Just a rant about airlines

[blume357]

So my wife and I are flying American Airlines in about a month and a meal will be served going and coming back.... I know you need to order a special meal ahead of time and so I go to my reservation on line and try to find where you do that... no luck... could be me, I know.
So I work my way through the contact us part and finally get to where I can email them, in theory. It takes several minutes to first fill out all the information before I can write my question. This is all information they already have.... so then besides asking the question of how I order the special meal I then ask a second one... how friendly is it to have to spend 10 minutes filling out all the questions before I can ask a simple question... at least I think it's simple.

2nd gripe... so then I realize i can probably just google the question and so I do and of course the answer pops right up... of how to navigate their web site and do this.. only problem is their web site has apparently changed and now the key items to click on aren't there anymore....

this damn information age is gong to kill me before my work, what I eat and the cigars do....

Oh, and then I get an automatic email response from American Airlines saying they've received my question and will be replying in 5 to 10 days, (unless it takes longer). now that's customer service at its worst.....

 

[Kevin]

The secret is to use just one airline and join their frequent flyer club. They cater to the business traveler at the expense of us everyday Joe’s.

 

[Dave P.]

So my wife and I are flying American Airlines in about a month and a meal will be served .

A meal?
Really, on an airplane?
I've heard it used to happen......
Dave

 

[gunzo]

A once well known chef & world traveler always preached; eat before you board, all you have to, to make the trip. Even if you get hungry on the trip, stay hungry. Because, anything, nearly anything you find to eat after you get off the plane will be better than airplane food.

 

[Bull Barrel]

Customer service is actually customer ignore.
"Your call is important to us".
Then why don't you have actual people doing the job?

My employer recently did away with phone line customer service. Its now online chat. Even our own field employees say they can't get help.

 

[WAYNO]

Meals? Even in first class, that's become a joke.

I'm headed to the east coast tomorrow, in first class. The itinerary says it's a breakfast flight, even though it's a nearly five hour non-stop. Our most recent experiences with a meal in first class are awful, both Delta and United. Last time, our breakfast choices were oatmeal or broccoli quiche. The quiche was unfit for pigs.

So, they win. It's a long non-stop flight tomorrow, so we'll buy, in the airport before we board, a fruit tray to bring on board. Enough people do this, and they can discontinue meals altogether. They're smarter than we give them credit.

 

[AJGUNNER]

It has been a few years since my traveling days, but I thought the 1st class food was pretty good on Alaska Air. Of course washing it down with free liquor may have played a part in it. :wink: I actually looked forward to the 6am friday flight home from LA. Coffee with Bailey's, followed by a mimosa or screwdriver, then eggs benedict with grilled asparagus spears. Sure made the ride home from PDX a bit nicer to not have to stop for an egg mcmuffin.

 

[CGDustDevil]

Last time I flew in 2007, we got nothing. We could BUY a tiny bag of peanuts or have a little plastic cup of water for free. No more commercial flight for me.

 

[blume357]

Okay, I have to make a confession and this coming from a poor worn out chimney sweep ..... I only fly first class.... with that said, first class is just about comparable to coach 30 years ago.... I've found the meals okay... but it might be like eating some of that dehydrated camping food out in the woods... it's great in a tent with it 5 degrees outside but not worth anything back home.....

I usually fly Delta.. but this time it will be American Airlines.... seems like we got a pretty good meal a couple years ago and even last year I think we flew A.A. once and got a meal that was alright..

 

[SAJohn]

Back in my working days, with lots of transcontinental fights , I always flew American Airlines with my VIP club and frequent flier status. I almost always got free upgrades to business class. The chow was maybe a bit better than OK. I was an expert in packing for a week long trip with the travel bag fitting in the overhead compartment. Even then, checking your baggage was a crap shoot. You went to Washington,D.C. and you baggage went to Hong Kong.

I once took a flight with a friend who checked his baggage. He got it back at the airport as we were leaving for the return flight. Jokingly I told him to kiss it goodby as he checked it back in. Sure enough, at the end of the flight, his baggage was AWOL.

I also always packed a bottle of Jack Daniels and just asked for a free soda. In one over ocean flight we had to turn back for a plane trim repair and we were stuck on the plane on the ground for about 2 hours. I was very popular with the nearby passengers when I offered a them a dollop of my Black Jack to add to their sodas. We all had a jolly time.

Starting in the late 80's things started going south, especially with the food. I learned to always eat before a flight to solve that problem.

I have not flown in over 10 years . I have read that the seats in cattle car class are now unbearable.

The very best flying was in the early days of the 747 with a piano bar and being free to roam about through most of the flight and flirt with the stews in their hot pants or miniskirts. (I always grabbed an isle seat.) We all dressed up to fly in those days to impress those beautiful young ladies.

John

 

[pete44ru]

I have read that the seats in cattle car class are now unbearable.

Mostly due to the elephant types that won't pay for 2 seats to accommodate their big a$$e$


.

 

[jeffmb]

Okay, I have to make a confession and this coming from a poor worn out chimney sweep ..... I only fly first class.... with that said, first class is just about comparable to coach 30 years ago.... I've found the meals okay... but it might be like eating some of that dehydrated camping food out in the woods... it's great in a tent with it 5 degrees outside but not worth anything back home.....

I usually fly Delta.. but this time it will be American Airlines.... seems like we got a pretty good meal a couple years ago and even last year I think we flew A.A. once and got a meal that was alright..

First class is a joke anymore. Certainly nowhere near worth what they charge for it.

 

[bearman49709]

Next month will be 35 years since I was on a airplane.
Back then the food was ok for us poor folks flying in the back, nothing to write home about but you could eat it without a bad taste in your mouth and some of it was purty good.

 

[powder smoke]

I use to fly getting to old now my arms get tired

 

[mohavesam]

1.6 million "miles" w/delta. Àlmost halfamill with aa and united. Despite the perks, I'm about done with large airlines.
Best: Northwest 747 to Tokyo, 13.5 hours of monthly upper-deck therapy. Second only to Singapore fc.
Worst: in the past ten yrs, American consistently. Delta is mediocre and ratcheting downward.
I don't fly sw. Nor do I let family.

Flying is no picnic these days.

 

[blume357]

I've flown at least twice a year for the last 6 or 7 years and had to check a bag just about each time... because I had a gun in it. So far no problem.... hopefully the same next month. I the checked luggage has gotten a lot better... you can actually go on line and see where your luggage is.... on the plane or not.... better than the transmitters they sell which they claim you can find things with but only work if you are within a couple feet of it....

 

[gramps]

I last flew in 2012, from Anchorage to Nashville. Either Delta or Alaska Air. I tend to only snack when flying. I hate using the TINY bathrooms!
gramps