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The hell that is long haul international air travel illustrated in brilliant drawings
Illustrator Christoph Niemann flew from New York to Berlin, and used his incredible talent to describe the kind of hell you go through when you fly long haul. In his brilliant drawings, you'll see everything from the armrest battle to that weird taste in your mouth when you wake up after your short nap.
Oh, and the little hole at the bottom of the airplane window allows for pressure differential and prevents your window from fogging up. Now you know!
Head on over to the New York Times for the entire illustrated journal of his trip.
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Capt Denny Flanagan Aug 13th 2010 10:18PM
As pilots we can improve the travel experience of our customers. On my business cards I write notes and thank my customers for their business. I ask the purser to give them to the first class customers including employees.
If time permits I also send thank you notes to my customers in coach. I target those in the middle seats first with the intent to emotionally and physically make their seat bigger. We have all been there, what I call the “Middle Seat Syndrome. Most airlines board the window and aisle seats first which give these customers a chance to make a nest to prevent someone from sitting next to them. When you approach they don’t make eye contact and they have COMMAND OF THE ARM RESTS. (Have you ever tried to get control of an arm rest once it is occupied?) As another tactic your new seatmates have already coveted your seat with their coats, bags and snacks. They slowly relocate their belongings hoping you will move on to another seat. But no! Your boarding stub says 22B and that’s where you belong.
You have now been in your seat for an hour and not a word has been said from your new neighbors. Because to do so would mean they would have to be nice and give up their claim to the armrest. They have already witnessed you going through a whole range of middle seat aerobics and still mums the word. The only time they do talk to you is after the plane has landed and you are grabbing your bag to leave. ……They say, with a big smile. “Have a nice day”……..
Now…..Approaching down the aisle is a flight attendant and she stops at your row, leans over and says, “Excuse me, I have a note for you from the Captain”. Emotionally I just made your seat bigger because of the importance of receiving the note. Physically your seat is bigger because your row just became popular and your new best friends next to you feel like heels for treating you the way they did. They would also like to know who you are and what did the Captain have to say. So one leans left and the other leans right and Whaaa Laaa two arm rests magically appear and are yours for the taking.