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Flying the, Gulp, Friendly Skies
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Where in the world do you appreciate using a stinky, (sometimes) dirty bathroom, keeping warm with a dirty blanket and way overpaying for alcohol, and in some cases water and pop too. Don’t even mention food, it might be out by the time they get to you. Oh yeah, and sit in a seat that’s way too small while having an up close and personal experience with your kneecaps.
It’s not so friendly up there at 35,000 feet anymore is it?
I have been writing, specifically travel writing, for about 13 years now. It was good flying the friendly skies, when I didn’t know any better. But these days, do airlines really think they are doing the passenger a favor when they give them a middle seat and then actually smile about it.
What I say is, maybe if a person only flies once a year a middle seat is fine, but not for frequent fliers or anyone who has to get on a plane more than two or three times a year.
Remember the good old days? Dressed up flight attendants that don’t yell or look stressed out, china, linen, clean smelling air….. I don’t remember it either, but I have heard rumors and it would be nice to have just a little of that treatment these days.
I thought it was April Fool’s Day all over again when I read American Airlines was going to start charging passengers for their first bag. At least the other airlines have not followed suit yet, but US Air thinks it’s funny I guess that people are trapped in their little bullet of a plane, locked in their seats and are now being forced to pay for any kind of drink (coke, sprite, water) and again, let’s not even mention food.
Yikes, I have also heard rumors that exit row seats are going to be an additional fee – aisle seats and even bathroom privileges are going to cost money too I bet. Sure, $5 here and $2 there, but hey, didn’t we already pay for the ticket?
I recently received a press release from Spirit Air bragging about a $69 ticket, but then I did some questioning and found yeah, maybe if you are flying on the wing it’s $69. Otherwise, you have to pay more, more and more. In fact, the PR person sent me this when I ask for more clarification, “There are various fees for each of the services, i.e. $15 for the first checked bag if you pre-reserve it online at spiritair.com or $25 for the first checked bag if you don't pre-reserve it online; $25 for the second checked bag, etc. Passengers may purchase a seat assignment in advance $5 middle seat, $10 aisle or window seat or $15 exit row seat. And there is a menu of beverages and snacks with various prices.”
Wow, is a middle seat worth $5?
In fairness, you can wait and check in at the gate and not pay for a seat and just get assigned one and, if you’re lucky maybe all those $5 middle seats will be taken!!!!
Foreign airlines are better, and that’s what I just can’t seem to work out. How can we here in
European airlines, yep, they still offer the same free services and comfort and class just the way they always have – no charge for the flight attendant’s smile either.
What is it going to take before we get some respect from the airlines again, the respect we as passengers deserve? They want respect when we board and when we fly and when we check in, and hey, you’d better be nice even if the ticket agent isn’t or who knows where you will be sitting.
I can’t stop flying – it’s my job, but I can remind folks that we should expect what we are paying for and these days, that doesn’t even come close.
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