Bin dividers

Here is a simple solution to one overhead bin issue. Put dividers in the nuns so that wheels up and put us the only way a bag can go in. If it doesn't fit then check it. Then comes the trickledown economics: checked bag = new luggage purchase.

Brannif

A brief blast from the past.  On my flight out of Green Bay tonight there was a wonderful chap in the cabin tonight, Edward.  Very friendly, had his passenger names memorized, offered us drinks while we were boarding, shook our hands and thanked us for flying with Northwest.  So it begged the question, was this just Edward or part of Northwest's impending front-line training to improve customer satisfaction.  Edward explained it was just him :(      It goes back to the days when he was trained as a Purser when they that role at Braniff's. 

Mrs. 11F

7:15pm Flight from Minne to Green Bay

Well I did something tonight I swore to myself I never would.  I put a lady's (I use this loosely and will get back this momentarily) bag in the overhead for her.  I just finished swapping seats to get a family situated and then Mrs. 11F asked if I would throw her bag up above me, so now one with all the jumbling would get hit.  I fell for it.  A lady is someone with manners and this person clearly did not have any.  One of the last persons onto the plane and barely situated in her seat and out comes the cell phone so we could all hear what a great sales person she is.  She was so great and important that she kept on for minutes after the door was closed and the announcement to shut up had been made.  She was so obnoxious that the flight attendant pointed out to me that there was space in the back of the plane and I could go sit there if I wanted.  So here is a hint to you who is in 11F, get some manners and then you might get some sales and not have 200,000 pounds of goods just laying around costing your boss money!

Grandma perfume

It's bad enough in open public spaces, but in confined areas without fresh air it is completely obnoxious to spray it.  What is she thinking to be dousing herself in perfume mid-flight. 

LAS Insecurity

Flying out of Vegas today, there was quite the lacking of security for Terminal D.  After being in DC for so long and getting used to their obstinate policies regarding making sure you didn't misplace your boarding pass while in line at security, Vegas didn't even bother to check our boarding passes once we got through the magnetometer.   This wasn't so strange, the bigger thing was there was no one warning you of the 3-1-1 issues.  No one yelling at you about liquids, computers or anything.  Then to boot, once we got through my wife was trying to remember if they said anything or checked us for liquids, my recollection was that they didn't.  Then once we got on the tram to head to the terminal, my wife noticed that our sun still had his half a bottle of vitamin water in the side pouch of has back pack.  So much for "No Liquids" through security. 

Miss Pink Sandals

Oh how in your own world you are.  Next time pack a bag that you can actually lift and fit in the overheard, or do the honorable thing and check the luggage.  So in your own world that you didn't even see your soda go flying down the aisle during take off and not a single thanks to any of the people that caught it while it was flying to the back and sent it back up to you.  Shame on you little snot.  Then throwing your garbage in the aisle from Cinnabon and not giving a singe concern or notice to it.  My goodness are you in our own little bubble.  What is it like going through life without any concern or notice for the people around you?  Did your parents not teach you any manners or common decencies?

Lake Havasu City

We took a quick trip over to Lake Havasu City to visit some relatives. I must say, this is one of those places that is not all that easy to get to. You can't fly commercial airlines into Lake Havasu. The closest you can get is within three hours. Yikes, talk about a lot of driving back and forth to the airport!

Not a good start to the flying year

I haven't flown in a while, business has been slow. So we decided to take some time off and fly and visit some relatives. The initial flight was on the new Embraer E-175, it's always exciting to fly a new aircraft. Just not when it seems that these new planes are having nothing but troubles. The inbound flight the night before had mechanical issues, so the flight landed about three hours late. So the crew needed their rest, good thing we know how to use the web, we found out ahead of time that the outbound flight in the morning would be delayed due to crew rest. The delay would have us mis-connect by eight minutes. Needless to say, they would prefer to re-book us on another airline with extra connections much later in the day, rather than delay our original connection by a mere 20 minutes.

We eventually made it to Vegas really late that night, we headed to a hotel to grab a nap then hookup with our original ride in the morning, eventually making it to Lake Havasu the following day. A slight delay to the start of our holiday, but a good one none the less.

As a note the Merger that NWA is going through and the continual cost savings measures are really driving customer service to an all new low for Northwest. The platinum line doesn't even know which rows on the plane are exit rows. A very sad state they are in.

Bags...

Today on my mid afternoon flight from LGA to DTW everyone seems to be bag challenged. I first noticed it at security, when I looked up at the conveyor belt after putting my shoes down and I noticed this huge garment bag just came through. I don't know how it fit through. Then I get on my flight and there are several of these huge wide garment bags in the overhead long ways. Then I see small roll-a-boards and they are sideway, but I think that is because the one was bright pink, it needed space so nothing around it would catch on fire. Then I see backpacks with their huge padded straps strewn to the side taking up twice as much room as they needed to along side briefcases placed in wide ways. Once again a general lack of consideration for fellow travelers. It's just mind boggling to me.

Back to flying and blogging - Middle Seat Man

I'm slumming it in coach again and remember why I call it slumming. The chap next to me really enjoyed his salami or whatever the heck it was that is radiating from his body. Then I really do enjoy his elbow in me for the entire flight. Middle Seat Man thinks he gets both arm rests and not too mention my shoulder space. I really don't get why everyone has such a general lack of consideration towards others. iPods. Steve Jobs I have a request for you, lock everyone's ipod at the factory at a max volume so that I can't hear what other people are listening to; then make them sign an agreement that it is bad for them and rude to others to crank their tunes before giving them the unlock code. Innovation!

A new travel year and I will try and keep up with it.