Putting Air Travel Complaints in Context

December 16, 2007

A Context for Those Complaints
By Patrick Smith

After five-plus years of fielding air travel questions from the
general public, I've pretty much heard it all. Certain subjects I
expected to be popular -- questions about the use of cell phones during
flight, for instance -- and I continue to be amazed at the number of
fliers petrified by turbulence. But more than anything else, I have
learned to never, ever underestimate how much people simply hate to
fly.

http://jetlagged.blogs.nytimes.com/2...ml?ref=opinion

On Dec 17, 11:53*am, zorba wrote:
December 16, 2007

A Context for Those Complaints
By Patrick Smith

After five-plus years of fielding air travel questions from the
general public, I've pretty much heard it all. Certain subjects I
expected to be popular -- questions about the use of cell phones during
flight, for instance -- and I continue to be amazed at the number of
fliers petrified by turbulence. But more than anything else, I have
learned to never, ever underestimate how much people simply hate to
fly.

http://jetlagged.blogs.nytimes.com/2...-for-those-com...

Good article.

People need to remember: you get what you pay for. If you bitch and
moan about long check-in lines, if you don't like the rude service and
inconvenience, no meals and having to change planes, then either book
something non-stop and in first class-- or don't ****ing fly.

On 22 Dec, 18:16, rst wrote:
On Dec 17, 11:53*am, zorba wrote:

December 16, 2007

A Context for Those Complaints
By Patrick Smith

After five-plus years of fielding air travel questions from the
general public, I've pretty much heard it all. Certain subjects I
expected to be popular -- questions about the use of cell phones during
flight, for instance -- and I continue to be amazed at the number of
fliers petrified by turbulence. But more than anything else, I have
learned to never, ever underestimate how much people simply hate to
fly.

http://jetlagged.blogs.nytimes.com/2...-for-those-com...

Good article.

People need to remember: *you get what you pay for. * If you bitch and
moan about long check-in lines, if you don't like the rude service and
inconvenience, no meals and having to change planes, then either book
something non-stop and in first class-- or don't ****ing fly.

Wrong way around: if flying with an LCC enables you to avoid taking 2
flights then it is worth putting up with longer check-in, no in
flight meals, the scrum to get on board etc.

I cannot imagine taking ANY connecting flight with an LCC as they
typically don't have the network and are not members of larger cartels
(sorry, 'alliances').

On Dec 22, 12:16*pm, rst wrote:
On Dec 17, 11:53*am, zorba wrote:

December 16, 2007

A Context for Those Complaints
By Patrick Smith

After five-plus years of fielding air travel questions from the
general public, I've pretty much heard it all. Certain subjects I
expected to be popular -- questions about the use of cell phones during
flight, for instance -- and I continue to be amazed at the number of
fliers petrified by turbulence. But more than anything else, I have
learned to never, ever underestimate how much people simply hate to
fly.

http://jetlagged.blogs.nytimes.com/2...-for-those-com...

Good article.

People need to remember: *you get what you pay for. * If you bitch and
moan about long check-in lines, if you don't like the rude service and
inconvenience, no meals and having to change planes, then either book
something non-stop and in first class-- or don't ****ing fly.

My thoughts exactly, but here's the problem the way *I* see it.

The occasional, and Holiday fliers are the worst for complaints. They
fly once or twice a year, an when they return a year later, everything
has changed.

The frequent fliers see the system deteriorate slowly every week, and
make the necessary adjustments. Sure, they complain at times too, but
not as often. I had a woman ask me just last week how I got my
lighter through security.

Holidays are the worst. I'm heading back out on Dec. 26th, and not
looking forward to it.

On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 08:38:34 -0800 (PST), Jim Davis
wrote:


The frequent fliers see the system deteriorate slowly every week, and
make the necessary adjustments. Sure, they complain at times too, but
not as often.

Or it's the frog in the water. The infrequent flier feels the hot
water and is unhappy. The frequent flier just slowly becomes
accustomed to it.

On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 23:27:13 -0500 Brian wrote:

:On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 08:38:34 -0800 (PST), Jim Davis
wrote:

:The frequent fliers see the system deteriorate slowly every week, and
:make the necessary adjustments. Sure, they complain at times too, but
:not as often.

:Or it's the frog in the water. The infrequent flier feels the hot
:water and is unhappy. The frequent flier just slowly becomes
:accustomed to it.

The more frequent fliers tend to get less of the hassles.

--
Binyamin Dissen
http://www.dissensoftware.com

Should you use the mailblocks package and expect a response from me,
you should preauthorize the dissensoftware.com domain.

I very rarely bother responding to challenge/response systems,
especially those from irresponsible companies.

On Dec 24, 3:09*am, Binyamin Dissen
wrote:
On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 23:27:13 -0500 Brian wrote:

:On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 08:38:34 -0800 (PST), Jim Davis

wrote:

:The frequent fliers see the system deteriorate slowly every week, and
:make the necessary adjustments. *Sure, they complain at times too, but
:not as often.

:Or it's the frog in the water. The infrequent flier feels the hot
:water and is unhappy. The frequent flier just slowly becomes
:accustomed to it.

The more frequent fliers tend to get less of the hassles.

I would say that's partially true. I think that most holiday
travelers and newbies bring on many of their own problems. Most
frequent fliers know what their limitations are, and what shortcuts
they can get away with.

--
Binyamin Dissen http://www.dissensoftware.com

Should you use the mailblocks package and expect a response from me,
you should preauthorize the dissensoftware.com domain.

I very rarely bother responding to challenge/response systems,
especially those from irresponsible companies.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all had a choice? Family trying to get
across the country to visit for holidays? Sure, drive. That's your
choice.

How about a choice between corporations that give a damn about their
customers experiences and those that don't? Unfortunately all airlines
are bad, but some are worse than others. United Air thinks Boise is a
third world country. They just canceled our son's flight after he had
already spent twelve hours from NY to Chicago. They give him the
option of canceling his entire vacation and forfeiting money to get
back to NY, or sitting in the airport for two more days without food
or accommodations provided. There are no effective consumer protection
laws because corporate culture and our system of government are
corrupt and politicians are accepting contributions from airline
lobbies.

Every experience we have ever had with United has been unpleasant.
Delayed and canceled flights, lost luggage, customer support staff in
Mexico City or Pakistan with no knowledge of anything, you name it.
United Airlines is the one to avoid at all costs. Of course we hate to
fly. I would rather drive anywhere.

On Dec 24, 11:46*am, Scrub wrote:
Wouldn't it be nice if we all had a choice? *Family trying to get
across the country to visit for holidays? Sure, drive. That's your
choice.

How about a choice between corporations that give a damn about their
customers experiences and those that don't? Unfortunately all airlines
are bad, but some are worse than others. *United Air thinks Boise is a
third world country. They just canceled our son's flight after he had
already spent twelve hours from NY to Chicago. They give him the
option of canceling his entire vacation and forfeiting money to get
back to NY, or sitting in the airport for two more days without food
or accommodations provided. There are no effective consumer protection
laws because corporate culture and our system of government are
corrupt and politicians are accepting contributions from airline
lobbies.

Every experience we have ever had with United has been unpleasant.
Delayed and canceled flights, lost luggage, customer support staff in
Mexico *City or Pakistan with no knowledge of anything, you name it.
United Airlines is the one to avoid at all costs. Of course we hate to
fly. I would rather drive anywhere.

On Dec 24, 11:46*am, Scrub wrote:
Wouldn't it be nice if we all had a choice? *Family trying to get
across the country to visit for holidays? Sure, drive. That's your
choice.

How about a choice between corporations that give a damn about their
customers experiences and those that don't? Unfortunately all airlines
are bad, but some are worse than others. *United Air thinks Boise is a
third world country. They just canceled our son's flight after he had
already spent twelve hours from NY to Chicago. They give him the
option of canceling his entire vacation and forfeiting money to get
back to NY, or sitting in the airport for two more days without food
or accommodations provided. There are no effective consumer protection
laws because corporate culture and our system of government are
corrupt and politicians are accepting contributions from airline
lobbies.

I believe his first mistake was connecting through ORD. The weather
is terrible in the winter, causing delays and cancellations. My
luggage is always delayed through ORD no matter what airline I use.

Sounds like United gave him a raw deal too, but you're not complete
with the details.

Every experience we have ever had with United has been unpleasant.
Delayed and canceled flights, lost luggage, customer support staff in
Mexico *City or Pakistan with no knowledge of anything, you name it.
United Airlines is the one to avoid at all costs. Of course we hate to
fly. I would rather drive anywhere.

Everyone has trouble with one airline or another. My inferior airline
is US Air. It's a disaster whenever I fly with them. United has been
so-so, but not high on my list.