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Good Karma on the Tarmac
The upside of air travel having become frequently fraught with the perils of delays, cancellations, and indifferent personnel, is that the bar for A Very Good Day is now simply that things work as they ought.
Today is Exhibit One. I missed my flight, but was comforted by the assurance there had been many seats available on the next one. But with only 30 minutes to departure, it turned out they were now all booked. Then, mirabile dictu, my determined US Airways agent suddenly found one seat.
There were ridiculously long lines for TSA … which I then cruised past as there was not even a single other person in the precheck line.
There was an absurdly long line at the information kiosk where some flight must have cancelled, but — great relief — it wasn’t mine.
And then there was a long line to board — only they made one last call for my zone, before calling the next batch, so on I sailed.
I am waiting for the captain to come on and announce that we’ll park on the tarmac for four hours to compensate for all this happy karma. But if he doesn’t, tonight might be the first time I buy a lottery ticket. All because I flew on time and without incident.
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With US Air, that is a miracle. I had my standard two hour delay going through Charlotte, and I’m taking bets on the over/under on the delay returning home Friday.
Still better than the days when a very good day was one where you didn’t starve to death, die of plague, or get eaten by a bear.
;-)
We have flown twice in the last five years from Seattle to Philadelphia and back on US Airways, and the flights were on time or early, the attendants were courteous and helpful, and the flights were uneventful. It will be interesting to see what effects the merger with American will have.
Also, it does help somewhat to fly First Class. We discovered that the fare is not unreasonable, and the extra money is worth it, to get free checked bags, more-comfortable seats, first boarding, free food and drink, and ample overhead bin space.
Every time you fly you buy a lottery ticket.
Many times I booked months in advance for a flight, had a seat assignment, all plans for vacation completed. Arrive at airport to be informed ” we’re sorry, we overbooked your flight and you’ve been bumped”, the next available flight to your destination is… tomorrow ( or the day after or on the full moon).
To which I reply ” so you didn’t sell me a seat on the plane, you sold me a lottery ticket”….
I enjoy flying (the part in the air) but I hate airports. The crowds are rude, the rules are crazy, then the TSA comedy routine manages to make a bad situation exponentially worse. I don’t fly unless I’m under severe time restraints which, as I’m now retired, is very seldom.
But I really like the part in the air; wish it was of more significant duration.
Okie – Get your own plane or join a flying club. They don’t cost more than a new car (many are about 30K-50K) or you can rent one.
And I also like sailboats!
I am the exact opposite. I hate the flying part (they won’t let me fly the plane), but I love airports. Admittedly, post 9/11, they aren’t as much fun, but all the planes going in and out, the people watching, etc. is just neat.
Before 9/11 when I flew with others (family, friends and colleagues) we used to play Spy At The Airport. While waiting for your flight you would look around and try to guess who was a spy. The chances were pretty high that in a major airport there was at least one en route to somewhere, so you had a fun game with a basis in reality.
Since 9/11 it’s terrorist at the airport. It’s no longer light and fun, but deadly serious. Whenever I fly I always profile for the possible terrorists and the potential helpers if something happens; rank ordering both for likelihood. Yep, still do 14 years on. It’s also why I always wear a leather belt with a substantial brass buckle when flying. It can quickly become an effective weapon if needed.
I always travel with a roll of duct tape in my carryon. It’s wonderful for impromptu restraint, and is about the most useful thing you can travel with. I’ve used it to tape curtains together to keep our annoying light, fix a broken suitcase, emergency shoe repair, umbrella repair, tape the GPS to the dash when I forgot the mount etc etc…..
Duct tape is the universal adhesive (nail polish remover is the universal solvent).
Okie, time to spare travel by GA air!
Vector is correct that the economics are not too bad. A Piper Comanche can be purchased these days for ~50K which does 180mph can go for 6 hours at a time, hold up to four folks (three with full fuel). The price of Avgas has been dropping and it now costs about $50 to $75 in operating cost per hour.
Trips of less than 500 miles it breaks even with the airlines for one person, and becomes a bargain for three. No delay due to bureaucracies, a car will be waiting if you call ahead, however weather can be a pain.
I use it for work when the weather allows, and I get reimbursed up to the price of a ticket. Typically I come ahead a few buck and I got to enjoy the flight. And every pilot knows that God does not deduct your time in the air from your time on the ground.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaMy7uoiUCM
Ah, first world problems. I was thinking about this this morning while reading the news on my iPad about the refugees trying to get into Europe, while propped up in my lovely king sized bed, sipping coffee, with a clean toilet steps away, plenty of food awaiting me for breakfast. Outside my window is a lovely garden with the fall blooming flowers putting on a magnificent display. Still can’t figure out how I got so lucky as to have been born an American in the 20th Century.
I appreciate all the flying advice but right now I’m pouring most of our resources into finishing our Retirement Manor:
You see, the way I see it is that if Jonas Salk had said “well at least I’m not being eaten by a bear” we’d still be dying of plague, and if whatever brilliant caveman came up with the sharp rock onna stick mk.1 had said “we at least i’ll die full” we would still be being eaten by bears.
And the return trip: boarded the plane in Charlotte on time. Right as they were to close the door…lightning. One flash, and we’re delayed for 30 minutes. 90 degree weather, door still open, no A/C since the engines aren’t running yet. After we’re cleared for the weather delay, the pilot tells us we’re 700 lbs overweight. Turns out it’s because of the three USAir employees trying to hitch a ride on our flight unticketed. By the time they get them off the plane and remove their bags, we’re 2 hours late (still sitting in the heat with the door open). Even the stewardess is complaining about the Charlotte airport and how poorly it is run these days. Even worse than Philly! After sitting for another half an hour on the tarmac waiting for our place in queue, we finally leave 2.5 hours late. Charlotte is where connections go to die.