TRIP REPORTS: What’s Important to YOU?
 

My favorite section of FlyerTalk has been the Trip Reports. I read not so long ago a suggestion that we might consider standardizing the Trip Reports. Personally, I hope this doesn’t happen as I enjoy the uniqueness of everyone’s individual styles, from tfung’s thoroughness to Quiet Lion’s great storytelling abilities. In particular, I really enjoy reading about (In order of trip experience)

The Lounges - Descriptions of layout, food offered and other amenities/services
The Preflight Impressions - Cabin layout and décor descriptions, flight attendant impressions and pre-flight service descriptions
Seating Comfort impressions
The Meal – Menu transcripts! Menu transcripts! Menu transcripts! And, descriptions of how the meal was served, impressions on what was eaten, etc.
Inflight Entertainment Impressions Movies offered, headphone quality, etc.
Grades – On both various aspects of the service and an over all grade

I have no interest in:

* What time things happened – for example, what time the doors were shut, what time the plane took off or how long the take off roll was, what time the captain announced the final descent, etc.
* What runway was landed on or taken off from
* How many passengers were on board in either class
* What the cruising altitude was
* Extreme technical details such as flap settings, fuel consumption, etc.

I mention the above items that I have no interest in not to demean them but rather to highlight them. Although I have no interest in these things, some people definitely do. And of course, some of the things I’m interested in may be of no importance to others. I’m certainly not promoting the inclusion or deletion of anything here but rather, in the interest of perhaps improving my own reports, I am curious:

What aspects of Trip Reports are important to YOU? What isn’t? Why?

I'm not saying that I or anyone else will necessarily follow suggestions garnered here to the letter but if, for example, alot of people indicate a real interest in reading about airline lounges or descriptions of preflight service, I'll try to add a little more detail on those things to my reports.


[This message has been edited by Seat 2A (edited 01-31-2002).]

I too am against standardization especially as I think we all appreciate different things in trip reports.

I'm really not too interested in the flights unless something peculiar happened. I do really enjoy hearing about what people did at their destinations. As a leisure traveler I like getting ideas on what hotels to stay at, where to eat and what sites to see ... oh yes, and where to shop for bargains on locally produced goodies. I too really enjoy the ones by good storytellers such as Opus (sorry Opus now I can't think of what opus you are - how about X for now?) and PremEx.

I for one actually enjoy the technical details. As a pilot, I find them interesting. I know I'm in the minority here.
I skim trip reports and read what I'm interested in reading out of each one. One doesn't have to necessarily read one all the way through... they can pick out pieces that apply to them.

I don't even bother writing trip reports anymore. All of my flights are boring domestic legs and the occasional weekend mileage run to build my Northwest account. I know most people here are only interested in long haul First Class reports, so I don't even bother now.

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Jason Seiple
JAX

Seat 2A, sorry to bore you http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I think I'm the only one on FlyerTalk who actually posts tech details, and noting your list, looks like a direct pointer to my posts. Interesting to note fuel burn is an extreme technical detail =)

Because I write trip reports for a variety of forums, I have to take a one size fits all approach, and as a pilot myself, I find the technical details just as interesting. I don't think my trip reports are lacking in the service/inflight experience department, either.

In regards to the details which I find particularly interesting. I'm interested on meal services, amenities which airlines provide, seat comfort and service provided by staff (ground & aircrew). If you measure the pitch with a measuring tape, I'll be grateful. In short, I concur with you on the interesting factors on the inflight and ground experience. Aren't these what make a journey enjoyable & separate the airlines.

I'm not only interested in longhaul F class trip reports. Not all of us are blessed with First Class travel. Most people travel down the back :-(

So I'm happy to note that at least half of my reports are interesting.

Cheers,

Justin

Although we all love flying in International First Class, a significant number of us are busy flying domestic legs, either for work or for pleasure. Your domestic flight reports are relevant. I remember one you posted from JAX up through MSP and OMA and back through Florida with a WN leg. I really enjoyed your report!

Justin, I really enjoyed your recent report about MEL-AKL-CHC r/t on Air New Zealand. As for including technical details, Go For It! I'm the first to acknowledge that I'm not the only reader out here and that we have many different interests here. The fact that I have little interest in the technical details hardly invalidates them. We have alot of people at FT who are pilots or just appreciate that kind of detail. I certainly did not want to imply in any way that I am against the inclusion of this kind of detail. I just skip over what I'm not interested in anyway while others drool over it. One man's iron is another man's gold...

Finally, just so we understand where I'm coming from again, let me quote myself:

Trip Reports are also my favorite section of FlyerTalk. I read EVERY report posted. Be sure that if you take the time to share your travel with me, I will read it.

The bottom-line for me? DETAIL! How did you get to the airport? How did you get your ticket? Have a meal or drink at the airport? Was it in a lounge? What did the lounge look like? What was the selection of goodies? Aircraft flown? How were the FAs? Was the flight full? How were the seats?
If you would, tell me your general size, so I have a context for your thoughts on comfort, etc. (Nothing too detailed, but I am oversized baggage and feel a 31" pitch is criminal. A 31" pitch might be quite roomy for someone of a smaller stature). What was the menu? What sort of job did the FAs do? In on time? Wait for Luggage? Get cash at an ATM? Those sorts of things.

Regarding the more tech details? I rather like them. Some get too cryptic for me, but I really never paid much attention to those types of things on my own flights until I started reading the Trip Reports. I pay some attention now, and I enjoy that.

I completely agree with a previous post that I really enjoy - and benefit - from details regarding your stay between your flights. I enjoy reading about deluxe properties and meals, but I ALSO enjoy reading about the mom and pop joint and your night on your friends' sofa. These are details which I can use in my own travels (well, except for your friend's sofa). I know it is obvious, but let me say it straight out - in my opinion there are no airlines, hotels, meals or whatever which are too modest for a trip report.

I want to send a special plea out for trip reports on lesser known airlines. What is lesser known? If it doesn't fly into Minneapolis, it is lesser known! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gifIf you have flown on something like Royal Air Cambodge or Air Namibia, PLEASE write a report. To those FlyerTalkers outside the US and Canada, the airline you fly and which is boring you to death with the same old service is exactly what I want to hear about. I just do not get to fly those airlines. A domestic flight on LH? I want to hear about it. A commuter flight in Sweden? Do tell. A domestic flight in NZ or South Africa? Share it with us.

Finally, for those of you who recall a flight from an earlier "golden age", consider doing a Trip Report/general comments sort of thing. I have no idea what airline travel was like in the 60s and 70s, but it intrigues me. I may be quite alone on this, so who knows.

Thanks.

Shinkansen

I am generally more interested in what happens NOT on the flight itself (unless as anotehr poster mentioned there was some exception to a standard procedure) I don't memorize menus or the kind of wine that was served unless it was especially good or bad. Like a lot of others I am interested in where you stayed, what you did - highlights of the trip once you landed.
Unless you have pictures like tfung - I LOVE to look a t pictures of FT'ers in flight!

. . . that people share what they want to about their (heavenly and/or hellish) experiences, either while in transit or at their destination.

- Pat

Seat 2A,

I am supporting Shinkansen´s opinion: I like to hear things that are better or worse than standard, and things that are: unusual. A good trip in SQ First class is: usual. A local trip from Taiwan to Kaoshiung on FOSHING airways is: always more interesting!

I am at FT since 5 weeks only and I have also read every single trip report so far. I dont like TOO many details. I think one window screen (about 30 lines) should be good enough per segment.

I am not interested in:
-- names of FA´s
-- menu listings (food rating would be enough for me)
-- flap setting

I am interested in:
-- everything that is describing the atmosphere on board
-- stories about the people around you
-- things that are "non-standard"
-- details info on champaign and wine

Seat 2A, I dont know where this discussion will be leading to, but I am fully supporting your introductionary statement that the uniqueness of each report is what makes this forum so great and that a given structure would be decreasing the joy we have with this section of FT.
Everyone should post what she/he feels need to be posted.

I hear you, Uli
At the same time, I would say that from the perspective of the person doing the reporting, if you're an Economy Class Warrior who finally gets to enjoy via award travel or whatever a First Class seat with SQ, even a standard, good trip on SQ is going to seem pretty special! And if, in reporting the experience, that enthusiasm and excitement comes out, so much the better.

In this regard, I applaud tfung for his enthusiasm and excitement as well as his thoroughness. He almost always flies long international flights aboard the world's finest airlines and could easily be jaded by now but his reports still come across as fresh and interesting.

By the way, where is tfung...?

Dude, I want it all!!!

Give me all the details. Then we can disect what we like and chuck away what we don't like. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

I am so grateful for the trip reports, as well as the mileage runs, ok, they get me excited, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif, sorry to admit.

Don't hold back and tell all!

One of the things that I am majorly into now are the airline lounges, as they are a relevant part to me, especially BA's lounges/Terraces, they are cool.

I want to know about the meal, the # of pax on the plane, i.e. is it full?, as I am looking for flights that are going empty.
I am converting to the viewpoint of rather have 2/3 seats (depending on the aircraft, window-aisle)to myself than upfront, which almost always goes full. I did that Tuesday night coming back from NY. I said skip the upgrade(using AA stickers-electronic) and took the back of the bus, 2 seats... Business class with someone next to you can actually be cramped, though First can be doable... First is good in that it is creating, over time, a single seat/ area, I like that. Now they need to work on this in Business...

Anyway, you guys are doing great, I am appreciative, and when my Thursday night sitcoms http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif (hardcore Friends addict) are over, I may actually sit down and start a trip report. ciao

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MD
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
Hilton Gold
Sheraton Gold

Trip Reports has become one of my most favourite sections. I print out all reports and read them (mainly when travelling) and I appreciate all details (also the technical ones). I’m especially interested in load factors in order to get a better understanding of the inflight service (There’s a big difference with FAs coming 2 times on short flights if the load is high (= FAs did a great job) or the load is low (= FAs just did their job)).

I use these reports to prepare for my own flights.

BTW, I also like reports on short flights. It may be uninteresting for people flying e.g. with AF within France every week. But for those (at least for me) who rarely fly such routes it’s very interesting.

I like them all.

People's perspectives are different...just as are their written reports.

Photo's are nice....not important...but a nice touch.

Okay Trip reports are a section that I read most of time but not all of the time.
I have wrote a few reports and except for the first one I wrote almost two years ago do not write very much of the detail of the flights at all. My detail is sort of like the movie ala the Snatch. As we were talking the other day at a get together "...don't even know where to look for an airplane registration number"
I like the reports of interaction between individuals. QuietLion reports come to mine. I like the humorous reports. Opus17 roflmao!
I like the food reports and Carfield and Violist do it so well.
When I get on the plane I read and I look out the window. So the only time I really report anything from the flight (afterall I am not going to do a book report) is when I see something unique out the window.
And just like Letiole I am a leisure traveler so I like the reports of the unique places that travelers visit.
Now I do not respond to all the reports that I read and I am sure that everyone who reads TR's don't respond (I believe the lurker rate to poster rate as last reported by Randy is about 15 to 1 on FT.)
Finally I save to agree with the Carioca Canuck who states: "People's perspectives are different...just as are their written reports."
Now I wish I could write a report that was like all those I like but I can't so I won't and I will just write reports like I do.

[This message has been edited by magic111 (edited 02-04-2002).]

the following are my personal tastes in trip reports -- by no means to be taken as an statement about what makes an objectively good trip report (after all, i don't constitute the entire audience):

i really don't care about fa's, menus, how meals tasted, what book you were reading, and the personal details of your personal life. i don't care what joke your friend told you before takeoff, i don't care how the wine tasted, i don't care whether there were linens.

i care about 10% about the very basics of the flight (plane, seat, BRIEF description of flight and service, perhaps anything unusual that happened), and 90% about cool stuff at the destination that i couldn't get from a guidebook or hotel brochure. if you were walking around in some back alley and found some amazing hole-in-the-wall restaurant, or met an interesting person, or found a spectacular view, that's exactly what i want to read about. if there's this bathroom at some obscure smalltown airport that has a weird smell, that's exactly what i want to read about. if you stayed at a $2,000/night japanese mountain inn that i've never heard of, that's exactly what i want to read about.

if you are going to tell me that the westin has heavenly beds, and the breakfast at the waldorf was really good, and south beach has a lot of nightclubs, well, that doesn't provide any value-added for my trip report reading experience, because that's stuff i either know or could get from a guidebook or brochure.

one of my favorite things about trip reports is pictures of the destination. could do without pictures of meals, fa's, etc.

must say again: this is not meant as an insult to those who produce trip reports i find uninteresting. i'm sure others find your trip reports fascinating, and you should continue posting for them.