours late. The hotel was sending transportation and I think the poor driver must have made a half-dozen trips in hopes that the train would arrive sometime.
What about the Trans-Siberian Express? I’ve read a couple of travel books about it but I fear that may be as close as I come to the experience.
Yes, Nullarbor Plain is the right name. The name means “no trees” and there are none that a European would recognise as a tree.