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Emergency in the Sky {AOL Travel News}
Oct 19th 2010 11:39PM I was flying from Frankfurt to India and the crew asked if there was a doctor on board. At least 25 people jumped up, it was amusing.
I fly well over 100,000 miles a year every year and in my experience cabin crews do their very best all of the time. Most people that complain seem to fly once a year and any little imagined slight sets them off. You get what you give, if you are nice most air crews will bend over backwards for you.
California Concerned About What Lurks Within Bouncy Castles {ParentDish}
Aug 13th 2010 8:43PM You may think I am making this up because it is so absurd but.....
The Federal Consumer protection agency through administrative rulings made it illegal to sell small motorbikes etc. to kids. Because they were dangerous? Certainly not. Because they contain traces of lead in the frames and engine cases. Who are these kids that eat engines and frames?
I am in the industry so I know of what I speak.
While we are China bashing are you aware that they have sold Millions (yes millions) of ATV's motorcycles etc. that do not meet EPA or the Department of Transportations safety standards? This was done for years with the full knowledge of both agencies. (Google Pep boys and the EPA for a recent example). Why did the Feds crack down last year? Because the states got fed up with the feds no doing their job and took it into their own hands.
Why did they turn a blind eye to it.......your guess is as good as mine. Had Harley Davidson even put on a safety sticker upside down, they'd be on the floor in handcuffs.
Our govt. has gone crazy.
(Check Pep Boys who just paid an enormous fine
AOL Mystery Flyer: US Airways Report Card {AOL Travel News}
May 29th 2010 1:50PM I am at the Chairman level with US Air (100,000 plus) miles a year. I make about 90 flights a year witih them. Here are my observations
1. It makes a BIG difference ifyou fly the "West US Air (old America West) or East US Air (old US Air before America West purchased them). West people on average are nicer, especailly on the ground, I am not castigating all
East employees but it is true
ask any US Air frequent flyer. I have to say it is better than shortly after the merger.
2. I have well over 600 flights with them over the past 6-7 years and have NEVER been treated rudely by ANY West staff and was treated rudely only three times by East ground
Staff
Overall a pretty good record in my opinion. And the East staff is much better than it was.
3. I hear casual travelers complaign all the time about air travel, but find 99% of it to be untrue or petty. In all of my flights on US Air I have only been late over one hour about twice a year, tops. Pretty darn good. I have only had two flights canceled in that period of time.
4. Because I fly so much with them I get upgraded to first class 99% of the time. No begging, no asking for an upgrade, no waiting in line to get one. They have a great upgrade system . First class on domestic flights is pretty much the Chevrolet of First class, but at least I get a nice seat and get on and off first. You have about a 15% chance that the FA will take your coat and a 10% they will give it back to you after the flight. You ahve about a 35% chance that you will get a pre takeoff drink. To be fair the FA's are usually quite busy pre-flight and they do what they can, there are some rare exceptions. They have eliminated all entertainment and food from most flights. This is an issue as they are becoming non competitive in this area. I recently flew on Air Tran and has free Wi-Fi very nice. When they do serve food (over 3 1/2 hour flights) it is usually very good.
5. For some reason I am always seated in the first row, I have no idea how this happens, but I get a good chance to observe the cabin and flight crew up close. 99.9% are as nice as can be. The other tiny percentage is indifferent at worst. I find every last one of them to be very professional about their duties. If something were to happen I am confident that they know what they are doing.
6. I do avoid US Airways (even as loyal as I am) on overseas flights. They are one of the worst. Their wide bodies are old and beat up, their cabin crews must be seniority based and are indefferent at best - maybe burned out. They don't have that great an overseas route structure. After your meal service the cabin crews generally lock themselves up and are not to be seen until the next service. Contrast this with some of their partners such as Lufthansa. The worst though is the food. For breakfast on a European trip you get a cup of coffee and what looks like a deep fried twinkie in a plastic wrapper. The first time I got one I thought is was a joke. The poor FA was embarrassed. The second time I got one I kept it, put it in a box and sent it to Doug Parker the CEO - no response but I bet someone in the office had a laugh. I used to be able to use my gazillion miles to upgrade to business, but they took that away. In short, get your miles by flying a partner airline overseas. Luthansa and United are both better in coach. Both airlines have upgraded me several time as a nice gesture without me asking. My own airline refuses to do it for their best customers much less other Star Alliance customers.
In short this is a great domestic airline, not so much overseas. Not bad, but there are much better bets that are usually cheaper (sometimes much cheaper) going abroad. I find the help to be supurb on average and can see how hard they try to be on time, courteous etc.
In the what drives me crazy department I detest customers who feel it is OK to put their feet up on the bulkhead - like they'd do that at home? Even worse are those that feel compelled to take their shoes/socks off and do the same thing. I am blown away by how much some first class customers can drink in one flight. It usually ends up being a bit embarrasing to them. I have customers who are rude to the FA's or desk people because they do the very best that they can. Most bad circumstances are well beyond their control. Lastly the person who has to talk loudly on their cell phone to prove how important they are. These are often times the same people who are not as courteous in their behavior as they expect the employees to be in theirs.
Obama Calls Arizona Immigration Bill 'Misguided,' Presses Congress for Reform {Politics Daily}
Apr 25th 2010 1:10PM 1. Obamas arrogance has no limits. He has no business interfering with states rights issues.
2. If the law spurs immigration reform finally then it will be a huge success.
3. How arrogant and out of touch the people that are commenting that are not from Arizona. How would you like to live in a war zone (literally) paying staggering amounts of money for the crimes and social costs of hundreds of thousands Illegal immigrants? How would you like homes in your neighborhood being used by human smugglers to house hundreds of illegals captive? How would you like to live in the kidnapping capital of the world all caused by traffic in humans? Also bear in mind this issue on our border is not all about Mexicans, it is about illegals from all over the world.
4. If the Federal government had done it's job we would not have to act with such a tough bill. This is the real issue. We need troops on the border NOW (ten years ago actually)until some sort of cohesive immigration policy is put together. If the Federal government was paying the bill there would be national outrage instead of allowing the corrupt criminal gang we call congress (Both parties, this is not a Republican or Democrat issue) to drag their feet.
5. What few realize is that while hundreds of thousands walk across the southern border those people who want to immigrate legally face enormous difficulty. Again a product of no cohesive policies. Many of these people would be highly beneficial to the overall good of this country.
6. Lastly it is easy to turn this into an anti-Mexican or Latino issue. While the largest problem is on our southern border, the Mexicans who come here illegally have good reason to want to immigrate. Most of it due to the failings of the Mexican government. We need to welcome people like them who are looking for a better life but in a legal orderly fashion.
Opinion: Adoptive Mother Should Be Sent to the Gulag {ParentDish}
Apr 12th 2010 3:13PM I have adopted a child from Russia and I know many others that have. First it is an absolute fact that the Russian system is totally corrupt and they have no business making any judgments until they decide to treat their own orphans like humans. The Russian Government stacks them up like cord wood and only makes it difficult for them to have a decent life.
Secondly do any simple 2 second Google search and you will find that many Russian orphans (as well as others including Americans) can be very damaged and difficult. It is a given that the system is lying about their problems, this is well known. If you have gone as far as to actually be involved in the process and are not aware of the hazards there is something wrong with you.
My daughter has been wonderful as have most kids from Russia, but there are lots of troubled kids. I know many people who have adopted these kids with their eyes wide open and then dealt with the challenges. In my book they are saints for the love they show to these kids.
I can't judge this woman but I can tell say beyond any shadow of a doubt that anyone who gets that far and is not aware of the pitfalls doesn't deserve to adopt a child.
Debating the President's Hawaii Vacation: Should Obama Be in Washington? {Politics Daily}
Dec 31st 2009 10:43PM I don't think any of the millions of unemployed are taking a Christmas holiday in Hawaii this year. I own a small business and am one of those people who don't take vacations much less more than one so that I can work 7 days a week and create jobs. Obama and the rest of the Congress (both sides) don't have a clue what is going on in this country and what a real job is like.
Is It Time to Stop Picking on Glenn Beck? {Inside TV Blog}
Nov 20th 2009 3:18PM His conspiracy theories are terrible aren't they. Heck his ranting about ACORN were over the top.......Oh wait they were true, darn must have gotten lucky. His rants about the SEIU and ACORN being tied together were awful........oh. they were true also. Same with his rants about the Czars, terrible, but I guess at least one resigned because Beck made all of this up, the heck with the videos. White house communications director a Maoist - ridiculous isn't it. After all who are you going to believe the way left liberals or a tape of her saying same.
Why the White House Shouldn't Play Chicken With Fox {Politics Daily}
Oct 21st 2009 6:17PM Quite interesting how freedom of speech has no meaning with some people. If you think Fox is slanted then you will have to agree that MSNBC among others is also slanted in the opposite direction. What Obama is naively saying is that if you disagree with him you have no credibility. That of course in nonsense but what he really has done is to insult the large number of independent voters (which he needs) and some Democrats (believe it or not) who watch Fox. Even the other media types are starting to realize what a slippery slope this is. The White House is being very immature and their inexperience is showing.
As for Glen Beck, he can be over the top, but he wasn't wrong about ACORN or the Czar who resigned was he? Where was the other media types on those subjects? Obama has generally been given a pass by many outlets and the healthiness thing for this country is an active and investigative media and a media which comes from different points of view. The concept of "pure journalism" went out the door with Dan Rather and others. There are very few if any true journalists left.
Roland Burris Defends ACORN, Says 'Fox Sting' and 'Agendas' to Blame {Politics Daily}
Oct 8th 2009 3:30PM I guess this makes sense if you consider the source
White House Goes After Glenn Beck 'Smear' and Fox News 'Lies' {Politics Daily}
Oct 1st 2009 4:07PM Obama needs to start acting more presidential and stop campaigning. He is rising to the bait if he keeps attacking those who disagree with him. All that does is empower the person he is attacking. This country has bigger things to worry about. If the woman's background is trouble it will come out, if not it will go away. I do have to say Beck was right about the first two.
