Flying?

[Spot's Meow]

I know most don't like paying for high mark-ups for plane drinks and what not...but I would just do it cause I wouldn't want to carry food and drinks on a plane...seems tacky.

Well you don't exactly get a plethora of choices on the plane. I bring my own food because I know it is something I will like. And the snacks really are ridiculously priced for something that will not be very filling. It's best to bring some snacks to ensure that you don't go hungry or have to fork out any money. I usually bring a bag of cookies or some trail mix or something similar, but I've seen people buy whole meals at fast food places and bring them on board. It's just common sense to have some food with you.

 

[Lindley]

Airports can be a little confusing, yeah. But flying is grand.

I disagree, but maybe that's just because I don't like being pressed into an uncomfortable seat with way too little room for myself -way too close to strangers wearing way too much perfume (or not knowing the basics of hygiene)- for hours and hours...

The idea is pretty neat though

Flying is generally ok. Mostly I hate not being able to have meals on long flights. Full flights definitely suck, but if the flight is not full, I can usually spread out a bit and just read or sleep the whole way.

Airports are just plain suck. I've yet to find one that is better than tolerable, though I think 90% of that is that I have yet to find a decently comfortable seat in one and I have a tendency to show up 90 minutes or more early for the flight. Add in the food and beverage prices and it can be really bad...

Too many of you are limiting your assessments to the Big Iron experience and large international hub airports. Flying, and the airport experience, are so much more than that, and most of you don't have any idea.

 

[Kestra]

Too many of you are limiting your assessments to the Big Iron experience and large international hub airports. Flying, and the airport experience, are so much more than that, and most of you don't have any idea.

I think it turned out that way because that's not only the experience that most of us have, but also relates to the OP. I'd love to hear a different perspective, though.

 

[sojourner]

Too many of you are limiting your assessments to the Big Iron experience and large international hub airports. Flying, and the airport experience, are so much more than that, and most of you don't have any idea.

I have flown in everything from twin prop planes to the biggest jumbo jets and can say that the experience on board usually has more to do with the carrier than the hardware. Small planes are fun and I enjoy them. Being in a middle row in a big jet is not fun.. First/Business class is GREAT.

Small quiet airports are charming usually, though in some situations you can wish they had a better selection of food outlets. (That generic coffee stand with 5 day old premade sandwiches run by mental patients can be a tad annoying at times). Big airports can be glamorous or just crowded. Experiences differ
depending on your particular situation at the time.


Sigh, for a couple of years my life was just like that George Clooney movie "Up In the Air". Including the sex.

 

[Captain Ice]

Flying is generally ok. Mostly I hate not being able to have meals on long flights. Full flights definitely suck, but if the flight is not full, I can usually spread out a bit and just read or sleep the whole way.

Airports are just plain suck. I've yet to find one that is better than tolerable, though I think 90% of that is that I have yet to find a decently comfortable seat in one and I have a tendency to show up 90 minutes or more early for the flight. Add in the food and beverage prices and it can be really bad...

Too many of you are limiting your assessments to the Big Iron experience and large international hub airports. Flying, and the airport experience, are so much more than that, and most of you don't have any idea.

Quite the contrary. I have dealt with small airports and smaller planes. I hate being in small planes with a passion and have found that there is really only two differences between small airports and larger ones. One is the time factor. Small airports mean shorter amounts of time between when you deplane and when your bags show up at baggage claim and a shorter walk to the curb/rental car counter. The other difference is that you frequently have to walk up the stairs to get on board. As someone who has flown with someone requiring a wheelchair, that is a REAL pita. Oh, and then there is that whole experience of running across the tarmac to catch your flight while they are preparing to pull the stairs away even though you made it to the gate in time.

So yes, small airports suck too.

 

[Jetfire]

I have been around our county airport but never on the inside...I think it would be nice to fly in a smaller plane once I get flying in a big one out the way.

[edit] About the food...they don't freak out if you carry it...it isn't a big ordeal??? I just don't want any hassles.

 

[Finn]

^There's nothing like going in a little plane shooting skyward as fast as we could until the engine stalling and going in freefall for about five minutes over the Springfield/Hartford Area.

If you have to know, A cousin of mine was doing a training run for the Air Force and decided to take me and my brother along about ten years ago.

 

[Canadave]

[edit] About the food...they don't freak out if you carry it...it isn't a big ordeal??? I just don't want any hassles.

As long as you don't try to take liquids through security (they'll ask you to finish it or toss it), no one will say a word. I can promise that.

 

[Spot's Meow]

[edit] About the food...they don't freak out if you carry it...it isn't a big ordeal??? I just don't want any hassles.

Nope, they don't care. You aren't allowed to bring liquids through security but there are no rules against bringing in whatever food you want.

 

[sojourner]

^And of course ,you can always by your food after security. I like to hit BurgerKing just before board.

 

[Jetfire]

^
That sounds good...just as long as it isn't Taco Bell...I'll be ok.

 

[Marc]

]On my flight, the seats had their own TV screens with shows, movies, news, radio, etc on demand. There was even a GPS channel so you could see where the plane was, how high it was flying and how fast it was going. I had it on when I couldn't sleep and couldn't wait to land.

But that GPS screen can be so damn depressing as well - you watch the little plane symbol creeping along and not seeming to get much closer to your destination.

 

[Canadave]

]On my flight, the seats had their own TV screens with shows, movies, news, radio, etc on demand. There was even a GPS channel so you could see where the plane was, how high it was flying and how fast it was going. I had it on when I couldn't sleep and couldn't wait to land.

But that GPS screen can be so damn depressing as well - you watch the little plane symbol creeping along and not seeming to get much closer to your destination.

The worst for me was flying WestJet from Ottawa to Saskatoon. There was no direct flight, so we had to change planes in Calgary—meaning that on the way out, I watched on the GPS as we flew right over Saskatoon, and onwards for another hour west.

 

[Marten]

I have been around our county airport but never on the inside...I think it would be nice to fly in a smaller plane once I get flying in a big one out the way.

[edit] About the food...they don't freak out if you carry it...it isn't a big ordeal??? I just don't want any hassles.

The security personnel don't care whether the ariline makes money on selling drinks and food, fortunately.

 

[Agent Richard07]

Never knew you could bring food to the airport. I thought you had to buy it in the terminal.

On my flight, the seats had their own TV screens with shows, movies, news, radio, etc on demand. There was even a GPS channel so you could see where the plane was, how high it was flying and how fast it was going. I had it on when I couldn't sleep and couldn't wait to land.

But that GPS screen can be so damn depressing as well - you watch the little plane symbol creeping along and not seeming to get much closer to your destination.

Yes. You look at the GPS and you're over Las Vegas. You look at it an hour later and you're still over Las Vegas. Then the stewardess comes over and asks you to calm down and stop punching the screen.

 

[Jetfire]

I might not eat anyway...drinking yes.

 

[Kestra]

The worst for me was flying WestJet from Ottawa to Saskatoon. There was no direct flight, so we had to change planes in Calgary—meaning that on the way out, I watched on the GPS as we flew right over Saskatoon, and onwards for another hour west.

Man, that would suck. The first time I took a direct flight back from India, I watched as we left and then started heading north ... and then further north ... and I was like ummm, the US is in the other direction! But it turned out we were basically flying over the pole (or somewhat near, rather), which was kind of awesome in itself.

 

[sojourner]

My company once flew me from Tampa to Orlando - by way of Miami. And it's only a 2 hour drive.

 

[eastman23]

My company once flew me from Tampa to Orlando - by way of Miami. And it's only a 2 hour drive.

After looking at a map of Florida... all I have to ask is why?

 

[Marc]

My company once flew me from Tampa to Orlando - by way of Miami. And it's only a 2 hour drive.

My brother used to work as a teacher at an Academy in South Korea.

After one contract ended he flew home to Adelaide South Australia but wasn't sure if he'd be getting a new one and if so would they would be arranging his flights.

He did get a new contract and his flights were booked on short notice. It was daily flight from Sydney to Seoul but he wouldn't make in time even if he left on the red eye from Adelaide so he left the night before.

But instead of flying him to Sydney and arranging an overnight hotel room which would of been cheapest he went

a) Adelaide to Perth (3 hours)
b) Perth Sydney (4 hours)
c) Sydney to Seoul (10 Hours)

The trans-Australia flights would of cost over $500 when a hotel room could of been booked for $120.