http://www.flyertalk.com/forum en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:31:27 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.flyertalk.com/forum http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1019122-woman-has-panic-attack-gate-gets-moved-into-exit-row.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:56:57 GMT I was flying UA DEN-PHX yesterday and was seated in 8E (the "window" of the two seat exit row at the front of the 757). At the gate in Denver a woman had a pretty serious panic/anxiety attack. Complete with sobbing, hand wringing, wailing, breaking out into sweat etc. The gate agents calmed her down and she went over and over again how she was claustrophobic and hated flying. Their solution? Move her from 24C into 8D next to me.

Once on the plane she was brought water and wet towels during taxi and seemed to calm down. Now, obvious issues with the "free upgrade" from E- to E+ aside, does it make sense to move someone who has issues flying into an exit row?

Once we landed in PHX I asked the FA this and she said "due to issues with the ALCU we are only allowed to ask if people are ready, willing and able to help. We can't move them because we think they shouldn't be there". She then thanked me for being cognizant (her word) of the situation and wished me a good day. ]]> TravelBuzz! CMK10 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1019122-woman-has-panic-attack-gate-gets-moved-into-exit-row.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018974-hnl-dca-flight.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:09:57 GMT I'm trying to book a morning flight back to DCA from HNL but can't seem to find anything earlier than 5:00p on outbound flights. Is this really my only option? ]]> TravelBuzz! BOS TO DCA http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018974-hnl-dca-flight.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018770-if-you-do-not-tip-you-just-might-get-arrested-handcuffed.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:25:36 GMT http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Time-In-Prison--70426052.html?yhp=1 I still cant Believe it! ( I asked a Mod to please put the word Dont before the word TIP, I cant Edit the title) http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/...052.html?yhp=1

I still cant Believe it!

( I asked a Mod to please put the word Dont before the word TIP, I cant Edit the title) ]]> TravelBuzz! craz http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018770-if-you-do-not-tip-you-just-might-get-arrested-handcuffed.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018768-flying-thanksgiving-day.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:17:14 GMT Is this a good day to fly in terms of airport crowds? I'm assuming the Wednesday before is one of the most hectic days in airports across the country and by Thursday most people are where they're supposed to be. ]]> TravelBuzz! degas http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018768-flying-thanksgiving-day.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018752-where-send-parents-weekend.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:26:33 GMT I want to send the parents away for a weekend in April/May from Chicago. Flight can't be expensive. Any ideas? I was looking into BOS and SJU as options. Any other places? ]]> TravelBuzz! jason8612 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018752-where-send-parents-weekend.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018731-us-airlines-playing-sex-card-still-exists.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:04:36 GMT I wanna first preface this comment by saying that this is merely a question, I am not trying to elicit any sort of fight, flame war or anything. I do not wish to enter into any argument regarding age, attractiveness or anything similar to that. This... I wanna first preface this comment by saying that this is merely a question, I am not trying to elicit any sort of fight, flame war or anything. I do not wish to enter into any argument regarding age, attractiveness or anything similar to that. This is merely an observation from someone that flies twice a week. My intention is not to offend anyone. If you think you will be offended by reading this, I hope at this point you stop reading this. I am simply asking a question about a trend in the industry and not trying to enter into an argument about sexism, chauvinism or anything of that nature. As you can see, I'm making a very sincere effort to not offend anyone, and am providing plenty of opportunity for you not to be offended. I will word this as tactfully as possible and am simply posing a question about an industry trend.

--------------------------

That being said.

After watching Catch Me If you Can and speaking with friends from Asian countries, I started to wonder when airlines stopped having a preference for younger flight attendants.

On Singapore Airlines and even Air China, a lot of the flight attendants are young 20 something women and are pretty attractive. I'm not sure about this and I have no idea, but its almost as if someone measured the flight attendants on that standard. My friends that fly Sing Air frequently tell me that they always have attractive flight attendants.

My friend from Korea said that in Korea, being a flight attendant is almost like an objective standard of beauty and my friend from Dragon Air agrees with that statement from a Taiwan perspective.

I feel that US Airlines (UAL, CO, DL, AA, US, NW) typically have flight attendants that are a little older. (with some exceptions) In Catch Me If You can, (I know its a hollywood movie) - the Pan Am flight attendants all were really young. From what my dad tells me in the 70's and 80's there were also younger flight attendants with almost a standard of beauty. A few of my consulting partners that have been traveling for more than 30 years also agree with that sentiment, but I'm only close to a handful of partners that can recall the late 70's and 80's in terms of frequent travel so I wanted to ask flyer talk - the source of frequent travel.

When did that trend end? I feel that Southwest has more of a younger flight crew and they even make jokes.

Thoughts? ]]> TravelBuzz! doclkk http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018731-us-airlines-playing-sex-card-still-exists.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018657-itinerary-atl-bom-will-work-me.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:14:57 GMT Hi I will be flying next week to BOM from ATL and somehow I managed to have two bookings with me of which one of them I will have to cancel eventually....I am leaving on the 26th and have to reach BOM by 28th morning at all costs as I have to... Hi

I will be flying next week to BOM from ATL and somehow I managed to have two bookings with me of which one of them I will have to cancel eventually....I am leaving on the 26th and have to reach BOM by 28th morning at all costs as I have to attend a wedding. I know its a long shot to answer but I would like to ask you all frequent fliers out there.....which of these two itineraries would give me a better chance or better odds to make it in time?

CO: ATL - EWR - BOM (reaches nov 27: 9.50 pm) (7 hrs layover in EWR)
DL/AF : ATL - CDG - BOM (4 hrs layover in CDG) (reaches nov 28: 12.05 am)

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks ]]> TravelBuzz! gradybush http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018657-itinerary-atl-bom-will-work-me.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018621-faa-computer-glitch-causing-widespread-flight-delays.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:46:00 GMT USA Today (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2009/11/faa-computer-glitch-causing-widespread-flight-delays/1). JFK running @ 40 - 50% efficiency. USA Today. JFK running @ 40 - 50% efficiency. ]]> TravelBuzz! Italy98 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018621-faa-computer-glitch-causing-widespread-flight-delays.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018609-passport-expiry-date.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:23:15 GMT I should be flying to Algeria next week, but I may have to postpone my trip. The problem is that the new date is exactly 6 months before my passport expires, which is what is required to enter the country. I've got the visa -I stated next week's entry date when applying for it-, but I wonder what will happen when the immigration officer realises that.

Should I stick to the original date, in order to avoid any problems? Let's face it, Algeria is not the visitor-friendliest of countries...

Has anyone experienced something like this?

Thanks. ]]> TravelBuzz! josmon10 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018609-passport-expiry-date.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018540-hotels-ovens-thankgiving-turkey-dilemma.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:03:26 GMT We are in charge of Thanksgiving turkey and the meal has been unexpectedly moved several hours away from our home. To keep things less stressful, we thought we would drive up the night before and find an extended stay/suite type hotel with an... We are in charge of Thanksgiving turkey and the meal has been unexpectedly moved several hours away from our home.

To keep things less stressful, we thought we would drive up the night before and find an extended stay/suite type hotel with an oven and cook our turkey there.

It seems like most of these type hotels have stovetops but no oven. Does anyone have any specific hotel chain suggestions?

The best I've been able to find so far appears to be at the Residence Inn and at the hotel we are looking at (Rogers, Arkansas), it looks like you have to book a 2 bedroom suite to get an oven. Our last stay there was a one bedroom queen suite and it did not have one.

Thanks! ]]> TravelBuzz! Nymph http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018540-hotels-ovens-thankgiving-turkey-dilemma.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018517-romatics-ideas-while-traveling-hotels.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:37:51 GMT Soon my wife and I will be in Key West (Waldor Astoria) on a 'random' trip....a trip that is sandwiched between two other 'real' trips (seminar / kids)

I was looking for romantic ideas while we are there and/or hotel.

I thought of the champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.

Any other ideas?

Since we travel a lot I was looking for general romantics ideas that can be done while traveling anywhere.

Thanks for the suggestions. ]]> TravelBuzz! AAaLot http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018517-romatics-ideas-while-traveling-hotels.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018479-best-flight-experiences-invited-cockpit-smoke-cigarette.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:11:31 GMT This was around 2000. Was on a Garuda Indonesia flight from Narita to Denpasar during the Japan 'Golden Week' Holiday. Totally full flight because of the holiday period and there were not any smoking seats available in J.

Anyway hit the lounge in the morning and had a few drinks. Couple more on the plane. Passed out on the plane and woke up a few hours later. Asked the flight attendant if i could smoke somewhere and she said 'Sorry Sir, all the smoking seats are taken'. I said OK. 5 Minutes later she comes back and says the Pilot said I could go into the Cockpit and smoke there. I asked her to repeat herself. She then gives me a plastic cup with water in it for a ashtray and opens the cockpit door. I sit down on the small seat and start chatting with the pilots. They are smoking, drinking coffee and asking me all kinds of questions about where i am staying and how do i like Indonesia, etc.

1 hour before landing 3 guys stand up and take off their jackets. They are Indonesian Immigration. They start checking passports and giving stamps to people. So you basically clear immigration on the plane. After landing you just pick up your bag without any immigration.

What is your most unique flight experience ]]> TravelBuzz! mike_asia http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018479-best-flight-experiences-invited-cockpit-smoke-cigarette.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018373-anyone-use-compass.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:37:09 GMT In an unfamiliar city, I depend on the position of the sun to determine the relative direction where I need to head on a map.

But when it's overcast or after sunset, this doesn't work.

Looked at some cheap compasses on Amazon but saw some Casio watches with digital compass integrated.

Anyone use anything like this? ]]> TravelBuzz! wco81 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018373-anyone-use-compass.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018272-any-strange-diversions-alternates-aa.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:48:45 GMT Fortunately I just missed this mess on AA32 (LAX-JFK): http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL32/history/20091113/2134Z/KLAX/KSYR Weather was a minor factor (delays in the nyc area which had the flight in a holding pattern which no doubt led... Fortunately I just missed this mess on AA32 (LAX-JFK):

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/A...134Z/KLAX/KSYR


Weather was a minor factor (delays in the nyc area which had the flight in a holding pattern which no doubt led to fuel issues) and it makes you wonder what went into the decision process as to why SYR (afaik "only"an AE city) was selected by the pilot. Have any of you had experience with being diverted to unusual alternates on AA? You'd think in this case the pilot would have selected an AA mainline city. Perhaps even fuel costs enter in, i.e. AA ops is aware of fuel costs at various airports and this could result in thousands of dollars in savings if one airport is selected over another. Reminds of the movie "Airplane" where Peter Graves is handing his credit card to the gas jockey through his cockpit window. ]]> TravelBuzz! metsfan1962 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018272-any-strange-diversions-alternates-aa.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018090-space-shuttle-launch.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:59:02 GMT Sorry for the OT post, but I just can't resist.

Yesterday, flying home (via EWR) from NAU on CO 698 I actually saw the space shuttle launch!

Pilot annouced before we left the gate that due to STS-129 launching at 2:28 Eastern, we would need to hang back at the gate and then take an inland route to EWR. He followed that by saying, "But the good news is, if this thing gets airborne, we will have one heck of a view."

Sure enough, the pilot was true to his word. Even dipped the wing so we could get a better view out the window! I can't believe I have scratched that one off the bucket list already!

Sorry, no pics. :( TV does not do it justice, though. That fireball is BRIGHT!

And in other news...miles have posted already for the outbound (which was on the 13th).^ ]]> TravelBuzz! bluenose77 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1018090-space-shuttle-launch.html