Modern Aviation

[FlashTalk5]

Since I've started flying a model plane again, I have been fascinated with modern aviation mostly from the 1930s and 1940s. A majority of the aircrafts were invented by Howard Hughes such as the autogyro which eventually developed (gradually) into the helicopter that is frequently seen in the air today. Even though not much of them are seen anymore, flying my model plane has helped me gain respect for modern aviation from the past.

 

What was so fascinating about the planes from the '30s and '40s was their style. For example, the DH89 Dragon Rapide: what fascinated me about it was that it was one of the greatest, but rarely seen, 2-engine biplanes in the world, mostly used for passenger service. There were also planes that landed in water called amphibians (or flying boats.) Speaking of which, the biggest plane in the world which took its first and unbelievably only flight in 1947 was the Spruce Goose, aka Hercules.

 

Feel free to share your views about modern aviation.

[breeze]

I hate O'Hare.

[FlashTalk5]

You mean the airport, breeze? Why?

[CG in TX]

Hartsfield is just as bad. Every time I have flown into Hartsfield, my connecting flight has been at a gate at the absolute opposite end of that place.

[FlashTalk5]

For those of you who don't like United, call the ghost of George Gerswhin and he'll be happy to compose a dark, twisted version of Rhapsody in Blue. That piece of course is used frequently in the United Airlines commercials.

[Pam]

I hate Delta. They have the worst customer service ever.

[breeze]

You mean the airport, breeze? Why?

 

Only the pizza is good. But having to eat it for 2 days is not acceptable.

 

Back when I smoked, I had to go through 3 buildings and outside the secure area, to get to the smoking area. By the time I got back into the terminal, I wanted another cigarette.

 

I always have to change planes there because it's United's hub. My arrival gate is always on the opposite end of the terminal from the departing gate. My arriving plane of often late, then I end up running about a mile to get the the other gate in time to make the flight. Their seats are uncomfortable if you have to sleep there.

[FlashTalk5]

Trust me, breeze, I've seen movies which involved people having to sleep in the airport overnight, mainly due to snowstorms and blizzards.

 

By the way, Pam, what's so bad about Delta's customer service?

[MarvBear]

 

There were also planes that landed in water called amphibians (or flying boats.)

That's how my dates always came to see me. Was kinda hard to dodge the ice floes though.

[FlashTalk5]

Marvbear, when you mention ice floes, you must live somewhere up north, say Alaska.

[MarvBear]

Marvbear, when you mention ice floes, you must live somewhere up north, say Alaska.

I had a pen pal in Alaska though once.

[breeze]

Trust me, breeze, I've seen movies which involved people having to sleep in the airport overnight, mainly due to snowstorms and blizzards.

 

By the way, Pam, what's so bad about Delta's customer service?

 

 

I'm not Pam, but I have to agree with her. I was flying through Atlanta to San Antonio, Atlanta is one of their hubs. The flight was through, with a stopover, no changing planes. However, when I got to Atlanta and decided to stay on the plane, I was a bit confused to see everyone deplane. I asked the flight attendant, and was told the plane was going to through to some other city. I said why was I told it was going through to SA and no one had given me any new information? The flight attendant said, sorry, you better get your carry ons and get to terminal ### because that flight is leaving the gate. She called them and they had to hold the plane for me, while I ran to the other side of the terminal, out of breath and cussing a blue streak. Then when I got home, couldn't find the carousel with my luggage on it. Turns out luggage from that flight had been put on 3 different carousels (no reason) and then moved into the Delta office, which was locked up by then. It was almost 1AM - no employees in the entire arrival terminal. I had to come back the next day to get my luggage, and got no explanation and no apology. grrrrrrrrrr.

[FlashTalk5]

How disgraceful!

[Pam]

 

Trust me, breeze, I've seen movies which involved people having to sleep in the airport overnight, mainly due to snowstorms and blizzards.

 

By the way, Pam, what's so bad about Delta's customer service?

 

 

I'm not Pam, but I have to agree with her. I was flying through Atlanta to San Antonio, Atlanta is one of their hubs. The flight was through, with a stopover, no changing planes. However, when I got to Atlanta and decided to stay on the plane, I was a bit confused to see everyone deplane. I asked the flight attendant, and was told the plane was going to through to some other city. I said why was I told it was going through to SA and no one had given me any new information? The flight attendant said, sorry, you better get your carry ons and get to terminal ### because that flight is leaving the gate. She called them and they had to hold the plane for me, while I ran to the other side of the terminal, out of breath and cussing a blue streak. Then when I got home, couldn't find the carousel with my luggage on it. Turns out luggage from that flight had been put on 3 different carousels (no reason) and then moved into the Delta office, which was locked up by then. It was almost 1AM - no employees in the entire arrival terminal. I had to come back the next day to get my luggage, and got no explanation and no apology. grrrrrrrrrr.

 

 

Hmm. I have status with Delta. in addition to only ONCE qualifying for a complimentary upgrade despite flying 26,000 miles in three months, they:

1. stranded me in ATL overnight.

1a. while they sent my bag to Minneapolis.

1b. And told me that they were not going to do so.

1c. and when I found out that they actually did so despite repeated assurances of 1b, I had to ASK for an overnight toiletry kit. They never offered, even as they handed me my hotel voucher.

2. On a different flight, I paid a differential for a seat closer to the front, by the window. as I walked onto the jetway to board the plane, they handed me my new seat assignment - next to the last row, in the middle. When I complained, they basically told me to go pound sand.

3. every delta gate agent I've encountered has been rude and unhelpful, with the exception of one.

 

Oh, by the way? This was all during my status-match promotion. Meaning, this was during the time period that they were trying to convince me to change the airline I primarily fly with. Once I actually achieved status during the promotion, I couldn't wait to get back on a USAirways flight.

[breeze]

Ugh USAir was just as bad, IMO. Did they just merge with another company? I can't keep track of who bought whom.

 

The best for me, so far, has been United - but United from where I live means go through Dulles or O'Hare, and they are both horrible airports. Southwestern has just started operating here, so I'm flying on them in August, my next trip. We'll see. They allow 2 checked bags for free. Good starter.

[beli]

 

You mean the airport, breeze? Why?

 

Only the pizza is good. But having to eat it for 2 days is not acceptable.

 

Back when I smoked, I had to go through 3 buildings and outside the secure area, to get to the smoking area. By the time I got back into the terminal, I wanted another cigarette.

 

I always have to change planes there because it's United's hub. My arrival gate is always on the opposite end of the terminal from the departing gate. My arriving plane of often late, then I end up running about a mile to get the the other gate in time to make the flight. Their seats are uncomfortable if you have to sleep there.

I have one better.. Detroit.. I flew back from NY once to Milwaukee.. transfer was in Detroit. Well what was suppose to be a 45 minute layover ended up being 8hrs for a 45min plane trip, and they changed gates twice. I refuse to fly through Detroit, and of course back then we didn't have the fancy tablets/cells we had now. .

 

I always flew out of O'hare when I had flown because it was always cheaper usually then flying out of Milwaukee even when you count in the (back then)20 buck round trip bus ride down there.

[Pam]

Ugh USAir was just as bad, IMO. Did they just merge with another company? I can't keep track of who bought whom.

 

The best for me, so far, has been United - but United from where I live means go through Dulles or O'Hare, and they are both horrible airports. Southwestern has just started operating here, so I'm flying on them in August, my next trip. We'll see. They allow 2 checked bags for free. Good starter.

 

I've found USAir to be at their best when you're flying out of or into a hub. They just merged with American. I've really only had one experience with USAir where I was unhappy with their customer service. United is pretty good, but for me that means a layover somewhere, and USAir has the most non-stop flights to where I fly. Convenience is pretty much my number one requirement; since I fly for work, the least amount of time I can spend in airports, the better. It'd be different if I were flying for recreation.

[FlashTalk5]

My sister has taken a few flights. For one, she flew on Southwestern to Colorado and her plane, although it took a few hours, flew non-stop. The only thing that wasn't quite perfect were the different nuts and chips they served on board. Arriving at the gates, the staff was very nice to her, especially at the metal detection.

 

Recently, she flew United to Freeport, Lousiana and was also non-stop, but it took like 45 minutes.

 

So far, my sister hasn't had any problems with the airline industry.

[breeze]

Last time I flew on United they were still flying the big planes. That was nice. American has gone to the smaller jets, and that's like a horse and buggy as far as comfort. Hard seats and bouncy airplane.

[FlashTalk5]

I have yet to fly in an airliner. However, as of late, since that Houston airport incident, there had been a lot of police cars at airports.

[CG in TX]

 

Ugh USAir was just as bad, IMO. Did they just merge with another company? I can't keep track of who bought whom.

 

The best for me, so far, has been United - but United from where I live means go through Dulles or O'Hare, and they are both horrible airports. Southwestern has just started operating here, so I'm flying on them in August, my next trip. We'll see. They allow 2 checked bags for free. Good starter.

 

I've found USAir to be at their best when you're flying out of or into a hub. They just merged with American. I've really only had one experience with USAir where I was unhappy with their customer service. United is pretty good, but for me that means a layover somewhere, and USAir has the most non-stop flights to where I fly. Convenience is pretty much my number one requirement; since I fly for work, the least amount of time I can spend in airports, the better. It'd be different if I were flying for recreation.

Hopefully, the merger with American will improve American, and not drag US Air into American's significant problems. I fly out of Dallas on business regularly, and since my employer has some incredibly large number of AA miles, it's always on American. The last time I had a round trip on American with no problems was probably in 2007.

[Polaroy2]

My SO works for USAIR as a supervisor. Its fascinating to me to hear her stories and airline customers stories.

Edited May 16, 2013 by Polaroy2