American Airlines: no more free blankets-- $8 each

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Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: andrewg
Flying today is like throwing all your rights out the window. The TSA (Nazi like) are everywhere...asking 'may I see your papers'! Then you get the delight of having a semi-strip search while being scrutinized for ANY nervous behavior (like they don't make you nervous anyway). If you're lucky, like me, you get pulled aside for the 'special' treatment (more complete search...metal detectors between your legs, etc.). After all that fun, you get to head toward your friendly gate as you listen to the TSA warnings and threats over the loud speaker. Don't worry though....before your flight you can treat yourself to a $5 cup-o-joe and a $15 cheeseburger. Next...the boarding starts (generally late...constantly being told not to board until your row is called). Upon finding your seat, you get the great joy of attempting to put your bag in an overhead while everybody else is trying to do the same (as you watch a flight attendent CRAM the bags in as tightly as she can....and yours is usually at the back). No worries though.... as you wait for the aircraft to get permission from the tower to depart (usually late again) you'll get to listen to inevitable coughing and sneezing of ill passengers. Once in the air the oh-so-kindly attendants ask you if you want a small bag of cookies (with a mini-size soda) or a bag of peanuts (usually around six to seven nuts...one time I did count ten however). Ah, the joy of flight! That stale air! And the overweight, perspiring bearded man sitting next to you (or is that a woman?). Such fun!
No......I don't think I will fly anymore either unless I have no other choice. I'm done.


Sure, I post rants about the TSA... but as somebody who flies on different carriers probably 2-4 times a month, I have to say that you must be doing something wrong.

They have idiotic operations, silly rules, and I don't feel any safer.

Yes, often you get stuck next to an overweight passenger, get marginal food/drink, etc., but the airlines cannot control fuel prices or the obese nature of Americans (getting worse!). And, so long as we want to keep prices low, the airlines have to apply wal-mart like techniques, which is not good for quality or anything else.

Another situation where we did it to ourselves for the most part...


There are ways to avoid all these flight hassles, it is called "first class" tickets. If you want to be boarded first, bigger seats, etc, pay for the more expensive options.

Of course, we human in general want the cheapest option for the best quality, but that's not always available though.
 
For those that wonder WHY I seem to attract the attention of the TSA? Beats me really. My travel companion (girlfriend) is of Mexican heritage. Don't think that has anything to do with it. Could be my disgusted looks I give the TSA agents?! The only other thing is that I often arrive early for my flight to try and ease any boarding stress. Perhaps they think I'm a terrorist because I'm so punctual?
 
Originally Posted By: andrewg
For those that wonder WHY I seem to attract the attention of the TSA? Beats me really. My travel companion (girlfriend) is of Mexican heritage. Don't think that has anything to do with it. Could be my disgusted looks I give the TSA agents?! The only other thing is that I often arrive early for my flight to try and ease any boarding stress. Perhaps they think I'm a terrorist because I'm so punctual?


Maybe you are just being treated like everyone else or maybe you look a little too depressed/grumpy? TSA loves to pick on people in bad mood.
 
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Americans want to have their cake and eat it too. Well, something's got to give.


yupper. We rush to AAP, AZ for low priced oil deals then complain when there are no knowledgeable people working there.

OT: I see food stores make people bag groceries, now you can ring up your own stuff, or scan it while you are shopping. I suggest they just put a garden out back and allow me to pick my own vegetables, not need them to hire anyone except a grocery overseer. At least Stop and Shop has driven efficiency to its natural end. Why bother stocking the shelves? I'll just send of list of what I want, and just drop it off @ my house.

http://www.peapod.com/

It is like 1964 all over again without the Corvair.
 
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It's reached a point where ticket pricing is meaningless nowadays. I just bought tickets to travel. They cost roughly $99 each way. After all the add-ons (tax, security, one piece of luggage, etc.) it came out to $149 per ticket.
 
Traveled to Aruba/back with connection and two kids (2yr & 4yr).

Security/customs was wonderful to us at least.

I did pay $8 for a great sandwich on a Delta flight(better than old airline fare).

Free airfare for family due to bump two years ago and free hotel stay that turned out to be all-inclusive(did not know part). I think we spent less money there then a week at home and enjoyed 85F and beach/pool.
 
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