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airline travel (pg. 9)
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| fbgdavidson |
| quote: | Originally posted by tubby
at least security in oz is nowhere near as bad as US or UK. flying out of pittsburgh once the line get through security stretched outside the terminal building, and I gather that's no uncommon over there. |
To tar all of the UK or US with the same brush is silly. I've only ever had to line up for more than ten minutes perhaps twice in the US or UK in the last three years. The last few times I've used Terminal 5 at Heathrow both priority and non-priority security had absolutely zero people waiting! Everyone walked right to the front.
I find the majority of issues are because many airline passengers seem to check their brains with their bags. If people had the sense to have laptops and liquids out of their bags, take jackets off and basically sort themselves out as soon as they got a tray then security would be much faster for everyone. Of course random TSA douchiness can throw even experienced travellers off.... |
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| gehzumteufel |
| Also, be smart and book on the right days that are less traveled and therefore a breeze to travel on. I do that and it works out fantastic. |
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| jerZ07002 |
| quote: | Originally posted by fbgdavidson
To tar all of the UK or US with the same brush is silly. I've only ever had to line up for more than ten minutes perhaps twice in the US or UK in the last three years. The last few times I've used Terminal 5 at Heathrow both priority and non-priority security had absolutely zero people waiting! Everyone walked right to the front.
I find the majority of issues are because many airline passengers seem to check their brains with their bags. If people had the sense to have laptops and liquids out of their bags, take jackets off and basically sort themselves out as soon as they got a tray then security would be much faster for everyone. Of course random TSA douchiness can throw even experienced travellers off.... |
gatwick was hell 2 summers ago. I think i waited in a security line for more than 2 hours. I can't remember which entrance it was though (i think i was flying easyjet to ibiza).
i don't remember ever waiting more than 20 minutes in a security line at the continental terminal in Newark NJ. Denver, Detroit, and Orlando are also relatively easy lines. But I remember the AA international terminal at Kennedy being especially troublesome (3+ hours). |
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| fbgdavidson |
| quote: | Originally posted by jerZ07002
gatwick was hell 2 summers ago. I think i waited in a security line for more than 2 hours. I can't remember which entrance it was though (i think i was flying easyjet to ibiza).
i don't remember ever waiting more than 20 minutes in a security line at the continental terminal in Newark NJ. Denver, Detroit, and Orlando are also relatively easy lines. But I remember the AA international terminal at Kennedy being especially troublesome (3+ hours). |
Two summers ago as in '06 when the liquids stuff was all new and nobody was prepared for it? Understandable...and if you were flying Easyjet it was probably LGW South Terminal which is the home of the majority of charter airlines go from which doesn't help. Read less-travelled leisure passengers.
AA's Terminal @ JFK is great for frequent flyers; they've got priority lines and also the Diamond Lanes; Inexperienced, casual and road warrior lines. You might have seen this at a few places. I think CLE has it, somewhere CO might have taken you... |
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| gehzumteufel |
| Mr. Davidson, you look quite young in those pics. How old are you? :) |
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| _Ocean_Drive_ |
| quote: | Originally posted by The17sss
preach on brother. I have come to not only despise the whole airport/security/luggage/delays experience, but it's the actual people on the airplanes I can't stand. I'll drive any chance I get.
To add to your list, I also can't stand the following:
1) When the plane reaches the terminal, and everyone takes off their seatbelt and stands up at the same time. wtf... most of them are standing up hunched over because they are aren't in the aisle, yet they still stand there. I hate all airline passengers and go strait to the headphones and sunglasses to avoid communication.
2) The stupid s who try to jam a carry on suitcase into the overhead bin that CLEARLY does not fit.
3) The constant battle for armrest space (note: if you don't stake your claim to armrest real estate right away, the other person is never courteous enough to give you any)
4) Fat guy trying to position his laptop on his gut... just wait till you get to the ing hotel, .
5) Stewardesses bumping your elbow or foot with the drink cart if you're a millimeter into the aisle. |
Haha! So true! I found myself nodding to every one of these points, especially number 1.... that stuff drives me insane! Where the heck do you they think they're gonna go by standing up / taking off their seatbelt, after specifically being told NOT to do those things.
People who don't know how to go through an airport, or use an aeroplane, or who hardly ever travel (which means they hardly ever use common sense about moving around etc).
Mobile phones on planes. People who use them at all in the cabin. Sometimes make calls on them just before taxi-ing or during taxi-ing! Drives me f*cking mad. TURN IT OFF. I hope they never make the technology available to use phones on planes. Planes are the last safe-haven from hearing other people's irritating mobile phone conversations.
The other thing I find stupid is, after security, you can buy alcohol, cigarettes and matches / lighters. Hmmm, 'cos those can't be used as weapons on planes....
| quote: | Originally posted by fbgdavidson
AA's Terminal @ JFK is great for frequent flyers; |
Always wanted to ask....
1) What is your line of work?!
2) How the heck do you rack up 100,000+ every year
3) How do you afford to get that mileage
4) Have you reacherd the tier where you don't have to renew?
This bugs me about FF programs. You ahve to fly every waking moment of your life in order to try and get anywhere. That, or mortgage your house. And then as soon as you get upgraded, they downgrade you within the following year or two and you start all over.
The highest I ever got was Silver Kris with Singapore Airlines. There rewards program was so stingey, and they made it almost impossible to retain any kind of status, I gave up, and switched to Oneworld.
But yeah, FF suck for promotion or retaining tier level...
About Upgrades in cabin. I never ask for upgrades, but equally never get them. However, lotsa people I know always seem to. Bugs the hell outta me! |
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| fbgdavidson |
| quote: | Originally posted by gehzumteufel
Mr. Davidson, you look quite young in those pics. How old are you? :) |
Three days younger than yourself...
| quote: | Originally posted by _Ocean_Drive_
Always wanted to ask....
1) What is your line of work?!
2) How the heck do you rack up 100,000+ every year
3) How do you afford to get that mileage
4) Have you reacherd the tier where you don't have to renew?
This bugs me about FF programs. You ahve to fly every waking moment of your life in order to try and get anywhere. That, or mortgage your house. And then as soon as you get upgraded, they downgrade you within the following year or two and you start all over.
The highest I ever got was Silver Kris with Singapore Airlines. There rewards program was so stingey, and they made it almost impossible to retain any kind of status, I gave up, and switched to Oneworld.
But yeah, FF suck for promotion or retaining tier level...
About Upgrades in cabin. I never ask for upgrades, but equally never get them. However, lotsa people I know always seem to. Bugs the hell outta me! |
1) Have been out of work since May but was working in investment/financial planning
2) Live near Washington DC, have parents in the UK who I visit several times per year, have brother in law on the west coast that I visit several times per year, then assorted holidays scattered throughout the year. This year my wife and I did a 3 month RTW trip which bumped the mileage up a little.
3) Through having well paid jobs, having no children (at the moment), and focussing our money on travel rather than things that we don't value so much like eating out every night, or changing our cars every year, or spending $200 a week on clothes...or any of the stupid our friends seem to spend their money on.
4) Sadly not. BA don't have lifetime status anymore and bmi the other airline I collect miles with need 10yrs of continuous Gold status before you get lifetime Gold. I've had 3yrs but they've just been bought by Lufthansa and so the bmi scheme will likely disappear and become part of Lufthansa's Miles & More which doesn't issue lifetime until you are 60yrs old and have had their Senator (mid tier) status for 10yrs. To be honest it doesn't bother me that the counter gets reset for status each year, otherwise they benefits wouldn't be much use. The lounges, First check-in and priority security would be slammed full if you made BA Gold for one year and meant you could keep it for life...
Depending upon the scheme you don't need to fly a whole lot to get Gold. bmi Diamond Club only requires you to do 38,000 to get their Gold status which equates to Star Alliance Gold so Business check-in lounge access etc. When you fly First Class on most airlines you earn 3x miles and in Business Class 2x, so you could earn Gold in just a handful of Business trips, even in Economy that's only three trips from UK-US West Coast and a UK-European side trip. (OK, so you've got to earn Silver first then it starts adding up). BA Executive Club doesn't require that much flying to get Gold you've just got to fly in premium cabins as most cheap economy tickets get you nowhere. The key with the frequent flyer scheme is to find the one that suits your travel pattern and what you want to get from the program best.
As for the upgrades, well I've had a few but not many. If I'm flying Club World on BA I'm just another Gold and there are plenty of them in that cabin so I'll likely be overlooked for an upgrade to First...the best for me was when my wife and I went to Europe a couple of summers ago and decided just a couple of weeks before. Usually when we travel we plan months in advance so can get Business or First tickets at a decent price (or use miles). This time around we decided it was too expensive and we'd suck it up and go economy on United (they have some seats, Economy Plus, that have a little extra legroom) as they are partners with bmi, an airline I have Gold status with. On the way back we checked in @ LHR and found we'd already both been upgraded to Business. :) The Economy->Business upgrades are really sweet as you're dreading the flight and then it's comfortable. If it's Business->First it is only a small step up. My best strategy for upgrades is to not ask or request and let the 'Gods' look down on you. If you have frequent flyer status then you're way ahead of everyone else, if not then you might just be lucky. I've met numerous check-in agents and they contribute on my frequent flyer forums. The one thing they generally all say is that people who ask for upgrades get on their nerves an incredible amount and that you're booking will be noted 'NSFU' (Not Suitable For Upgrade) and that if the gate agent is just looking for randoms to upgrade to get the aircraft out on time you'll be one of the few that certainly won't get it.
:) |
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| miamitranceman |
| quote: | Originally posted by _Ocean_Drive_
Haha! So true! I found myself nodding to every one of these points, especially number 1.... that stuff drives me insane! Where the heck do you they think they're gonna go by standing up / taking off their seatbelt, after specifically being told NOT to do those things.
People who don't know how to go through an airport, or use an aeroplane, or who hardly ever travel (which means they hardly ever use common sense about moving around etc).
Mobile phones on planes. People who use them at all in the cabin. Sometimes make calls on them just before taxi-ing or during taxi-ing! Drives me f*cking mad. TURN IT OFF. I hope they never make the technology available to use phones on planes. Planes are the last safe-haven from hearing other people's irritating mobile phone conversations.
The other thing I find stupid is, after security, you can buy alcohol, cigarettes and matches / lighters. Hmmm, 'cos those can't be used as weapons on planes....
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What really frustrates the hell out of me is the boarding process when you've got those numbnuts rushing the boarding line when it's nowhere near their time to board, which leads to the inevitable announcement by the gate agent to essential sit the f^&k down until it's your turn to board. |
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| Theresa |
| quote: | Originally posted by _Nut_
You all are either untraveled sissies or just whiny SOB's. Everything that chimera bitched about... has kinda been going on for a while. There are rules and regulations... and it is easy to know what you should or should not do (besides the sweatshirt deal... that was lame).
Otherwise:
Weigh you bag prior to flight
Any liquids (3oz or less) not in a small bag cannot go through...yogurt included.
Buy all food and drink AFTER security.
Buy first class if you don't want to deal with everyday people sitting around you.
Lastly.... suck it up princess. |
+1
Seriously... do your research before you travel. Find out what your allowances are, how much it is going to cost you, etc. etc.
| quote: | Originally posted by gehzumteufel
Also, be smart and book on the right days that are less traveled and therefore a breeze to travel on. I do that and it works out fantastic. |
And often times, cheaper.
| quote: | Originally posted by iclone
operator error. read the rules before you travel, and 9 times out of 10, you won't create your own headaches.
read the baggage allowance information before flying.
anything baggy is supposed to be removed or patted-down; a sweatshirt is considered outerwear.
don't bring questionable things through security then bitch about a hassle. did it exceed the allowance for liquids and fit in your quart-sized ziploc?
agreed for gayness.
request your seat assignment online or whenever you book your flight to avoid a center seat. also, when you check in online [usually 24hrs prior to departure], survey the seat map -- seats are often freed-up due to cancellations. |
+1 again.
| quote: | Originally posted by Psy-T
my flightplan:
tel aviv to zurich on el al (737-800) (2 hours layover)
zurich to singapore on singapore airlines (777-300er) (8 hours layover)
and singapore to melbourne on singapore airlines (777-300)
got myself aisle seats on all three, cause i couldn't order bulkheads in advance.
any tips on how to switch to bulkhead seats? i'm 6'3 |
Call your carrier and ask to be in bulkhead. You will likely be charged a fee for it though. |
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| TranceOwnsLol |
| quote: | This bugs me about FF programs. You ahve to fly every waking moment of your life in order to try and get anywhere. That, or mortgage your house. And then as soon as you get upgraded, they downgrade you within the following year or two and you start all over.
The highest I ever got was Silver Kris with Singapore Airlines. There rewards program was so stingey, and they made it almost impossible to retain any kind of status |
yeah, leisure travel unless you're supremely rich really doesn't get you any kind of status on SQ. My mom's achieved PPS only after around 1 1/2 or 2 years of travelling every month. To everywhere in Asia, America, UK, Australia. Not sure on the exact numbers, I think 250000 points on business class gets you PPS. Not sure on the number of miles. Especially retaining that PPS status is hard when you only fly small trips, and especially the economy having hard times which means that she can only travel business for 3+ hrs flights. My mom said that her friend who's been working for 6 years with a job like her hasn't achieved PPS solitaire membership yet which is a more elite membership, then after that is PPS Solitare Lifetime membership which you won't have to renew. I think that's around 1.9 million miles worth of travelling in business or first class. Yikes! :wtf:
We barely have any points left though since we used our points to go to Paris last summer (family) and used them to book business to go to manila since everything was full during christmas. Also we had to send my dad home (using points still) since his dad passed away too. All of those flights we flew for free. |
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| Kinezi |
Go to Terminal 4 if your flight is delayed before you get your boarding pass and allowed to go to duty free in JFK, otherwise Terminal 1 is best 'after' security check. My two cents.
And yeah, thread starter is dumb. |
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| jerZ07002 |
| quote: | Originally posted by fbgdavidson
AA's Terminal @ JFK is great for frequent flyers; they've got priority lines and also the Diamond Lanes; Inexperienced, casual and road warrior lines. You might have seen this at a few places. I think CLE has it, somewhere CO might have taken you... |
that was in my pre-business travel days. however, the experience has soured me and i will never travel AA out of JFK unless absolutely necessary.
i don't really pay attention to security lines anymore because i skip them. ;) fortunately business travel hasn't taken my anywhere that isn't a hub for a sky team partner (i'm not too pleased that CO is leaving sky team - delta > united; NW > US Airways). |
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