Aeroflot Russian Airlines:
You don't realize how good you've got it on US airlines until you fly on a Tupolev 134.
Posted on 11/29/2006 5:30:40 AM PST by shrinkermd
With airlines squeezing more seats onto planes and flights more crowded than ever, some nasty battles are brewing, pitting passengers who recline their seats against the squished travelers sitting behind them...
Most U.S. airlines still allow seats to tip as far back as four or five inches....But now Southwest Airlines is doing something to reduce the threat of bruised knees and spilled drinks. The carrier is reducing the maximum recline in many of its seats so that customers can use laptop computers, for example, when the person in front of them wants to lean back.
...The airline decided to standardize recline at three inches, adjusting seats as planes go in for major maintenance work. s.
While Southwest offers 32 inches of space for each seat row on its Boeing 737s, many competitors have seats with less room -- 31-inch rows for the most part, with some as tight as 30 inches. Yet most other airlines also allow at least four inches of recline in seats...
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Aeroflot Russian Airlines:
You don't realize how good you've got it on US airlines until you fly on a Tupolev 134.
had "sky caps" who met you and carried YOUR LUGGAGE and out of the airport'; had Stewardess' who were well groomed friendly AND helpful; rarely had more than one stop to reach our destination; not to mention luxurious and roomy seating?
Now we're lucky if the slob in the seat next to you has bathed in the past week, wears clothes usually found in dumpsters and if they are within 100 lbs of their "desired" weight, use 1/3 of your seat as well.
They come on the plane carrying crates of what appears to be pigs and chickens that they attempt to cram in the overhead, smashing your belongings to a pulp.
I used to prefer a window seat but no longer can I tolerate being crammed in by these slobs so I sit on the aisle, however that is not without it's hazzards - crates of pigs and chickens hitting you in the head, some child who is left defensless by his or her parents, whacks you with his backpack.
I have even had a "flight attendant" sit a toddler next to me and ask me to "help him with his meal (back in the days when there was one) because his mommy is 6 rows ahead with a baby." I responded, "No thanks but I'll gladly give the you my seat so you can feed the child yourself."
The slightly bigger Embraers aren't all that bad. THe little Saabs sucks though.
"For me, the biggest one is that flying is just such an unpleasant experience."
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I agree. I don't drive, so I don't have too many options to air travel, other than Greyhound or Amtrak, and the service is so bad on both, at least where I live, that neither is much of an option. If I wasn't such a lousy driver, I would drive most places. Flying used to be enjoyable -- it isn't anymore. Between high airfares, ridiculous airport security, cramped seats, no meaningful food or beverages, idiots who try to cram baby grand pianos into the overhead compartments, etc etc. -- I'm a wreck till I get to my destination.
All true, but those were in the days of $780 round-trip per person flights from Cleveland to Atlanta.
To a point, I'll take the lower fares and sacrifice SOME of the luxury.
To a point, I'll take the lower fares and sacrifice SOME of the luxury.
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Me too. What really galds me is when the major carriers, such as Useless Air charge a fortune, but the service/accommodations are lousy. Fer cryin' out loud, I would pay $400 plus round trip to/from Vegas on Useless Air, but the plane is still cramped, we still get the bag of 2 pretzels (when the airline feels like giving them out), and the flight crew/reservationists are some of the most miserable I've ever experienced. As to the latter, I guess I would be miserable too if I was being royally screwed by my employer on a regular basis, but that's no excuse to take out the frustrations on the passengers.
I don't dress up or dress only for comfort; I dress for safety. Fire is always an issue in aircraft. In ROTC I rode with the Guard in Hueys for weekend drill. The Guardsman wore nomex (a fire resistent material) the the k-dets wore cotton fatigues with the collars buttoned up, sleeves down and pants tucked. When I fly now I wear cotton or wool, no synthetics (like napalm it sticks to things) and leather shoes. A fancy synthetic shirt, coat or shoe will catch fire fast, burn hot and stick to you like the burning plastic that it real is.
I fly a lot. I abide by these two rules: The space under your seat belongs to the passenger behind you. The space in front of you is fully yours, up to the farthest point back that the passenger in front of you can recline their seat.
You can use it while they don't recline, but it's theirs if they choose to use it. It has sometimes limited the angle on my laptop but that's what you get if you don't opt for first class.
>>Americans need space. Take out some of the seats and charge more for the ones with extra room.<<
They do. They call it first class.
I think passengers should be charged by the pound.
I'm so glad I'm not forced to get on one of those sardine deathtraps. Last time I flew I was packed in next to some guy and he was basically sitting on my lap. And I'm supposed to pay $500 for that? No thanks.
Flying used to be classy. Flying used to be expensive.
Now everybody can afford it. If someone wants the class of bygone days, they can pay the bygone prices and ride first class.
Sorry, my wife also remembers the old days, she was raised in an airline family and still works in the industry. She remembers having to wear white gloves when they travelled.
She and I see it the same way now: Airplanes are the Grayhound busses of the 20th century.
Really? lol
>>I was asked by a woman once to not recline my seat. I politely informed her that she would have to pay me $25 -cash- (the cost of an upgrade) and I would gladly oblige. <<
Precicely. The recline space is YOURS. I can't imagine asking someone not to recline unless I was willing to pay them.
Remember the original 747's showed the upper deck as a first class "Piano Bar".
Economics killed that.
They have seats.
>>I guess I'm just cheap, but I don't think I'd want to spend 20 bucks more for a plane flight just to have an extra 2 inches of leg room.<<
You just nailed the problem here. The industry is mind-bogglingly competitive. People choose flights on single digit dollar differences in price. Sure, a couple of people are willing to pay extra for the room, but it would kill profitability, which is already razor thin.
I refuse to sit in a middle seat, when flying with my husband. As a matter of fact, I refuse to sit next to my husband, at all, because his shoulders are too broad for the seats, and if you get between two men with broad shoulders, you have to put your seat back to get enough room.
My comment seemed terse. Sorry. I was just kidding you. :)
New Zealand Business Class is still the best thing going..
I fly it as often as I can from my little island.
I don't even know which airlines offer better or poorer service. When I fly, I always search for the fastest, hopefully nonstop, routes. I love flying but I hate wondering if a flight delay will mean I miss the connector, and dashing around airports to find the connecting flight, praying my luggage gets transferred correctly. I can put up with the tight seating arrangements and laid-back seats on flights across America. (It's the screaming babies that drive me nuts.) Crossing an ocean, I'd be more choosy.
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