Air Tran flight 8/9 aka: MEN! Scrub and moisturize your elbows!

So today was a pretty harsh Monday.

Flight departing at 8:50 required me to get up at 5:30 to leave at 6:15 because I had luggage to check. Well, I wake up at 4:30am and can't go back to sleep. So, not off to a good start already.

Security wasn't the champ it has been recently but pretty good considering how busy it was. I get to the gate 47 mins ahead of flight and ask about upgrade--no dice--all full.  I swear all one annoying family, two old people and one FAAAAAT guy. I'm all about letting the big fatties upfront!

So, there was no getting out of my middle seat, but at least it is exit row.  I actually don't mind the middle seat as long as my neighbors are courteous and realize that those arm rests are mine! (see previous blogs)

Well, my neighbor to my right, the window, was, please picture this, a cross between every adult male image of an Amish man mixed with Gandalf dressed as a cowboy. Seriously.  He was TALL. Like 6'5" and had huge hands and was reading the biggest scariest boringest textbook on the Stone-Caldwell Movement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement

Now you could tell he was reading it for his own personal edification and I'm all for reading so I'm not knocking it exactly but for me, YAWN.
Now what was super interesting about Zeke was that he traced the words with his finger and when he found something he felt deeply about he'd nod his head solemnly in a "yes! I knew it. That's right!" in a deep, long held conviction sort of way. He did this the whole time. Now what was just exceptional was that I noticed him looking out the window as we started to descend for landing. A moment later the fasten seat belt light came on and he nodded approvingly at that too!!! I wish the captain could have seen it.

Well, Nebucanezzer there had a long sleeve shirt on. Of course he did and I'm glad tootin' he did. Cause Paddy to my left sure didn't.

Paddy, so named because of his irish ruddy and freckly complection (ok, he looked like me!) was the typical male traveler in that he S-P-R-E-A-D-S out no matter how big he is. He was only standard height and weight, say 5'10' and 190ish but he thinks his balls are massive and does not know how to close his legs slightly at all. I'm a big girl and my thighs sure spread but not all of me and I do fit into my seat. He could if he tried but just likes to let it all hang outwards in a < > direction.
While this is all bad enough, the real problem is that he kept hurting me. Ok, kept equals 2-3 times which isn't bad considering how he spreads but seriously, it can all be avoided with good bodily care. Men, if you have dry rough skin on your elbows take care of it.  There are things called Loofahs. There are files if that isn't enough. And of course moisterizer. Go to a spa. And not the happy ending kind. A real spa.
I swear Paddy hasn't seen sunscreen or moisturizer in his life. At one point I had to check his left hand to see if he is married.
Yep.
Wives, TELL THEM! I know it bugs you too!
Dude seemed totally clueless.

So, other things about my flight: approx 5-7 rows up was quite the cast of comedians. I could never hear a damn thing said just the riotous laughter and it was so annoying. I want to know the funny stuff or shut up you lot! Seems they were so damn funny that one of the flight attendants stood talking to them for a good 20 minutes in everyone's way while people were coming and going to the bathroom just hootin' it up!
OH! This stewardess--picture Tootie from the Facts of Life mixed with Sideshow Bob! OMG her hair was a total fright-wig like Sideshow Bob!

Now, if my photoshop
skills were better I'd be able to make Tootie tall like Bob, give her hair like Bob, keep her black skin and great smile and of course no belly or dagger needed. But alas you'll need to close your eyes and picture this.


So, that was my morning 2.6 hours of my day. How was yours?

Congrats Denver (DIA)!!!!

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-10-best-airports-in-america-2010-2#no-1-detroit-metropolitan-dtw-10


And where oh where is ATL to be found on the best and worst list? Go find out.

The only one I really disagree with is PHX. I hate Phoenix's airport! ugh.

Flight 303 to where else Denver 7/26/10 Air Tran

I couldn't get an upgrade to Business Class--all full--looks like I will have to keep paying for them, at least until Summer is over. With everyone trying to escape the 105+ heat index of Hotlanta the planes are all full.

Last week's flight was seriously unbearable. I was thinking that you just cannot work in coach. I was so squished and could hardly type. So, I made sure I booked an exit row to just have more room for the laptop if nothing else. I got some work done on email and calendar appointments but cannot do the real work that I needed to do as there is a problem with the server, so I'm kind of stuck.

Good time to blog!

The exit row seats, especially when you only have one row of them are ideal, as far as coach goes. The people in front of you can't recline but I have plenty of room for me and my laptop. Which by the way is only a 15 inch laptop but does have an extended battery thing out the back which takes up more space. So, I guess I'm saying that if I can't be in business I'll need to keep booking exit row only.

But I usually get the aisle seat and I'm starting to rethink that. I love having the ability to jump up at the end of the flight and not have to bug anyone when I want to get up, so there are benies for sure, but today I really suffered on the end.

1) EVERYONE and I do mean everyone of all sizes, walked down the aisle the regular way, so each person bumped into me while they were boarding or when they got up for the bathroom. Being constantly bumped is no fun. But seriously people unless you are a pre-pubescent thin as a rail 10 year old girl (aka no hips) you are too big to walk normally. You need to walk kind of sideways, almost like a crab to get down these tiny aisles. And since I'm sitting on the aisle I can see that they are just hitting everyone as they go by. I know it isn't personal but it is so rude. I walk sideways. I have no misconceptions about how I would bump people if I didn't. So, let this be everyone's wake up call: YOU ARE NOT AS NARROW AS YOU THINK! And particularly not as narrow as the sadists who design these airplanes think everyone should be.

2) So, pre-takeoff when I cant work I read my book and listen to the free XM radio. Well today I got tired and put my book down to snooze a bit till they announced I could go online. Just after the sweet few moments of that point where you kinda know you are falling asleep and drifting off to happy land I get touched on the arm by the attendant. I wake up thinking Why the frick are you waking me? I know I did nothing wrong, etc. Well, she's "asking" me to hold the demonstration bag for the security theater demonstration they do. I say "asking" because she didn't give me a choice. Anyway, I look around and wonder why did she wake me to do this? Ask the guy next to me who is awake!! After that of course I couldn't fall back to sleep and now am very tired but not sleepy. Oh well.

Security theater and rude people. That's what airlines are all about nowadays.

Hmmm. Someone's been "reading" my blog

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-07-22-airplaneetiquette22_CV_N.htm



And no one asked me for permission or to comment.  ;-)

Theme change?

Should this blog's theme be changed to "annoying people who travel"? If so, I must include myself! :)

Got great feedback from Nolan that this blog is more about noticing how annoying people are and hopefully trying to minimize your annoying self when traveling.

I must admit that since I am not carrier hopping or shopping anymore it is really the Delta and AirTran show and I guess I've said all there is to say for you all to think about when buying tix.

For those of you who haven't read those old posts and won't but want to know the bottom-line: I only fly Delta because they fly a lot of places overseas and I want to use my FFmiles for that, particularly on AirFrance--cause it RULES.

However, it is a lot of hassle, rudeness and drudgery every week for months or years to rack up those points for your once every few year's vacation overseas, so just weigh that into your decision.

Hasta for now. Don't forget--comments on posts are strongly encouraged.

thanks new readers!

FYI--lost and found pix

I took some pix of the Denver Airport but somehow lost them so will re-shoot this week. Now that this is published I'm a bit more motivated to get to the airport early, though I'm loathe to be there one minute longer than I need to in general. :)
(ahem Miss Mary--1.5 hr wait!) Wish I knew my pix were lost then.

UPDATE: found em! Here ya go!

                                        This is my FAVE sign in all of DIA. I want to know where to pick my enemies up.

TURN OFF YOUR SCREENS

This is a command and a plea to people on flights with the in seat screens:

IF YOU ARE NOT WATCHING THE TELEVISION, TURN THE DAMN THING OFF!!!

I do not understand people at all. On my last Delta flight the in board tv/movie/games service would not reboot (bad for Linux) and no one could figure it out.

So, of course I turned off my screen. I looked all around me and even when I went to the bathroom approximately 98.5% of people let their screens keep flickering every of couple of seconds through Delta's adds.

Only after I had my screen off and my neighbors were having difficulty sleeping did they think to copy me and turn theirs off too. I think I saw 3 others total off and those 3 had no influence on their neighbors either.

WTF is up with people? Why would people want to see this flicker every couple of seconds for 2.5 hours? Could they really not have seen the power button? Could they not have been bothered by it? How could they ignore it, truly ignore it, for 2.5 hours? Could they be so clueless and unimaginative to try to find a power button?

I've seen idiocy on Frontier for the same thing except Frontier doesn't have a power button. The user there has to figure out to lower the brightness level down to 0.

So, is it me or are Delta customers imbeciles?

Recent Delta Flights

Even though I am elite on AT, I keep trying to fly Delta 1x per month to keep my points up and it looks like I'll get Silver Medallion after next flight, though, besides for free bags, there is not much reason. Silver gets you nada, esp in ATL.

So, last week I was on Delta both ways and both were interesting.

Crew to Den were all based in Detroit. At least one if not several had some sort of accent, kind of hard to discern but I settled on French. I sat in the exit row and instead of the attendant quizzing each row individually (there were 4 rows total) about the willing and able to assist stuff, the guy asked us all at once and basically only listened to row nearest him and took off.

Then, for descent, they announced that we'd be landing shortly but never came around after that to get trash, make sure that all seats and tray tables were up, appliances off, etc. There were a bunch of us who looked around as were were about to land like "OMG, I could have kept my table and seat down and my IPod on the whole time and they wouldn't know!" The crew totally didn't care which was amazing. That or they all thought someone else was doing the work. Maybe they were all on strike mid-flight.

For the return to ATL flight again the attendants were Detroit based (no discernible accents this time) and though not as lackadaisical they too did not feel they were the Nazi enforcers that most attendants do nowadays, particularly Delta employees.

Two theories on this:
1) The Detroit crew really has different standards or work ethic. If so, why? What is it about Detroit that makes them so casual? Could it be that since ATL is homebase they get more training here? Could it be that Detroit just realizes that there are bigger fish to fry? Maybe since their economy has been in the tank for so long their priorities have totally changed/reset? Could it be that Detroit is really more the norm and that just ATL staff are evil because living in ATL sucks so much and it just gives everyone a nasty attitude?

2) While 1 has a lot of interesting regional and cultural implications that hopefully are worth talking about, I think my 2nd idea is more likely: Attendants work by seniority which means that maybe it is a different level of seniority working this summer. As mentioned in past blogs the vibe on delta flights sucks as their are so many medallion members that they expect a lot and have a bitchy entitled attitude. Well, that has actually been reduced this summer. I don't know why but maybe just having more leisure travelers on board has changed the vibe. Security has sucked more everywhere as no one is enforcing the expert lane and there are just too many people who have no idea how to travel going through security so the vibe there sucks but on board it has actually been very nice. So, I think that the less senior attendants are working and are just happy to get hours and because there is no "I DESERVE THE WORLD" attitude on board the attendants are actually being more patient and helpful. So, the really interesting socio-cultural question in this one is why would the more senior attendants all have bad attitudes? Burnt out? Overdue to retire or use those great benies for a nice trip of their own?

AT 6/28 flight 306: Elite gets you nada

So, yesterday at home was super busy and I did not realize that I did not get my usual email from AT 24hrs before flight. Realized only after I had gone to bed and was setting my alarm. At that point I couldn't be bothered but now wish I had. I need to find out if this was a glitch or what happened to the email. I want to have a fighting chance at the upgrade.

Business is full or was because people got upgraded. Got to airport in plenty of time for flight but not to get upgraded I guess. Security was really busy this am. Got to gate around 8:20ish and it was too late to do anything.

So, now I'm stuck in 19c, the row behind the exit row, and I'm cramped. Can hardly work. Guy in front of me got up to go the bathroom and noticed I was working and has not put his seat back again which is nice. Wish I had my camera to ask the lady next to me to take a picture of how I had to work until he sat upright.

For this flight the passengers are nice but the head flight attendant is a nazi.
Everytime I'm in Business they allow people from coach up to business's bathroom but not when I'm in coach. Very interesting.

Also, in coach there is no where to put your laptop while waiting to use it. So, you must either wait until they release the seat belt restrictions or have it under your seat. If under seat and not in a sleeve it slides all around. So, basically I need 2 computer bags which is ridiculous.

AT is serving jasmine tea nowadays which is awesome but if you just order tea you have no idea what you'll get. They just randomly give you a bag. Had this happen on 2 AT flights.

Difficulties in Durango

A lot of my flights have been short recently and/or don't have internet available. My last flight last week had internet and I had 2 laptops but funnily enough both were dead. Guess that's what happens when you let someone borrow a charger and then spend the next two days unsuccessfully juggling one charger for 2 laptops when you are never really around your computer because you are too busy putting in face time and putting out fires.

So, here's the story of a day trip to Durango CO.

Normally, whenever I travel, I carry around some basic necessities like toiletries, toothpaste and toothbrush as well as a change of underwear. Sometimes I feel like a major tramp if my bag is open in public as it seems that my comfy cotton pink panties are flashing a neon sign saying I'm easy and cheap even though it would take Psych or House to notice them.
Anyway, normally I'm traveling across country where anything can happen, many delays, spills in lap, bad airport food, etc. Is that a nice enough way to say that shit happens, sometimes literally?
Since I have 2 home bases really I don't need to pack much in clothing. Sometimes I carry 1 change of clothing with me too, but always the underwear.

Well, this day was special. I, along with 2 co-workers, were going from Denver to Durango just for the day to make a presentation. The agenda was like this: leave hotel in Englewood at 630am to make an 8:15am flight. Flight to be 1 hr long. Goal: not to sit with my coworkers at all as the hour apart would be most welcome and be able to look out window to see the rockies. After landing, our host was to pick us up and drive us around the scenic way until we got to our destination of fire station where we'd do our presentation. Afterwards, work with team, then take another scenic drive and get back to airport by 4pm for the 5pm flight.

As it always happens, within 15 mins of arriving at the airport we learn that Denver is having a really bad and weird storm and flights are delayed. At first the flight was delayed in departure till 6:15. So, the team and I think, ok, we can go to the cafe, grab a beer and get some work done for an hour and a half. So we do and they actually have a good beer on tap brewed in Durango so all is well.
Then we hear at 5:45 that the flight is delayed again till 7:15 due to tornadoes and hail storm in Den. So, ok, what's another 1 hr delay right?

So, now at this point I've been in a car or room with my co-workers since 6:30. It is now hitting the 12 hr mark, but I only have 1 hour more to go, then I get the delicious alone-ness of the plane. So, I escape for a bit outside to see some more pretty scenery no matter how sparse it is, it is better than inside.

My savvy reader you can probably see where this is going. The cafe kicks us out at 6:30 stating that they were supposed to close at 6pm even though the airport is packed with people all in the same boat, increased revenue from this be damned, they are going home. Then the flight gets delayed till 8:30. We are now roaming the hallways and looking at the candy machines thinking "thank god I ate, even if it was tacos and chili" (tasted good but yep, as scary as it sounds on the other end) at least I'm not reduced to fritos and snickers bars. "

Well, it wasn't all bad. Durango is beautiful! Even if I did spend most of my time at the airport.

June 13th Air Tran flight from ATL to DEN

Wow. I can't believe that I haven't blogged in such a long time. Here's why:

Week of 5/17: can't remember that far back

Week of 5/24: Really busy week including trip to Durango CO which I'll blog about separately.

Week of 5/31: Memorial Day: This day began a multi-week trip. Shouldn't have to travel on the holiday but it was better for me since the Thursday I would normally come home instead I went to SLC. Spent 6/3 night thru morning of 6/7 in SLC with my bestest family friends in the whole world. Wow what a weekend that was. I could write and write about the family, the graduation, the bbq party, the birthday party, how I am not meant to handle 7 kids aged 5-23 and a visiting grandma and great-grandma, how it took all of my patience and how it probably added 5 years of wrinkles due to lack of sleep, but instead I'll focus on something seeming miniscule but more appropriate to this theme.

Two people in SLC asked me this question when they heard about my job: "I bet you are being paid a ton of money for this job, right?"
This was not a hypothetical question.
They waited for replies.

Dear reader, what on earth should one say to that?

No one ever prepped me for this. Humility would say to answer yes as by most standards I am. It certainly is the most I've ever made in my life. But, seriously, really, you ask a total stranger that? In the company of other friends and acquaintances? Really? Do you ask people their age and how much they weigh? Do you ask them about politics and religion too when you first meet them?

Ok, now one was a child and no one expects an 11 year old to know exactly what is appropriate and proper, but the other was a 30+ year old!

I am used to a lot of people saying things like how I can give them my Frequent Flyer miles and even some questions about how my husband and I are doing dealing with this job, but straight up "do you make a lot?" just threw me. (this pic was not taken while on said trip to UT but I thought the face fit. LOL)

Is it me? Am I the only one censoring myself? Is it people in SLC? Are they going to say I should donate or tithe to the LDS church? Are they just not taught what is appropriate?

Well, I am now sure that I will be asked again by someone and I want to be prepared. I am very direct and truthful in general. I do want to say that I am paid well but not be boasting, nor do I want to be dis-honest, but most of all I want a way to put an end to the discussion tactfully. I need the ability to make the person feel like it is not right to ask that but I'm not mad at them or anything, just skillfully side stepping the question.

Dear readers, do not make me write to a women's magazine about this, but I do know it is that type of question. I just did a quick but limited Google search on this and I found a lot of "how to ask the right questions" and "what to say in a job interview" or "how to answer what is your salary requirement" type questions. That is the closest but as you can see not what I need.

So, any thoughts welcome.

Always go with your gut

Well, it is only 9:42 and I've had some life affirming lessons all before 930. On a Monday!

My fave taxi driver dropped me off in good stead. I had over 1 hr before we started boarding. I do my normal quick way through ATL security, zoomie zoomy, and I'm at the T gates. There are boards immediately after to check your flight before you get on the train. Well, I almost always check that but there was such a crowd I couldn't be bothered. I had checked the board before security just 20 mins-ish ago.

My gut told me "you'll regret that".

Well, I got on the escalator and down to the train and checked the board there. My flight was not on the board. I thought that odd but proceeded to B anyway. I got off at the B terminal and check the board again. Of course. My gut now says told ya! It says that my flight is now going out of T-3.
For those of you who don't know ATL, I was approx at T-9 when I started.

So, back down the escalator to the train. Oh and now I'm surrounded by the Florida Gator track team. I'm thinking: you wankers--you could beat the freaking train, probably at a slow sprint for you--stop crowding me!
Anyway, T is a very civilized terminal. Not as crowded. Better shops, definitely more peaceful so I'm thinking this isn't so bad. Not as good as the international terminal of E but definitely better than A-D.
But now I have only 25 mins before we board and still need breakfast and coffee. I know T well enough to know that I can get Starbucks but may have to eat at Starbucks too because there is not a lot of food choices.

Well, I find a too good to be true looking place: only 1 person in front of me, big selection of fresh and mostly healthy looking options, etc. Long story short on this one; got the egg and bacon croissant. Took one bite while waiting for my cappuccino and could tell that something was not quite right. But like a hungry dummy kept eating. By the 3rd mouthful I knew it was the bacon. Since then I've been telling myself, it was just a few bites--toughen up you wussy stomach. So far it has held. Which is good because I'm in a middle seat.



BTW: middle seats are not so bad if you have good neighbors. My guys today are alright. I may actually be better off in the middle seat as my back has been in a much straighter position. So, while I like the end for the sense of space and getting up whenever I want, I now realize it is worse for my back.
Why does this belong in a blog about going with your gut? I was thinking of trying to change my seat. If I had gotten here earlier I would have, but something in me just said, whatev, don't bother.

The final lesson was in the delta in seat trivia games: as long as I go with my gut and my finger can actually touch the right damn button I always win or come in the top 3. I eventually had to turn off the game because I was frustrated with the pushing of the game thinking I chose a different answer than I did. These screens are odd. But I do enjoy it when others around me are playing and they don't know I am watching them. I like watching their faces contort and how they have to fight to click the right button too. I know that means there could be someone watching me too but I try to ignore that. ;-)

Frontier--bunch of luddites

So, in a couple of weeks I am taking a Frontier flight from Denver to Durango just for the day for work.
Which is kinda cool in that it makes me feel like a real jet-setter but the bad thing is I'd like to spend a while in Durango and have to leave within the day. :( Murphy's law.

Anyway, Frontier, as readers will know, has always been good to me prior to this. In person that is.

I made resv on their website. They offer 3 tiered pricing. For that short of a flight I should have bought the economy but the mid-level only cost like 40 more and I thought, what the hell, I'll get to pick my own seat, get tv, etc. But when I finished buying the ticket and it was time to choose the seat, the website kept crashing and would not let me pick my seat no matter what I did.

So, I wrote to customer service immediately about it saying that if I couldn't book my seat I wanted my money back and would fly the economy tier.

6 DAYS LATER, I get an email response. I'll post it here:
Dear Lauren Drabble,

Thank you for contacting Frontier Airlines Online Customer Service.

Please note: New or existing reservations, ticket or schedule changes, flight information or general travel questions must be handled by telephone: 800-432-1359 (24 hours a day / 7 days a week). We do not provide Reservations support via e-mail at this time.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard your future Frontier Airlines flights.

Sincerely,

Customer Service
Frontier Airlines

Well, I promptly wrote back and said "I wish I knew that 6 days ago!"

Everyday since that email came in I've called the number listed and everyday "call volume exceeded normal call levels" and my wait time was a minimum of 9 minutes all the way up to 29 mins.

DUH--your website crashes and your email customer service doesn't do anything so of course your call volume is high.

Since I travel so much I thought I'd just see if the ticket agent could help me. Time in line: 2 mins
Time for her to get me my seat, less than 2 mins

So, in person Frontier rocks but don't expect anything more than cavemen in customer service and the decision makers/ "visionaries" of the company.

Sweaty sardine--Delta flight 2016 5/14/10 --and what fun you can have in air with your laptop.

So, I'm stuck in coach as I always am, especially in Delta as you are lucky to be #62 on the upgrade list for the measly 2 open seats in Business nowadays.

The crew is actually nice but everyone is so packed in that the gentleman next to me (and I don't use that term loosely, he really is a gentleman) can't help but sometimes having his leg touch my leg and I don't realize it till my leg feels all clammy.

EWWW.

And this is only May. It is going to get a lot worse with the heat/humidity in ATL. Denver is luckily still anywhere from 50-70 degrees most days.
And we had snow this week. Snow in May! wow.

Well, this plane pretty much stinks as in the seats are too close, you can hardly use your laptop because there is almost not enough room (if the guy in front of me reclines I'll have to put away laptop) and they have the old fashioned tvs that fall from the overhead. As far as amenities go, it is pretty lame but I actually prefer it that way. As I can ignore it better and get some things done.

Going back to the gentleman: he offered to sit in the middle because my kind of rude neighbor who was in the middle seat sort of bullied him into switching with her so she could work. Now she's sitting there cackling watching the New Adventures of Old Christine and not working at all.

Makes me realize that I bet I act like her a lot and it is ugly, nasty and negative. :( I am going to try to remember her and not act like that, to anyone, ever.

A bit later in the journey, the gentleman next to me wanted to get up to go to the bathroom. I am working on this computer so I just grab the computer while open and grab my ipod and headphones and pull them to my sizable chest, stand up, and let him by.

Well, unbeknownst to me, and no idea how I did it, I somehow turned the screen sideways.

You know how you can rotate the screen on your phone and then rotate it back just by turning it (and I guess the new IPad too??) Well, this is NOT an IPad and it did not rotate back no matter what I did.
Mr. Gentleman tried to help but to no avail.
I had a couple of co-workers on the flight so took my laptop to the nearest. Well, this certainly was a new puzzle to him too. Luckily for me, the man behind him could see my screen, hear the story and knew how to fix it. It was hidden in the advanced settings of the display of the computer. Again, I have no idea how anyone could have done this by accident, but if it can happen, it can happen to me. It is ironic really as I'm supposed to work with computers and all I can really do is freak them out, always unintentionally.

If anyone ever needs a computer or whole network to act like a monstrous solar flare just zapped it from less than 10 feet away, give me a call. I am definitely for rent!

Connections

I've seen or at least talked to far too many people who don't know enough to schedule a lot of time when making connections. Let me make this perfectly clear: unless you are going to a podunk airport with only 4 gates, you need to schedule a LOT of time between flights. In ATL the bare minimum is 2 hrs.

I know it is sad but it is the way of this world.

All things are designed to make you give up your time and money at the airport. If I could think of another way around this I promise to share it. In the meantime, it is what it is.

Another thing you can do to help make your connections is to look at the airport map and study it. If you aren't scrambling around in your connecting airport you'll save yourself a lot of frustrations.
Most airports have a train or shuttle of some sort go get between terminals and usually that really is the easiest way to connect.

Another idea is to talk to your seat neighbors and make it clear that you are late for a connection and be so bold as to tell them you need to get out of the plane pronto. You can also switch seats with people upfront too.

Another idea is this, but I warn you it only works if you get a nice and helpful employee: ask them if they can call ahead to your gate and tell them you are coming and to hold the plane. This most often will not work, but it is worth a shot.

In case you are wondering why it is a minimum of 2 hrs in ATL it is this: flights are often very delayed to get in and often change gates. If even one of these happen and you are sure to be at least running through the airport like a bad movie and be super stressed or miss your flight. Flights in ATL are never on schedule. ;-)

Air Tran flight 309 Sunday night 10:15pm 4/26/10

Had a rough weekend of my back hurting--need new mattress at home--so decided to pay the $99 upgrade for business class. SOOOO glad I did! It is nice to spread out etc. and arrive a bit more relaxed even though it will be 1:30am my time!

Haven't been in business class for approx. 1 month. Here's what I notice compared to last Thursday's flight:

Seats are obviously bigger, and the "leather". Smarter tray table as it folds in half the way old fashioned planes used to. This is smart! Saves room/better design.

Never have a problem storing all luggage here just because there are fewer passengers.

MUCH quieter (except for Mr. Booming voice to my right but when he's not talking it is silent.)

Better snacks but again about the same as standard Southwest snacks.

Bathroom was actually very clean for an airline. No sticky floors.

Go-Go internet had some interesting but confusing categories of subscriptions. Said there was one to use for all airlines for 30 days. Hmmm. I can't imagine how I would have missed that before. Kinda feel like I couldn't have!

Seat storage was big enough to hold laptop, binder, and my music bag of ipod and headphones comfortably.

I guess I'm saying this is the life compared to coach.

Since flight back is only 2.5 hours and flight to DEN is over 3, if you only have the $$ to upgrade 1 way do it this way.

Found out from my neighbor about way to enroll in AirTran elite which is over and above their regular awards. I think he thinks I'm dumb since I didn't know of it, but now I will use it and get free flights faster! Yay neighbor!

Last note: left ATL in 90 degree weather in skirt and sandals. Just announced 32 degrees with snow!

Observations on Passengers and Overall Airline Rankings

I was sharing this info verbally with Derra who should get all the credit for telling me to blog it, so there's your credit Derra!

When I started this flying every week gig, I was mainly flying on Delta. Shortly after I lost my Silver Medallion status when I missed the mark by 1012 miles. It is then I decided to try all of the different airlines that fly directly between Atlanta and Denver. Here's what I noticed:

I had a lot fewer options and amenities on other carriers but I was usually more relaxed. I noticed that there is a terrible vibe on the Delta flights. I think it boils down to their Sky Miles program. The customers have so much invested in Delta that they keep flying with them just to get more points but they are soooo unhappy about Delta that while they are earning points they are still miserable.

Does this come down to poor customer service? Is it just that Delta knows they have sucked them in so now they can say "SUCK IT!"?
Those things are definitely true but I don't believe it can be all there is to it. Maybe it is a matter of expectations. Maybe the Delta fliers are just so jaded. All I know is that while I have more features and amenities on Delta than most other carriers, I am stressed and tense on the flight. I think I prefer to fly with the schmucks who don't expect anything and are just happy to arrive safely. I definitely land in a better mood that way.

Below you'll see how I have ranked Airlines overall. I'll use this formula on my individual flights to rank them each time. Maybe I'll find that my perception is not reality if I jot everything down as it happens.


Please let me know if you want me to add others to this list.

Seats:
a) comfort
b) quality of material
c) tray table
d) recline
e) what are the features on board/at my seat
f) do all features work


Results:
A) I like Frontier seats best for one reason: they have adjustable head rests which aid sleeping on the plane. United seats are the biggest in coach so they are second best on my list.
B) When you can get a flight with the "leather" seats on any carrier it is always preferred over cloth. Of course first class has the "leather" for all airlines, but this is mainly written for the cattle in coach, and I rarely get to first or business class so, I'm focusing on Coach unless otherwise specified.
AirTran, United and Delta have more flights with the "leather" in coach.
C) Tray tables overall are just there. Rarely do any stand out. I've been on some that I am too scared to put my laptop on though and will note that in future posts. Right now I can't remember which had those. Also, while some of you may like bulkhead seats, remember those are the tray tables that come out of the armrest as there are no seats in front of you. Those are always smaller and flimsier and I wouldn't trust them with anything heavier than your single-serving drinks and snacks.
D)I'll have to be more specific in individual posts. Just know that it seems to me that none recline a lot but when they do, they limit the person behind you so much they often can't get out of their seat. So, overall, seats are just too close together! Duh! Best seat in the house is usually the second row of the emergency exit row if your plane has it. See Seatguru.com.
Reason: your seat will recline and the seat in front of you can't. SCORE. Worth the time to get to airport early or the extra $20 (AirTran)?
E) Features and Amenities:
Delta has tvs with movies, games, a lot of good TV channels built into the seat you are facing on newer aircraft (they still use the old planes too which have the 1 monitor per every 8-10 rows.) Big downfall: they charge $2.00 for their headsets and some older planes will not take your headsets/headphones so you must buy theirs (which I won't.) Movies at time of writing cost $6.00. Pay for TV like HBO is $2.00 per episode. Free tv has sports, comedy central, etc. Games are pretty good, especially the trivia. No time restrictions so be careful when you buy your movie. They'll take your money even if you don't have time to finish. No warning on that. They also have go-go in-flight wireless internet.
Frontier warns you that you must buy your movie no later than 45 mins into flight. Frontier puts their cost for TV and Movies into the ticket that you buy then comes around and activates it for you. You can purchase on board too. No internet though. They say that is coming with their merger with Midwest. All of their planes that I've been on have the TV monitors in the seat in front of you. Sometimes the screen will not turn off. Both Delta and Frontier have a way to turn off the screen but I've been on a few flights where the middle seat's screen would not. Luckily I had a creative attendant who figured out we could block it with the security card! :) OH, that's what they are for!!!!! Should've known.


Bathroom:
a) cleanliness
b) stocked

Overall, know that if your flight's departure is late due to a late arriving flight
your cabin will be disgustingly dirty. Again, this is why I carry wipes and Lysol with me just in case. Also know that the cleaning crews are employed by the airports not the airlines, so there is no point in saying "the delta cleaning crew sucks". The only correct thing to say is "the atlanta cleaning crew sucks."
No matter when. I've had 6am flights (first of the day) on Frontier and Delta and the cabin overall was not clean, but especially the bathroom.
I even once had a United flight where I was the first passenger on the flight and I found the floor sticky, I finished the TP, there were no towels and NO SOAP.
Know what the flight attendants can do about this? NOT MUCH. They don't really get supplies or anyway to store them. At least not on the ATL-DEN route. When I alerted the United attendant he had to steal some soap from the other bathroom and then had to water it down to make it last. He also stole TP from the other bathroom and used his little drink napkins as the towels for the bathroom. He admitted that it happens a lot in ATL and that he doesn't think much of the ATL staff.

Boarding and De-boarding process
a) time
b) ease
c) overhead storage

Since Southwest lets you check 2 bags for free, their process kicks ass. Swiftly on and off. Strictly speaking they don't fly to ATL so I can't count them.

All the others suck except for Frontier. They board correctly so people don't hold you up. Also, if for some reason the flight is delayed they check to see how many people are connecting elsewhere and make announcements to alert everyone else to stay in their seats while those who are connecting get to go first. Sure some could abuse that but it is nice that they care enough to try. No other airline does this.

Attendants:
a) courteous
b) efficient

See above about the announcements. Delta's staff are the worst usually, especially if they are an Atlanta based crew. United's crew were the nicest However, the one singularly most unfair and rude attendant ever was a woman on Frontier. The entire crew was biased and only was nice to one male passenger (the guy next to me so I saw it all.) Every attendant fawned all over him. The male attendant actually said to him "coffee tea or me." The woman was hostile about anything she had to do for any customers. She wanted everyone to sit down, shut up, never get up or need anything. Oh, but Mr. Perfect could do no wrong and she gladly got off her ass for him.

Food and Drink options

Most airlines are going cashless. Others are only cash based. I know of none that take both so you must come with cash and cards just in case if you want to buy anything.
United has no snacks at all, free or purchase, you only get your drinks. First/Business gets a full meal. If you look at the offerings in their magazine they really have a lot of good looking stuff.
Frontier/Midwest gives away freshly warmed cookies on flights after 10am. Before that you get no snacks, just your drinks. Later in the day flights too offer sandwiches and other products from Udi's which is a decent food business. I've liked their product.
AirTran: you get the basic pretzels. (I've been in first/business on AT and they get a BASKET of goodies to choose from.)
Delta has a lot of options. Free snacks are their Biscoff cookies, pretzels or peanuts. Sometimes they'll let you have more than 1, other times they are tight-asses. For purchase they have combo boxes of junk mainly, a few healthier options. They also sometimes have good selections of cheese and fruit. This is the only airline that really has a lot of options for breakfast or the rest of the day, however, they aren't always available. Bummer here is you read the menu and then find out that your flight only has the combo boxes of crap.

Again, Southwest doesn't count really as I can't take them from ATL-DEN, but just fyi: they do not have drink carts. This means they come by and take your order and bring it to you. Seems less efficient for them but a great improvement for the customer as you never have to wait for that damn cart that is blocking the aisle. :)

Read individual flights in other posts for more specifics.

4/22/10 Air Tran Flight DEN--ATL

(First in-flight blog entry--the way it SHOULD be so the attendants see me and FEAR! ;-) )

I haven't flown on AT in a few weeks (again, why I should have done this from the start) and now I can't remember what it was like just a few weeks ago.

Here's how it seems now:

I'm in coach and seats seem to recline a bit further than other airlines. I may do a search to see if there is a way to know whose coach seats recline the furthest and on which aircrafts. Any time I think of this I think of Ellen Degeneres' bit on airplane seats and "comfort".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3KvWVU-WgU&feature=related

And she's totally right about "the guy in front of me" too. I had this laptop out to do work and then blog and he reclines so much that the laptop got stuck into the seat and my gut simultaneously.

But the other thing about this plane is that the seat pockets are so tight it was hard to fit in my medium sized bottle of water and my small ipod/headphones pouch. Literally nothing else but a stick of gum could fit.

Now to rank this particular flight.

Seat: 16D aisle
a) not comfortable (see above) back aching no matter what, seat seems a bit less that a flotation device.
b) cheap cloth (we know they don't clean any type but...)
c) My tray table is a bit lopsided on the right but it is supporting my laptop (Dell Latitude I think a 13 inch laptop with 9 inch screen.
d) yes, and as I said above seems further back but not comfortable either way. I did not look to see if it was clean enough but I hope so! I now travel with a travel sized lysol after I got the flu last month.
e) features are limited to their XM radio (free) and pay for internet. I learned the hard way tonight that if you buy a go-go in flight internet on Delta flight it is NOT transferable to other Airlines! OUCH. What a racket.
Go-Go works like a champ though. Magazine in tiny pouch is good, good info and articles but torn up by now.
f)everything works except pouch is too small and tight.

Bathroom:
Key to bathroom is to go BEFORE you get on board. Short of that, go asap on board before anyone mucks it up too much. However, they are NEVER clean, particularly the floor.
a) NO--VERY sticky!
b) yes, stocked. It was beginning of flight.

Boarding and De-boarding process
a) time--I did not time it--sorry! Didn't feel too bad. I was in the first group to board.
b) ease--Unless I am in First class or flying Frontier my answer to this will always be NO. All airlines need to board in this way: if anyone needs help and will take a long time, board them early and first or last. NEVER any other time. All other passengers should be boarded by rear seats first and work up. And attendants should enforce that no one can put a bag further than 1 row away from where you are sitting.
c) overhead storage--it got full but no one did anything stupid and slowed us down.

Attendants:
a) courteous--in a civil not obsequious way yes.
b) efficient--yes except the ice and soda dispensing as ice kept landing on me and my laptop.
c) Announcements--not overbearing, not too loud and disruptive.

Food and Drink options:
Seems that they've expanded their pay-for-drinks. They even had chocolate milk. I know it may sound dumb but I think it is a nice addition. Standard Coke beverages. No food other than free pretzels.

Ok, time to put away and land. YAY.

Last note: De-boarding was not too bad considering. We had a considerable delay in Denver so we arrived late when most things were closed in ATL but AirTran staff stayed late to help all of those who missed their connections. I didn't hear much grumbling, which goes back to my overall theory about Air Tran passengers.
(see the post entitled Observations on Passengers and Overall Airline rankings.)

How to make time for fun when traveling for work

Before I took this ATL-DEN gig every week I used to travel around the country. First for StayOnline then for Patient Care Technologies.
I usually would travel on Monday, immediately land and try to find somewhere cool to explore and have lunch or dinner before I got busy with the client on Tuesday.

If things were going well, or especially if they weren't and I needed to blow off steam, I had/made time to get out and do stuff. If nothing else, tried to take a walk and take pictures.

Below are some links to pix I took on work trips.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauren.drabble/ChicagoNovember08#
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauren.drabble/DayInChicagoInJanuaryWithDenise#
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauren.drabble/FirstTripToOconomowocWisconsin#
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauren.drabble/MilwaukeeCityArtAndLakeMichigan#


Below is my favorite work trip. The client kinda sucked and things weren't going well but I said fuck it and made time to go to the beach EVERY DAY. This meant I was at work every day at 8am until 4:30pm. Immediately I hopped in the car for the 30-40 minute drive to get to Monterrey/Pacific Beach every day. As this is my fave place in all of California I was in heaven. Work paid for the gas and the dinner. I stayed out to see the sunset every night. I had to then drive back to the hotel kinda late and work late but it was soo worth it!! I'd do it today in a heart beat.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lauren.drabble/DoesThisLookLikeAWorkTrip02#
I will also try to go to a museum or whatever is cool and local. ALWAYS go to local places for food and eat local faves and locally made beer, especially small crafted beers including root beers. Illinois and Wisconsin were great for both.

Make sure you get on the net and also read the local papers. Don't be ashamed to grab that tourist guide in the airport/your hotel. For example, through it I found out that the Chicago Museum of Fine Art was free on a certain night. So, I planned my visit around that.

I've usually been lucky enough to go back to places at least 2x so the first trip is a scouting mission. If you can only go once you'll need to do more research before leaving. I like going on adventures and finding places. Too much planning of this nature can let me down but you'll need to find your comfort zone on this.

Now that I'm in Denver every week I am trying to do something fun every other week but it has ended up being every month only. I still follow the local rule. The bad part is that with the time difference and the M-F schedule I just don't have as much time.

I have made time for a GNO as well as a few trips downtown to my 2 fave book stores and saw Dave Eggers at Tattered Cover.

Goal for this summer/fall: go to a concert at Red Rocks. WOOT!

The Infamous Oklahoma trip

Not to be too lazy but I did such a good job chronicling my arduous, harrowing and nearly aneurysm inducing time in OK that I will just give you the run up to the event and then direct you to my Picasa pix instead of posting them all here.

I flew into Lawton OK on a Monday and paid close attention to the route that the Enterprise shuttle driver took and how long it took her to get to the Enterprise office. There are no on site car rental companies here. So, when coming back to the airport on Thursday to get the hell out of a town that a) thinks a salad that consists of iceberg, croutons, french dressing, 1 cherry tomato and then tons of SALT = vegetables and 2) a big area if not whole state was literally depressed when Obama won, I made sure I left plenty of time for the drive from Enterprise to the airport.

 Well, the 2 guys working that day made me wait 10 mins and then one decided he may as well take me. As he drove, this time just a car, not a shuttle because it was just him and me, he narrated about how he had just graduated from High School in June and over there is his High School. Over there is his favorite chinese. Back yonder is the bowling alley. Oh, and here's his church. At this point I'm thinking I don't recognize very many of the places that the lady drove by on Monday. Hmmm me thinks.
Next thing I know we are at a dead stop. We sit there for a good long 5 mins which is like 30 to me without him trying to figure out what the problem might be, just saying "Hmm, I wonder if there was an accident." I ask "Is there another way to the airport?"
"Yeah, but it is longer."
So, we wait a few mins more with nothing happening.
I then communicate that we can't just sit here, I must get to the airport and he then gets out and walks for a minute to see that everyone is stopped for a train.
I think how much longer can we wait for this train? So we wait a few mins more. Now at this point, because this happened a couple of years ago now I cannot remember how much time has elapsed total, but my guess would be 12-18 mins. 12-18 precious minutes.
So I tell dear tour guide that I am in jeopardy of missing my flight and he better figure out how to get me there on time.
So, he gets out of the queue and takes me another way. We have a few more stops and it is longer but we are moving. I encourage him to drive as fast as he likes--I won't tell!
We now pull up to the airport exactly 47 mins before my little prop plane is to take me to Dallas to then take me to ATL. I rush into the airport and am relieved to see that there is no line, I get right up front, present my id and pre-printed out boarding pass, etc, and plop my bag to be weighed and checked in.
The Delta agent whom I shall endearingly call Sourpuss takes my paperwork and id, pushes it back to me, and says that I've missed my flight. I say that is impossible.
Sourpuss then tells me that since I have checked luggage I had to be here and have my bag checked in no later than 45 mins prior to the flight. I again check my watch. I am now there 44 mins till the flight.
"But Ms Sourpuss, I was in line 45 mins prior to the flight. it is just now 44 mins till. Surely we can squeeze one bag in?"
"No we cannot."
"Why not?"
"We won't get it through the scan and security in time."
Ok, now, please look at the pix of this airport for greater clarity and empathy with your dear narrator.


http://picasaweb.google.com/lauren.drabble/BOREDOMOklahoma#

As you just saw they certainly could have gotten it from point A to point B in less than 10 mins. they just wouldn't.

No matter how much I begged, pleaded, cajoled, etc. it was all futile. That woman wanted me to sit there for no damn reason for over 3 hours!

Again, look at the pix and just imagine for yourself! And you know me. You know that this did NOT sit well with me. I am still fuming about it thinking about it years later.

Suffice to say, you know know more of damn good reasons to hate Delta, why I hate to check luggage and rarely do, why I haven't gone back to Enterprise rental car and why I left 2 hours earlier the next time that I had to fly through that damn airport. Oh, and btw: I never want to return to OK--EVER.







....

Week at Home April 5th-9th 2010

Southwest Flights April 15th and 18th 2010

So.

Southwest gets a lot of praise in the industry. We'll see if they can earn back my respect after this trip.

The setup: Took SW from DEN to Philly for cousin's wedding. Was really looking forward to the trip in general and just flying SW too. I had to work a bit though so had to take my computer bag. Only took a carry-on with it.

GOOD:
Flight in general was fine. I know a lot of people complain about the cattle call. I don't mind that as long as people keep to the honor system. I was in section B. Had to sit in a middle seat but got the exit row between a group of Community College baseball players. Dude next to me watched the best baseball movie of all time: The Sandlot. :0

Seat comfy enough. Attendants were nice and friendly. Snacks plentiful and a decent assortment (as good as AT's business class) and no stupid cart in middle of aisle!

Time to get in an off was super quick--less than 10 mins for whole plane. I had forgotten that they allow 2 free check in bags. HUGE difference. Seats full, overhead bins only half full.

Just eh:
Cleanliness of bathroom.

Bad:
No amenities such as TV or internet. They were supposed to have internet but it was "down". Later heard that it isn't really installed yet.


So, the flight back to Denver was basically the same.

Bathroom was a bit cleaner which I was happy for because something the day before did not agree with me and I had a bit of Delhi belly. OH, and this is after a lot of shiznit at the Philly airport. I could not order the crab at Chickie's and Pete's because of MSG in seasonings so had to settle for a really really lame pizza steak--ugh--airport food! But I did get 3 good and fresh Philly pretzels. Anyway, at C&P the woman next to me at the bar was hammered! After a while she started getting a bit belligerent and challenging me to things. When I pushed my food away from me to start to get the hell away from her and pack up and go to gate, she started eating my food. I thought, whatever, until she started spittle-ing it out at me because "I can't chew it."
At this point I'm really starting to try to get the hell out of there. She now stands up and goes to bend over to get something out of her bag and then falls over and passes out. FUN!!

So, anyway, prior to this, at the wedding, my cousin's family gave parting gifts to all of homemade (read in a bathtub) Lithuanian liquor. Simon had complained how I had filled up his suitcase too much with clothes and shoes from home instead of me taking too much of my denver stash that week. So, I decided to use that SW checked bag thing. I filled my carry on till it couldn't fill no mores with my clothes, shoes, jewelry--ALL of my jewelry, the liquor and some other wedding souvenirs.

Back to the Delhi Belly: land and go straight to bathroom. There a bit longer than normal. Get to the luggage carousel and find there are NO bags left from my philly flight. EMPTY.

Long story short: 7 days later they are still looking for it. :(
VERY sad about losing the earrings especially as a lot were special, including what Simon made for me.

Will update this around the 15 day mark when they say a lot of bags turn up.

Yeah, sure they do. Uh-huh.

Pictures are from the scene of the crime!!!

Starting to Blog my "life"

Hello,

I started a 100% travel job in Feb 2010. It is now April 2010. After telling a friend some of the trials and tribulations of traveling she encouraged me to do a blog about it.

Sounded like an excellent idea and I wish I had thought of it sooner as I've already forgotten a lot of the travel experiences in the past 8 weeks. 8 weeks roughly translates to 16 flights. Doesn't sound like much maybe but so far it has been a great sampling of what is right and wrong in the travel industry.

First I'll try to get caught up as best I can then I'll endeavor to stay current.

Here's what I hope to accomplish:

Personal:
a) it will be a nice experiment to try to be a faithful blogger.
b) I think I remember well in general but obviously that's not true so this will serve to allow me to remember more of other things once I dump the info here.

Money:
since this should end up being a good account of everything out there you or at least I will choose a bit more wisely who to give your money to when you travel.

Travel:
If anyone from the travel industry should happen to read this maybe, but don't hold your breath, things might improve.

You:
you all can feel free to post your opinions and experiences too.