A magazine or a newspaper is a shop. Each is an experiment and represents a new focus, a new ratio between commerce and intellect.
John Jay Chapman (1862–1933), author
(it's an experiment that commerce is winning handily)
A couple of items in the news yesterday that both please and baffle me.
The good news is United Airlines treats celebrities the same way they treat their steerage-class customers. The bad news is they are still in business.
From The New York Post's Page 6
Stuck In Coach
BEING a celebrity doesn't always get you perks. Josh Hartnett found himself in an unusual predicament when he was forced to fly coach on a flight back to New York the day after the Os cars. "United Airlines was so overbooked, there was no way for him to get upgraded," said an onlooker. "But it wasn't for lack of trying. There were so many celebs on the flight, when he went to the counter to ask about a wait list they told him, 'You're number 55.' "
No Surprise Bush in the Dark
Our embarrassment of a president showed that he is as out of touch as father Bush was when he admitted he was unaware of the predictions of $4-a-gallon gas. He also showed he does not pay attention to current events, unless it’s sports related.
From CNN:
President Bush, saying he was unaware of predictions of $4-a-gallon gasoline in the coming months, told reporters Thursday that the best way to help Americans fend off high prices is for Congress to make his first-term tax cuts permanent.
"If you're out there wondering... what your life is going to be like, and you're looking at $4 a gallon, that's uncertain," Bush responded to a question posed at a White House news conference. "And when you couple that with the idea that... taxes may be going up in a couple years, that's double uncertainty."
Analysts have said that gasoline could reach $4 a gallon by this spring, due to strong demand and a change in formulation, among other reasons.
When taking the question about the $4 milestone, Bush told the reporter, "That's interesting. I hadn't heard that."
Showing posts with label united airlines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label united airlines. Show all posts
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
United Airlines Hates its Coach Passengers
Part II
An involuntary return to the point of departure is, without doubt the most disturbing of all journeys.
Iain Sinclair, author
I will never fly United Airlines again. Granted my protest will have little effect since I don’t travel much if I can avoid it, but I would rather travel by mule or llama with a Sherpa than endure the confusion, apathetic service, and general disregard for the poor palooka who has to travel coach class on United.
My flight took off before either of my co-worker’s flights, but they both made it home on Tuesday night/Wednesday Morning because they were on America Airlines. Our plane waited for deicing, then taxied out to the tarmac to sit for some length of time, which required we go back in, get deiced again, then refueled, then canceled because the crew had gone over their shift time and United had just changed the flight manual not allowing the planes to fly in ice pellets; I am guessing that means hail, but who knows.
I waited over an hour for the luggage to come off the plane, waited in the very cold night for a taxi and then made it to the hotel just before 11 p.m. Now remember, my journey to the airport started at 2:30 p.m. I checked into the hotel and checked out at 3:45 a.m. to get the airport for a 6:30 a.m. flight.
I stood in line to check my luggage and while waiting I confirmed my reservation that was made the minute the flight was canceled. I was horrified that I was assigned a center seat. United employees were not clocked in yet, so they sat around listening to iPods and ignoring the growing line of passengers, which bordered on the absurd.
(Agents hard at work)
I eventually checked my bag and asked to move, even argued that my seat yesterday was not the center sit, but all to no avail. I offered to pay for an upgrade, but I was quoted a price of $1,800. The attendant behind the counter could care less; she’d heard it all before. I boarded the plane and the stewardess asked how I was this morning. So, I told her in no uncertain terms how I was and what I thought of the airline. As we were walking toward the back of the plane into the steerage section, an older gentleman who had heard my exchange, turned and said, “I bet she was glad she asked that question this morning.”
“Someone has to tell them that they are running this airline using the same strategy as American auto companies,” I replied not so kindly.
I am 6-1, 207 pounds and it turns out the two guys sitting next me were just as tall. For six hours the three of us did our best to give the other some room. Yet, when the window seat gentleman had to use the restroom the aisle seat man and I had to unfasten our seatbelts and move up and down the rows until Mr. window seat returned.
The flight did eventually end and I was able to get home. I can only hope the executives of United or their families’ will some day have to fly this airline from the back of the plane. Better yet, it would be nice to regulate airlines again, because the treatment we unfortunate many who have to fly coach are treated is worse than prisoners at Guantánamo, or so I've read.
Iain Sinclair, author
I will never fly United Airlines again. Granted my protest will have little effect since I don’t travel much if I can avoid it, but I would rather travel by mule or llama with a Sherpa than endure the confusion, apathetic service, and general disregard for the poor palooka who has to travel coach class on United.
My flight took off before either of my co-worker’s flights, but they both made it home on Tuesday night/Wednesday Morning because they were on America Airlines. Our plane waited for deicing, then taxied out to the tarmac to sit for some length of time, which required we go back in, get deiced again, then refueled, then canceled because the crew had gone over their shift time and United had just changed the flight manual not allowing the planes to fly in ice pellets; I am guessing that means hail, but who knows.
I waited over an hour for the luggage to come off the plane, waited in the very cold night for a taxi and then made it to the hotel just before 11 p.m. Now remember, my journey to the airport started at 2:30 p.m. I checked into the hotel and checked out at 3:45 a.m. to get the airport for a 6:30 a.m. flight.
I stood in line to check my luggage and while waiting I confirmed my reservation that was made the minute the flight was canceled. I was horrified that I was assigned a center seat. United employees were not clocked in yet, so they sat around listening to iPods and ignoring the growing line of passengers, which bordered on the absurd.
(Agents hard at work)I eventually checked my bag and asked to move, even argued that my seat yesterday was not the center sit, but all to no avail. I offered to pay for an upgrade, but I was quoted a price of $1,800. The attendant behind the counter could care less; she’d heard it all before. I boarded the plane and the stewardess asked how I was this morning. So, I told her in no uncertain terms how I was and what I thought of the airline. As we were walking toward the back of the plane into the steerage section, an older gentleman who had heard my exchange, turned and said, “I bet she was glad she asked that question this morning.”
“Someone has to tell them that they are running this airline using the same strategy as American auto companies,” I replied not so kindly.
I am 6-1, 207 pounds and it turns out the two guys sitting next me were just as tall. For six hours the three of us did our best to give the other some room. Yet, when the window seat gentleman had to use the restroom the aisle seat man and I had to unfasten our seatbelts and move up and down the rows until Mr. window seat returned.
The flight did eventually end and I was able to get home. I can only hope the executives of United or their families’ will some day have to fly this airline from the back of the plane. Better yet, it would be nice to regulate airlines again, because the treatment we unfortunate many who have to fly coach are treated is worse than prisoners at Guantánamo, or so I've read.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Flying the Friendly Skies
"We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of US Airways."
Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement
United Airlines continues to do its best to make sure your flying experience is worse than taking a bus.
If you travel and need two bags, United Airlines will begin charging you $50 this spring to check a second piece of luggage on domestic round-trip flights. United is leading the charge among airlines to impose a fee for a service that has long been included in the price of a ticket.
Flying means partial disrobing searches, which include removing shoes, belts, emptying purses and this is just for the children. Make sure your baggage is properly organized and neatly folded to make invasive luggage searches easier.
This is all before even getting to the plane. Once on the plane, expect crowding, overhead racks stuff like a Thanksgiving turkey, no meals, no pillows, and no relaxation as you count the hours before landing, if you’re not delayed onboard for hours.
Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement
United Airlines continues to do its best to make sure your flying experience is worse than taking a bus.
If you travel and need two bags, United Airlines will begin charging you $50 this spring to check a second piece of luggage on domestic round-trip flights. United is leading the charge among airlines to impose a fee for a service that has long been included in the price of a ticket.
Flying means partial disrobing searches, which include removing shoes, belts, emptying purses and this is just for the children. Make sure your baggage is properly organized and neatly folded to make invasive luggage searches easier.
This is all before even getting to the plane. Once on the plane, expect crowding, overhead racks stuff like a Thanksgiving turkey, no meals, no pillows, and no relaxation as you count the hours before landing, if you’re not delayed onboard for hours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)