It Will Cost You To Fly

Welcome Aboard

The following video is worth sharing and perhaps has some value-added humor for the air traveler at heart.




We all know to well what air travel entails, especially the price you pay for a ticket.

The USA Today reported on Nov. 10 that even though fuel surcharges have faded the fare you pay on a ticket hasn't changed.

Hell, we all paid the price at the pump.

But as the barrel of oil significantly declined in recent weeks wouldn't it be feasible to conclude that the airlines would drop their fees?

At the request of USA Today, FareCompare, a dot com company, did an analysis and revealed that airlines folded surcharges into the airfare.

"Travelers are paying the same as before the change," according to USA Today.

The overall reason for the surcharge was to offset the losses airlines experienced from high fuel costs.

As the video pokes fun at the fees airlines charge travelers beyond the price they pay for a ticket, it implies truth behind fees in general.

To be in business means to be in it for a profit.

Understandably, when profits aren't flying in, companies need to adjust their bottom line.

Consequently, however, the excuse to keep the fares where they are remains a matter of recooping all previous losses.

So, now where do we from here?

The article can be accessed through the link below:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-11-10-fuel-surcharge-airfares_N.htm

Thanks For Flying ;)

Where You Sit Could Save Your Life

Welcome Aboard

There are those that consider flying to be the safest form of travel and there are those who have there superstitions.

So, does it matter where you sit on the aircraft in the event that the aircraft were to crash?

Though it may seem a little morbid to think in terms of an aircraft even taking a nose-dive, there are those people who consider their options of surviving an incident of such magnitude.

Since 1971, there has been 20 US airline accidents documented by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with both fatalities and survivors.

Popular Mechanics investigated these crashes and took an in depth look into the past 36 years of airline seating charts.

They've concluded that the aft portion of the aircraft is the safest area to survive a crash.

The following chart provided the finding from their studies showing that it is 69 percent more likely that survival is greater in the back of the bus.

In 11 of the 20 crashes investigated PM found that rear passengers clearly fared better; passengers sitting nearer to the tail of the aircraft were 40 percent more likely to survive a crash than those in the first few rows up front.

Only five accidents favored those sitting forward.

Three were tossups, with no particular pattern of survival.

In one case, seat positions could not be determined.

But their findings came with great skepticism and expert opinion deemed the study indifferent on where you sit.

Boeing stated that "one seat is as safe as the other."

A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson commented that "there's just no way to say."

And the website airsafe.com implied that "there is no safest seat."

As superstition will have it, however, it is really up to the individual flyer to decide what are the options.

For more on the article access the page through the link attached on Popular Mechanics.

Thanks For Flying

Space Invaders On Board

Feeling a little cramped in coach can feel more like a busy New York subway at rush hour at the end of a hectic day.

The last thing you want is to be bumped and poked within your personal space.

But New York subway travelers are used to this.

Air travelers, on-the-other-hand, take personal space seriously.

If they're not claiming the overhead bins as their very own closet, they're fighting over whose elbow has first divs for the armrest; especially if you are lucky enough to sit in a middle seat.

Planes have been diverted because passengers didn't see eye-to-eye.

Usually, the understanding of personal space falls within the realm of personality clashes.

There are some people who just don't mingle well in public places; flying is one of them.

Personal space on an aircraft, however, is more about finding your comfort zone knowing that perhaps a long flight is ahead of you.

In my position, I get to know everybody boarding the aircraft just by a simple greeting. I do this all within my personal space-Galley 1.

If it's not the passengers invading my space, it's ground crew or even the pilots who infringe upon my ability to move around. And I know all-to-well what it means to feel backed into a corner with nowhere to move.

Learning how to share in cramped places like a plane takes a little getting use to, but a smile goes a long way in conveying your willingness to cope.

How The Other Half Flies

Welcome Aboard

The idea of flying first-class comes with a pretty hefty price tag in upwards of $4000-$12,000.

Despite low-cost carriers, there are those that wage no bones about spending the extra buck for the luxury of first-class pampering.

But what's the point?

Some will say it's just a waste of money that can be spent in a more resposible way.

Agree or disagree?

But really, what do you get for spending the big bucks?

The following information was provided by Via, a AAA Traveler's Companion, comparing airlines and the perks they provide:

Goodie Bags

• American — Origins Lip Remedy, cooling gel, and (on request) Blade Runner shaving cream.
• United — Aerosense mouth wash, lip balm, and moisturizer, all created for the airline.
• Delta — Lip balm and lotion from L’Occitane.
• Continental — Rembrandt toothpaste and toothbrush; blue cotton socks.
• Virgin — Virgin Vie eye gel, essential oil body gel, pen, paper, and mints.
• Singapore — Hermès lotion and Neutrogena lip moisturizer; aromatherapy oils and mist.

To Help You Sleep

• American — A privacy divider and a fully reclining seat.
• United — Full-size pillows, a privacy divider, and a fully reclining seat.
• Delta — An eye shade with a terry liner, and comfy, ergonomically designed seats.
• Continental — Full-size pillows, electronic lumbar support, and an adjustable footrest.
• Virgin — Fully reclining seats, eye shades, cotton pajamas, and soft, cozy socks.
• Singapore — Seats turn into beds with fresh linens and duvet. Plus: Givenchy pajamas.

Dinner

• American — Filet mignon pot roast, paella, or lamb chops in rosemary sauce.
• United — Golden sesame chicken napped in citrus sauce with fried rice and peppers.
• Delta — Five-course meal with entrée choices ranging from beef tenderloin to vegetarian pasta.
• Continental — Grilled veal chop with porcini mushroom sauce and roasted vegetables in wine sauce.
• Virgin — Menu allows you to select from 23 items, from a light salmon salad to a Philly cheese steak.
• Singapore — Lobster thermidor, steak, lamb noisettes, or a barramundi fillet baked in a banana leaf.

Dessert

• American — Vanilla flan with white chocolate mousse or coconut manjar with chocolate sauce.
• United — Ice cream sundaes with hot fudge, walnuts, and whipped cream. Dieting? Fresh fruit.
• Delta — Old-fashioned ice cream sundaes with the works.
• Continental — Hot fudge sundaes, apple cobbler, and cognac.
• Virgin — Sweet nibbles, including miniature raspberry cheesecakes and meringue tortes.
• Singapore — Healthy sweets, such as sliced fresh fruit, or berry sorbet with a fruit compote.

Free Booze

• American — 1996 Bordeaux and Pommery Cuvée Madame Louise 1988 champagne.
• United — Dom Pérignon and Chivas Brothers Royal Salute scotch.
• Delta — A selection of wines from around the world.
• Continental — Grand Marnier and Harvey’s Bristol Cream
• Virgin — Order some Virgin vodka or Rémy Martin cognac at the stand-up bar.
• Singapore — Champagne from Dom Pérignon and Krug.

Entertainment

• American — Personal TV screen with a DVD player.
• United — Personal TV screen with programs from NBC, Disney, and ESPN. Plus your choice of films.
• Delta — Personal TV screen, films, and video games, ranging from blackjack to Tetris.
• Continental — Personal screen for viewing The Simpsons, first-run movies, or classics like Rebel Without a Cause.
• Virgin — Watch new films (or favorite oldies) on your personal screen. Or you can play Nintendo.
• Singapore — Personal 14-in. screen; interactive information on your destination.

Seat Size (pitch is distance from seat back to back of seat behind)

• American — Pitch: 89 in. Width: 21 in. (30.5 in. on international flights) Recline: all the way.
• United — Pitch: 78 in. Width: 21.5 in. Recline: all the way.
• Delta — Pitch: 60 in. Width: 21 in. Recline: 17 in.
• Continental — Pitch: 55 in. Width: 20-21 in. Recline: 15 in.
• Virgin — Pitch: 55–60 in. Width: 22.5 in. Recline: converts into a bed.
• Singapore — Pitch: 78 in. Width: 23 in. Recline: converts to a 76-in. bed with an inflatable air mattress.

Luxurious Amenities

• American — Bose noise-cancelling headsets.
• United — The seat can inflate and deflate every two minutes, giving you a massage.
• Delta — A self-service snack station with cheeses, fruits, and nuts.
• Continental — Complimentary limousine service upon arrival; open snack bar.
• Virgin — In-flight massages and manicures; free limo service.
• Singapore — Sip your Dom Pérignon from crystal glasses.

If you ask me, you can spend much less on any of the perks yourself and still have the "luxury" of living like the other half.

Bring a freind along or a few on the trip and make it a party in coach.

Thanks For Flying :)

Young Mother Terrified Over Roach

Welcome Aboard

It's not the first time that a roach was spotted on the plane.

In fact, if you look hard enough you can find them on every flight.

They usually come out in the evening when the cabin lights are turned down.

Well, a mother and her infant child were seated in the front row on one of my flights when a roach scurried across the bulkhead panel.

She was quite taken by the fact that "a roach" would even be on an aircraft.

She was even more taken by my response, "it's only a roach."

Roaches have been around for millions of years and they'll be around for millions more.

It is said that they can live through a nuclear blast.

I believe it.

Her concern , however, was for her child because she was afraid that the roach would come near her son.

I would be concerned too, but I assured her that the roach would run away first.

Roaches are nocturnal creatures and run away from the light.

To assure her of her son's safety, I squashed the bug and that was the end of it.

Thanks For Flying :)

Ears Are Ringing

Welcome Aboard

Imagine that you're on vacation.

A vacation away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday routine.

You just boarded your flight, took your seat, and rested your head back on the headrest.

The flight will last about six hours and all you want to do is take a nap.

Now, what if the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) approved the use of cell phones on planes, do you think you would get the needed rest?

You would be annoyed by the conversations going on around you and would lash out for some peace and quiet.

What can you do?

You can thank God that the bill was not passed and get some sleep now.

Anyway, the things that people do just for a little talk-time on their cell.

They need to keep in touch and won't last the flight unless they can talk.

Passengers go through cell phone withdrawal; it's like having a bad craving for a cigarette.

I can't tell you how many times a passenger has asked if their cell would work in the air.

It's a good thing they don't.

Can you image the use of cell phones on planes?

Give me some earplugs.

Anyway, a plane is no place for any sort of open air conversation. It's bad enough when passenger talk loudly to each other and others have to hear it.

There's something about the close proximity of sitting next to someone who just talks loudly; so, can you imagine sitting next to someone talking on their cell for the whole fight?

The only quiet place for a little peace may very well be in the bathroom.

Just remember to lock the door.

Thanks For Flying :)

Poodle Took To The Runway

Welcome Aboard

It's a bird!

It's a plane!

OK......It's a poodle!


There was a whole lot of commotion in Boston on Saturday, Oct. 25 after "Choochy," a beloved pet poodle, broke out of her cage.

The Boston Globe reported "the tiny white fugitive managed to elude nearly a dozen Massport employees and State Police, holding up runway traffic as she cavorted on the tarmac."

Apparently, the pooch escaped her kennel around 7:15 p.m. on Saturday and managed to elude capture for 17 hours according to the Boston Globe.

But put yourself in Choochy's place.

She was cramped up in her kennel from Detroit to Boston.

The flight is about two hours and she was probably feeling scared in the belly of the beast.

From the sound of it, she was carted in the belly of the aircraft.

So, do you get the picture?

Good for her for taking the moment to break away and stretch her legs.

She did, however, put on a good show and delayed eight flights that evening.

Some passengers aboard a US Airways found the fiasco amusing.

She was contained only because she was hungry and her weakness to feed the pain ended her freedom to run.

Thanks For Flying :)

Cell Phone Use Not A Danger?

Welcome Aboard

The idea that cell phones and wireless communication devices cause interference with aircraft systems may not be necessarily true.

Despite countless efforts made to ensure customers comply with FAA regulations to power off these devices, they merely just hide them away without turning them off.

Cell phones, especially, can be turned to silent and shoved into the seat back pocket.

Flight attendants, alike, can vouch that customers sneak the use of cell phones long after compliance checks are done.

A mere guess-timate to how many fliers have their phones on would be around 80 percent.

Look at it this way, there hasn't been a recent news story where a plane crashed because of cell phone signal interference.

Cell phones work only in "zones" or "cells" and when you move from cell-to-cell the signal is handed-off.

Based on the number of towers in any given area depends on your service plan and service plans don't include air travel.

A cell's signal moves over land serfaces only hence rendering a cell phone useless on a plane.

There are technologies, however, that when installed on a plane allow for the use of communication devices.

Rather, the idea to power the phone off would be more for the customers benefit to pay attention to safety information that could potentially save their lives.

Incendently, laptops, DVDs, and even I-pods serve as a distraction from what is more important......SAFETY.

Thanks For Flying :)

Computer Warned Of Potential Hazard

Welcome Aboard


A warning signal flashed on a screen.

In bold, orange letters a message alerted the pilot that the landing gear was not operating properly.

This happened before the aircraft left the ground.

Today's computer-integrated technology provided the information that was vital for the pilot to make the decisions for life or death situations.

Imagine, however, that before such technology was available what could of happened if the aircraft took off with faulty landing gear.


In 1995 the first aircraft was produced through computer-aided design and engineered by Boeing.

They debuted the twin-engine 777, the biggest two-engine jet ever to fly and the first aircraft produced through computer-aided design and engineering.

It was a wonderful achievement.

Such an incident happened just the other day and maintenance thought they had fixed the problem the first time around.

It was only until the big-bird left the gate that another warning message appeared and it was back to the gate for another look.

This time around, maintenance could not get the problem solved and the plane was grounded.

Despite the situation and the unhappy customers that didn't depart on time they were grateful for the attention given to safety.

It was hours later that another plane was provided for the flight and the customers were safely transported to their destination.

Come Fly Again :)

Largest Aircraft Engineered By Russia

Welcome Aboard

The An-225 Mriya , pictured on the left, is the world's largest and heaviest aircraft built by the Antonov Design Bureau, a Ukrainian-based avionics team.

The word Mriya is Ukrainian for "Dream" and there has been only two produced in the world.

Presently, only one aircraft is in operation, however, the second aircraft is being reconditioned and is scheduled for completion around late 2008.

The An-225 is an extension of Antonov's An-124 which, at the time, was the largest aircraft built. Both aircrafts, however, serve as commercial carriers to fly over-sized payload due to the unique size of their cargo deck.

Other aircraft that measure up, but don't take the cake are the Airbus A380 airliner, the Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter, and the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, all nearing the equivalent to the heavy airlifter An-225.

The following photographs show the aircrafts mentioned above respectively.




The An-225 was designed in the late 1980s for the Soviet space program to aid in the launch of the Buran spacecraft. The aircraft's equivalent is the Airbus Beluga and the the United States' Shuttle Carrier Aircraft


The photograph to the left is the An-225 transporting the Buran spacecraft. It was built to carry up to 250,000 kg (550,000 lb) internally or 200,000 kg (440,000 lb) on the upper fuselage where cargo on the upper fuselage can be, as-much-as, 70 m long.




The following two photographs show the Airbus Beluga and the United States' Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

The first photo shows the Airbus Beluga which resembles a fish or whale.The cargo, however, is only transported inside the belly of the aircraft.


The second photo shows the SCA with the Atlantis space shuttle on its upper fuselage returning to the Kennedy Space Center. The image looks very much like the An-225 and Buran spacecraft.

Though the An-225 was originally engineered in the late 1980s for the Soviet space program to carry the Buran its operation was short lived with the collapse of the program in 1990.

The aircraft was than stored for some 12 years and fully returned to service in 2001 for use in transporting food and supplies in the Iragi War.

Thanks For Flying :)

Cold-Weather Blues Send Snowbirds Packing

Welcome Aboard

It's that time of year again.

The leaves have started to change colors in the New England areas signaling the return of the autumn season, not to mention, a change in temperature that also marks the migration of "snowbirds" heading South.

By "snowbirds," I mean the seasoned travelers who return to the sunny shores of South Florida each autumn to escape the cold, harsh winter season.

Like all travelers, though, these ones stand out.

They stand out because they pretty much bring the kitchen sink with them and if they could, they would bring the refrigerator as well.

Anyway, as close to bringing the refrigerator as they'll get, they empty it into a suitcase and cart it with them.

They sure do.

And give or take emptying the linen closest of a few rolls of toilet paper, grooming products, and other essential needs to bring along on the trip.

It makes you wonder what planet they came from and if they truly ever traveled a day in their lives.

Funny thing is, they'll do the samething, but in reverse, once the weather turns up North.

Really...think about it....why all the extra packing when you can just buy it elsewhere?

Go figure.

The less there is to travel with the easier. It's just that much less hassle.

Thanks For Flying :)

Passenger, Pooch Removed From Plane

In an earlier blog, I spoke about air travel and bringing the pet along.

It happens to be the norm these days that passengers bring along the family pet to join in for some rest and relaxation. After-all, the beloved animal is part of the family.

I am amazed, however, at what extremes are taken just to bring them onto the plane.

A young lady and her dog were removed from their flight because the pet was just too large for the carrier that she transported her pet in.

Quite frankly, passengers are doing this more often than not.

One very profound reason is that if a passenger can have the pet in the cabin with them they find ways to make it work for them.

It doesn't necessarily mean that it works for the pet, however, who is being cooped up with no room to move around in the carrier.

This type of animal cruelty is in-humane.

Passenger need to take more responsibility for their actions and be more caring in situations of truly loving their pets.

Anyway, the young lady was adamant that she traveled before with her pet and that she was still going to take the flight.

Needless-to-say, a supervisor had to remove her from the aircraft and she had to find other travel accommodations.

Southwest Airline's Profits Head South

What goes up must eventually come down.

We've all been witness to the rise in the price of a barrel of oil.

It correlates all to well with filling up at the pump and dips severely into our earnings.

Well, airlines have it even worse and they have deeper pockets.

Southwest Airline has made some smart choices in the past and hedged their fuel prices before sky rocket oil prices could cripple their operation.

Those that didn't hedge had it far worse in a changing environment dependent on raw, crude oil.

Recently, however, Southwest has been plagued with the price of oil, but in the reverse direction; oil prices have fallen below their hedged dollar amount.

One thing was evident, consumers have benefited at the pump.

Southwest, on-the-other-hand, took a hard hit and for the first time in 17-years their profit-margin shrunk considerably.

Market predictability plays a key role in gauging a hedge fund's success.

Sometimes there are winners, but other times there are losers.

As the price of oil continues to drop, Southwest could possible see more profits fly out the window.

Top 10 Germ-Infested Places

I thought the perfect place imaginable to be the best for coming in contact with infectious bacteria would be an airplane, but I was wrong.

An airplane doesn't even rank in the Top 10 of the most germ-infested places in public.

According to the website, SixWise.com, the following places are among the Top 10:

1. Playgrounds
2. Bus rails/armrests
3. Public bathrooms
4. Shopping cart handles
5. Escalator handrails
6. Chair armrests
7. Vending machine buttons
8. Shared pens
9. Public telephones
10. Elevator buttons

Well, despite their findings, ranking an airplane as one germ-infested public place deserves some notoriety which entails at least three places above: playgrounds, bus rails/armrests, and public bathrooms.

Wow! Imagine all these places in one convenient location.

Now imagine being bombarded with millions-upon-millions of tiny little organisms.

SixWise, otherwise, offers some "epiphanies for your empowerment" that will perhaps broaden your thinking for living a longer, healthier life around or away from your home.

For the germaphobic-at-heart, consider bringing along a sanitation-wipe when traveling and give your seating area good cleaning.

Pay close attention, however, to the seat-back pocket where items such as chewing gum, baby diapers, band aides, and snotty tissues have been found.

Street Beggar Boards Plane

It's not unusual that customers would ask for snacks and beverages as they board an aircraft after, at the most, two to three hours sitting in a terminal.

What I find unusual, however, is that while sitting in the terminal, where food selection is sometimes better than what is offered on the plane, the average customer would rather starve or die of thirst until they board the aircraft.


I realize what is offered on board is free, but lets be for real.


First of all, what happened to eating a healthy meal before you travel?

Snacks just don't cut it and meals are not provided on domestic flights.

I think it has something to do with cutting cost.

Anyway, on a particular day in October, I had the pleasure of what I considered a "beggar" in my section. I real don't like to stereo-type, but I had no choice.

A lady claimed to be starving and wondered if I could provide her with some of our delicious cookies we serve. Her request, however, was declined and I offered to provide them only during the inflight service.

You might be saying, "How rude," but think about the dominoes affect that could follow; others would ask for the same treatment. I just decided to keep it all on the same page.

This sort of thing, however, happens all the time.

Well, at the start of serving snacks, the anticipation of serving this lady churned in my stomach. I had this gut feeling that she was going to throw a curve ball. She requested three packs of those cookies she asked for earlier.

Not a problem, but I still had others to serve and suggested she take one now. The cookies are in limited supply: so, until everyone has made their choice, she could have more.

Oh, I did offer her some of the other snacks that were available.......and she took them.

Here's the curve ball.......she started to hand me a purple shopping bag and asked if I would fill it up with the remaining snacks that were left over.

Can you imagine that.....what has this world turned into?

Parents Coached Daughter To Lie

So, how many parents teach their children to lie?

I know of at least two.

Working a flight the other day I overheard a man say, "Remember, you're not 13, you're 15."

This instinctively triggered my radar to focus on the conversation.

There was a family of three seated in the exit row...Mother, Father, and daughter.

I allowed the conversation to go on for a couple of minutes before I interjected.

Passengers in an exit row must qualify under specific criteria to occupy a seat here.

If they don't meet one of them, they can not sit here.

Generally, they must be willing and able to assist the crew in the event of an emergency.

Other specific guidelines include understanding the English language and meeting the age requirement of 15-years and older.

Well, I approached the girl in the exit row and went for the jugular vein.

I immediately asked her for the month, day, and year she was born.

Her response was delayed and provided me with a good enough indication that she did not meet at least one of the exit row criterias.

A 15-year-old, I hope, knows when they were born and don't have to think about it.

The fact that I caught the girl on a lie was more of an embarrassment to the parents who were coaching her to lie.

Shame on them!

Shame on them for putting their 13 year old daughter in a situation that could of ended in an emergency where passengers depended on her to save their lives.

What if she didn't have an understanding of what it was to take on such a responsibility.

I made my discontent known and surely the parents were not happy they had to relocate to another section of seats.