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Travel Lessons We Can Learn From Summer 2007
Christopher Elliott took a couple of polls and determined that travel this summer wasn't as bad as it seemed. 54 percent of those polled even said their summer travels had been "average." You wouldn't think so just by reading Gadling, let alone any other travel news. But, Elliott concedes, that doesn't mean there haven't been a few rough patches. Flight delays, horrible customer service, an overburdened passport office and high fuel prices have all but made even the most enthusiastic travelers yell "uncle."
So, what can we learn from all these? Elliott draws some lessons:
1. Apply for your passport early.
The massive backlog at the passport office continues to worsen. Since the U.S. government began requiring air travelers to Canada or Mexico to have a passport, thousands of vacations were delayed or canceled due to delayed delivery. And in 2008 all overland travelers will need a passport, which will no doubt create an even larger stack of paperwork. "Express" service has been lengthened, and what used to take 6 weeks now can take upwards of 3 months. Mine expires in June 2008 and I've got to get on it. However, that passport crunch might be over....
2. Air travel is actually worse than reported.
Sure, airfares are (sorta) low and there's a decent safety record, but who cares about that when your flight's been canceled? Not only is this possibly the worst summer ever for air travel, but it's shaping up to be the worst year. We've certainly had a lot to say about it. Like here. And here. And there's this story. And blogger Leif is on a one-man rampage against Northwest.
3. Europe sucks.
Well, Elliott is a lot classier than I, and didn't actually use the term "suck." That's all me. But if you traveled in Europe this summer, you might have had a sucky time. The dollar was at an all-time high low against the Euro (for 120 days, mind you!), luggage was lost like socks in a dryer, and Heathrow was more politely described by another blogger here at Gadling as "shabby and slow" (read: sucky). However, I have a hard time imagining that Europe wouldn't be worth all the hassle. Even with the Eurotrash. 
4. Mind the gap.
It's as if Hurricane Katrina didn't teach us one thing about aging infrastructure. After Minneapolis's I35W bridge collapsed, we all paid more attention to the state of bridges and highways in the U.S. But will that save lives? The Transportation Department recorded an all-time low in traffic fatalities in 2006, and 2007 is following suit. Let's hope the bridges continue to hold out.
5. TSA really sucks.
Again, we've had nothing but awful news to report here on the state of airport security. From laughable errors to scary incompetence, airport security has gotten a lot of flack this summer. And it'll probably get more; according to Elliott, the new "Secure Flight" initiative threatens to take even more of our civil liberties away, even though it claims to protect travelers' privacy. At least there are products out there to help us have fun with TSA.
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8 in 10 travelers complained about gas prices, but in general more people were taking road trips (perhaps because their flights were canceled? Just a thought). I know high fuel prices didn't keep me from driving the 2500 miles from Seattle to Seward -- but the prices also gave me something to complain about all the way through Canada. But mercifully, gas prices dropped a bit in June.
7. If your airline blames the weather, they're probably lying.
How many times can you use the same excuse? Can't the weather be filed away under "ancient clichés" with dog-eaten homework and it's-not-you-it's-me excuses?
It's nearly impossible to disprove a weather excuse, and by blaming an "act of God," the airlines get out of taking responsibility for a delayed or canceled flight. I predict more bad weather on the horizon for air travel.
| Awesome! My flights were on time and nearly always upgraded, my car gets 45 mpg, and I travel on an EU passport! | |
|---|---|
| It was okay. I anticipated delays and planned for them, but they were still frustrating. | |
| Terrible. My luggage is deteriorating "somewhere," I got thrombosis on what was supposed to be a 2-hour flight but turned into 7 after we sat on the tarmac for 4 hours, and I converted the Euro to dollar backwards so now I'm broke. |
Filed under: Blogs, Europe, North America, Airlines, Transportation, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Caz Sep 7th 2007 1:36AM
You should add another option: Awesome! I knew better than to travel during a busy summer season!
Annie Sep 13th 2007 2:37PM
I must be an optimist because I never seem to be prepared for how bad it really is! Even the Swiss Ttain was not on time and that is the one thing you could usually count on!!!
elc Sep 13th 2007 2:40PM
The writer of the above article on Europe does not even know when the dollar is "high" or "low"!!! The rest of his comments are similarly flawed.
Jennifer Sep 13th 2007 2:47PM
I knew they were lying when they said that the ceiling was too low to be able to land and so they cancelled our flight and booked us on the next flight. Our flight was to leave @ 5:30p and the one they rebooked us on left @ 9:50p...amazingly enough even with all the rebookings it wasn't full..go figure. This was on the way to my wedding...I was not a happy person!!!! We almost decided to drive from LA to Tahoe but it would have meant losing the value of our ticket because it was "an act of God"....uuummmm....sure it was.
Catherine Sep 13th 2007 2:49PM
#3,
Thanks for pointing out my error! I fixed it.
And by the way, I'm a "she."
diana Sep 13th 2007 3:05PM
I might feel like thorn in everyone's side, but I traveled to London this summer and it was absoultely wonderful! Sure, there were some delays but thats just a fact that all intelligent travelers keep in mind. Sure, some people might get frustrated, but throwing a tantrum at the airport isnt going to speed anything up either. As for Heathrow...everyone knows that that place is a zoo, so why not try Gatwick? I did, it was a splendid experience-very clean and prompt.
Europe is a wonderful place to travel to. Some Americans complain about Europeans but we all know that you can't go to Paris with Nikes and expect to be treated with hospitality!
What shapes your traveling experiencesis not so much what truly happens, but your take on it. Its all about your perspective. Flight delays are nothing new, so why not be a logical and reponsible person and simply plan ahead?
Oh, and if flights are too expensive and the exchange rate doesn't tickle your fancy, then maybe you have no business traveling to Europe, right???
Doug Sep 13th 2007 3:09PM
What an ignorant article. The dollar is low compared to the euro because the U.S.'s economy is "sucky" compared to the E.U. Europe is gorgeous, and the people are generally wonderful. "Eurotrash?" you say. Look in your own backyard. Hell, you should probably just look in the mirror.
emanon Sep 13th 2007 3:19PM
The only thing wrong with Europe is all the stupid people from the USA thinking they are better then everyone. If you travel, you expect delays, if you don't expect delays then you don't travel enough. Get with it and enjoy the ableity to be ABLE to travel you moron. The USA that thinks we are better then everyone sucks and our economy sucks too, that is why the euro is better then ours.
brian p Sep 13th 2007 3:47PM
Hey #7 & 8 - i fought for your right to moan and complain and gripe. spoiled lazy americans like you give the rest of us a bad name. why haven't the both of you joined hands and applied for refuge in Europe? what are you waiting for. you're both hypocrites. un-be-liev-able!
Diane Sep 13th 2007 3:56PM
We traveled to Europe this summer for 17 days. The people were wonderful. We were in France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and The Netherlands. Our flight on Delta was delayed which caused us to miss our flight on Air France and lose one day in France. My luggage was lost to never be recovered. None of this is the fault of the folks in Europe though. Our biggest problem is attempting to collect the insurance coverage we purchased here for our trip which is no reflection on the folks in Europe!!!!!!!
Megan Crandall Sep 13th 2007 4:29PM
Airlines using the excuse of "bad weather" are automatically lying? Do you even understand how flying and ATC work? An IFR approach requires more spacing between planes, meaning it takes more time to get planes in, causing "ground holds" down the line. Every plane that gets to the gate late means delays for the flight it will next operate as, causing backup and logistical problems throughout a region or the entire country. Considering many airports are in areas prone to fog or bad weather (Seattle, Cinci, O'Hare), expect issues and delays. Ever wonder why there seem to be more crashes involving corporate/charter jets, even though they have incredibly well-trained pilots and all the latest equipment? Many times it's because the pilots are pressured into making the customer happy by taking extra cargo or people (weight) or flying in weather conditions that are not safe, all to keep on schedule. If an airline needs to delay a flight because of weather, or bump bags or people for weight, I'm happy to be safe.
David Sep 13th 2007 4:34PM
I'm with you, Diana. Get your perspective and expecations together before you plan your trip. Delays, exchange rates, discourtesy have always been around. If you can't deal with that, don't go. And, I might add, for the benefit of some posters, Europe doesn't exist to be be a playground for Americans; that's Disneyland, don't get them confused.
mrdickieweed Sep 13th 2007 4:39PM
I just returned from France, and I was amazed that their attitude has not changed at all....they are still rude, arrogant, smell like chimps, bitch about everything, make a national pastime out of ignoring customers and then sneering if you insist that they serve you sometime this month....the only bright spot was a nation-wide hoax when their version of Howard Stern (Jean-Claude Stern) started a panic when he announced on nationwide radio that the Germans were attacking....all of a sudden everybody broke out American flags and chased us down in the streets giving us gifts and inviting us to dinner on them and shouting "Viva Le Americains!!", suddenly speaking English and showing birth certificates that showed that they were 1/256th American....they threw flowers at us and offered their daughters and wives for "companionship".....when they found out that it was a hoax they angrily spit on us and called us "Yanqui Imperialists" and started playing Maurice Chevalier records real loud....
Brian Sep 13th 2007 4:41PM
Don't
Expect
Luggage
To
Arrive
Gav Sep 13th 2007 4:56PM
your poll has retarded options and the post seems incredibly one sided.
mat Sep 13th 2007 5:08PM
We went to Europe with this summer and it was wonderful. Northwest changed our flights, but we actually ended up on nicer planes than we originally booked. Our luggage arrived just fine, rental car was ready and waiting, and everyone we ran into in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic was pleasant, helpful and accomodating. Yes, the exchange rate was UGLY, but we knew that going in. We simply ate at more street venders/markets and bought fewer souveniers. It's all about attitude...
Trvlin Man Sep 13th 2007 5:10PM
The Euro is strong because the European economy is better than the American economy? Nothing could be further from the truth. Check your facts before shooting off your mouth. Travel is a very fluid situation, adapt and stop whining. Americans complain like no others. Not eveyone in the world acts/thinks like we do, get used to it. Every time I go overseas I see an endless number of Americans complaining that "this isn't the way it's done at home"....well, your not at home !
JIM Sep 13th 2007 5:25PM
I HARDLY WOULD CALL IT "EUROTRASH" I SPENT TWO MONTHS IN EUROPE AND ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH. I HAD TWO MONTHS OF TIME AND MONEY AND INJOYED IT ALL. I MADE PLANS EACH DAY TO TRAVEL. THE TRAINS WERE NOT LATE, MY FLIGHTS WERE GREAT, THE TRANSALANTIC WAS LONG BUT IT WAS A GREAT JET. I TRAVELLED BY MYSELF AND WOULD DO IT AGAIN.
Joan Sep 13th 2007 6:02PM
The airlines have no idea what havoc they make when they hold you hostage on a plane for no reason. You just sit and wait for hours and their mercy while you watch hours fly by knowing you will miss connections and the last flight of the night and have to spend the night at a hotel at your own expense and catch a flight the following day. This happened twice to me in 2 months and the reason was air traffic control problems. I saw told by one ticket agent "don't fly after 2:00 pm", well that is really nice in a perfect world, but sometimes you are at the airlines mercy again when booking a flight. The whole situation is pathetic!
Karinen Sep 13th 2007 6:15PM
#18 - perhaps petty, but I wish people would understand that all caps is the equivalent of yelling. It's not like email is new.