Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Recent Comments:
Win a trip to Bangkok from Gadling and lebua! {Gadling}
Feb 21st 2010 3:43PM I would love a trip like this! Good luck to all!
Tuesday Travel Trivia (Week 21) {Gadling}
Mar 17th 2009 10:16AM 1. Chicago, ILL
2. California
3. Montenegro?
4. Destruction?
5. Le Louvre
6. Egypt?
7. Myanmar?
8. Netbook
9. North Face
10. Brazil
Southwest Airlines announces service to BOSTON {Gadling}
Feb 19th 2009 1:06AM I wonder what this is going to do to MHT as it has been a focal point for Southwests flights to and from Boston.
Galley Gossip: A question about why flight attendants are fat, old, grumpy, lazy and ugly {Gadling}
Feb 9th 2009 11:13AM DC you and people like "Big Daddy" disturb me as I doubt either of you know what good service truly is. How a flight attendant looks should not play a role into if they get a job or not. Don't get me wrong I can be a bit sexist at times to, having a pretty stewardess to look at always seems to make the flight a little bit faster, but I have no issue with ones who are not. 99% of the FA's I have flown with have been really nice. Though occasionally you get a bad egg it is the exception not the rule.
Galley Gossip: Just a few things a flight attendant doesn't want to hear {Gadling}
Jan 30th 2009 12:09AM I Can't believe some of the people who have posted to this thread. I don't take from this article that she hates her job, just sharing some things that would make any normal person frustrated. Lets go point by point shall we? 1. Plain and simple this would scare the hell out of anyone. I dare say it's akin to yelling fire in a crowded movie theater. When it is said it must happen in only the most necessary of times. 2. First off anyone who paid attention and followed the flight attendants explaining procedures knew where the bags were.. RIGHT INFRONT OF THEM. It is the responsibility of the person who is "Spewing" to try to keep the area affected to a minimum, other wise it's rude and I would think well within the rights of the airline to seek cleaning costs from the person. 3. As in my job those are the worst words in the world. In the end it doesn't matter who or what you are rules are rules are rules and I can't bend them for you or anyone else. Especially if its for the safety of a hundred plus people. Even if you think its stupid. 4. First and foremost this is not an easy task. With people trying to come on the plane it is nearly impossible to get anywhere let alone on a task that the person who requested it could have taken care of themselves by not rushing at the last minute to the gate. People need to give traveling the time it is due. I arrive at least two hours ahead of time. Yes it is a pain, but it makes sure I am prepared for the flight as well. As a larger person I also make sure that as I board I let the FA's know i need an extention at that time, instead of forcing them to try and get around everyone to get me something I knew I needed before I set foot on the plane. Its called common courtesy! 5. See 3. Just because something beyond our control happened does not mean we can give away the plane. You do want a ride home don't you? 6. Heather this is one I kind of disagree with you on, granted one or two hours waiting on the tarmac to get de-iced (like what happened on my last trip) is not getting held hostage, four or five hours in a blizzard pretending we will be going somewhere when we all know we are not is. The airlines should never let it get this far, it is sad they do. 7. It amazes me that people think that on the plane is the right time to ask this question, because of course the answer is no. There are rules to this and usually it has to do with your FF status. In the last ten years of flying one or two trips a year I have yet to see an empty first class seat because of the rules. If you really want that seat, pony up the cash. 8. See 4. My personal luggage is my responsibility, not Heather's. If you can't put it up, put it under, if you can't do that rethink about taking it aboard. CALCULATE THE CHECKED BAGGAGE FEES INTO THE COST OF YOUR TICKET. $30.00 (15 each way) Never killed anyone who can afford the ticket in the first place. 9. See 3. Unless you have been in a coma for the last five years, you knew what to expect. Don't play dumb, prepare or pay up. The seriously out numbered flight attendant can't wave a wand to magically make it free for you. 10. When I am away from the office I don't want to talk about work (well that is no true for me, I love what I do, but most people don't.) I bet you don't either. Why should FA's? 11. Um can anyone say sexual harassment? It's not right for anyone, sadly FA's get far more of it then anyone should. 12. See 8. Again common sense is called for, and realize that I should take care of somethings myself. 13. LOOK AT YOUR BOARDING PASS. Every boarding pass I have ever seen has an estimated arrival time on it. It's not that tough. 14. I am all for airlines putting limits on what denominations are accepted. Carry a wide range of bills, and always try to pay with the most appropriate. Again a little common sense will help solve the problem. 15. How the heck does the person who is doing thousands of other things supposed to know where they are when they are up from five minutes after takeoff to 30 seconds before landing? It is the definition of a stupid question.
A few closing thoughts: 1. Just because we are on vacation does not mean that we are not in the work environment of another. 2. Common sense and pre-planning can go a long way, to making your experience on the plane happier for you and everyone else on the plane. 3. Just because FA's are there to help us, they are not slaves or butlers, do not treat them as such. Also they are not there for you to use as your personal runner. Do some things for yourself. 4. There are 100+ other people on the plane who need help to, you are not the end all and be all. 5. Finally: BEFORE YOUR RING THAT BELL MAKE SURE IT IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS THE ATTENTION OF THE FA, AND NOT SOMETHING TO CATER TO YOUR OWN SELFISHNESS.
Airbus A380 is a big plane and a big pain in the behind {Gadling}
Jan 25th 2009 3:52PM Um More than 13 have been ordered. Only 13 have been delivered, so far.
Atlanta tops traffic list 4th year in a row {Gadling}
Jan 25th 2009 11:13AM And the amazing thing is, it is a well run airport. I flew through Atlanta to get to Tennessee and back again last March and both times I experienced almost no flight delays on the tarmac. It was a great experience.
Cockpit Chronicles: Anatomy of a 26 hour delay. {Gadling}
Jan 5th 2009 8:44PM Hey Kent, what is Logan like? Is it an airport where you can have fun spending a couple of hours waiting for a flight? I just moved to southern NH so it looks like that and Manchester will soon be my "home" airports, I sure hope they are fun, I am one who always gets there early.
Galley Gossip: Be kind to your fellow passengers. Yes, that does include the ones who are overweight! {Gadling}
Dec 5th 2008 6:47PM I know I am not the most welcomed person in the world when I show up in an aisle, and ask for my seat. I am 6 foot 6 inches tall and around 400 lbs. Luckilly, the height makes the weight more managable but still I know I do encroach a little. I do my best to cope by always sitting in aisle seats, and if I am flying united, upgrading to at least Economy Plus. I stick one of my legs out into the aisle but always remain awake so I can take it out when needed. The other one sadly is wedged in to chair back of the person infront of me. I am in the unfortunate position that to fly without bothering someone else means purchasing three seats. (One in front and one on the side.) Sadly this is not finacially possible for me. What Frequent Flyer and others need to remember is even though you are comfortable so are we. We all make sacrifices so that we save time to get to wherever we are going. Trust me there are plenty of times where I get up in the midddle of the flight to go stand in the galley to wake up my legs or to just let the other people have some space. My next flight I am stuck in the cattle car, to those who I am about to sit next to and behind, I apologize. At least on the flights after, I get to to fly cross country (Manchester to Vancouver) I was given a gift and will be sitting in the first class cabin with a window seat.. First window seat in 12 years.
On the plus side I have only had one real problem on a flight, coming home from Orlando to Denver on a school field trip. As soon as the fasten seat belt sign was off the seat in front of me crashed back on my knees. I asked the lady sitting it nicely if she could move it back up and she rudely respoded. As I felt the circulation in my lower legs cut off I hit the stewardess button for the second time ever and a moment later I was moved to an exit row. 1 bad person in 26 years of life, about 12 of them being "Big."
Airplane alternative: Amtrak train travel is a hit with this Gadling blogger {Gadling}
Sep 9th 2008 9:47AM I agree I love to travel by train. How ever you got lucky. One thing people HAVE to realize (and I can not stress this enough) is that since your traveling on the ground lots of things can stop the train and cause delays. Last time I traveled by train I had 3 Delays totalling 1 day and 12 hours. (1 doesn't happen that often and was truly a shocking experience to me. It caused the train to stop, the engine to be shut off meaning the air conditioning to stop on a hot summer day in Washington DC. Plus the train staff gave us no information.) The second time was leaving family in New England, a Train wreck delayed the train an entire day. The good thing is Amtrak put us up in a hotel room for the night. The third time was nearing home another train wreck forced amtrak to send a bus to finish the trip. Don't get me wrong I love the train, but if I have to be there by a certain time, give me a plane ticket anyday, however if the train is part of the trip I would prefer that.
