Letters to the Editor
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always love your columns, Patrick
I'm not reading through all the responses, but I do have to second an earlier comment about business class. The difference is unbelievable. I'm only 5'2 and flying for me is unpleasant but not physically miserable. A few years ago I had to change a flight and was kindly upgraded to business for very little money. On the leg from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, I was poured a drink before takeoff, and the middle aged French guy next to me, probably mistaking me for some sort of high roller, began chatting me up, plumbing the reasons behind my fascinating trip. Behind me I heard a man and a woman discussing job changes, moving to Florida and a divorce or two, and this was as we were going into the sky! You can imagine what happened next.
It's enough to make you wish you were rich. Oh well.
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Slippery seats
Jet Blue's slippery seats (advertized as "leather") made flying so painful that I switched to other airlines even before they raised their prices.
I'm 5'4" tall. Virtually all chairs in this world are sized for men and tall women, so I'm used to having my feet dangle like those of a little girl sitting in her granddaddy's big chair.
But if you make that chair slippery, and angle the forward edge down when someone's in it, my feet aren't dangling--they're desperately pressed against the seat in front of me, so I won't slide off my seat and wind up with my rump on the floor and my arms and legs pointing skyward.
Admittedly, that scene might raise some much-needed chuckles from my fellow passengers!
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Simple improvements!
1. Footrests do make flights more comfortable. However, if you want a footrest, you don't need the plane to install one for you (which would probably just remove more leg room for those who don't need a footrest):
Just put your small carry-on, purse, or laptop case under the seat in front of you and rest your feet on that.
2. A ring-type cup holder would be a great idea.
3. Hand out bottles of water --that would fit into the cup holder!---to everyone as they board.
4. A reading light that actually works and that actually points to my reading material would be wonderful! All too often the overhead lights (when they work!) point to some odd zone between the seats.
5. Clean the plane!!!! During the past 5 years, it seems like airlines have given up on cleaning, because most planes are disgustingly dirty. Even the seats even are often wet and sticky from (I hope not anything worse?) soda spills when you get on.
6. Power outlets at each seat!!!!!!!! I don't need a seatback video if I have power for my own computer or ipod. Because if you fly a lot you quickly get bored with the canned video and audio available on the plane--just let me bring my own entertainment and I'll be much happier!
7. Assign room in the overhead bins to each row of seats, and forbid anyone from using more than their fair share.
This would almost eliminate the rush crush of loading because it would guarantee each passenger their overhead bin even if they got on the plane last. Also, I would appreciate a place to safely put my purse, coat, laptop, or other fragile item right above my seat without having to worry that it will get smashed by the huge suitcase of some guy (sorry, it's always a guy) seated elsewhere on the plane who just *has* to take it all with him.
8. I love the idea of a shell seat that reclines without getting into the face of the person behind. And why not make the seat comfortable, too? More than a thin wafer of padding would be nice, and please stop making the seats in that weird C shape that gives everyone backaches.
I'm small, and I resent the large passengers who sit next to me and assume possession of the armrest and even stick their elbows over the armrest on my side, who sit with their knees splayed out so their legs go into my leg space, and who sometimes even ask me to give my aisle seat to them. Also, people behind me who demand that I not recline my seat while I'm sitting there with my neighbor-in-front's reclining head in my lap are also pretty obnoxious.
I'm sorry but if your seat is too small for your body or to allow you to use your laptop, but I don't see why that gives you a right to some of my space!
A shell would ensure I get my own space without having to fight with my fellow flyers for it.
9. Why can't airline personnel be minimally polite??? I fly a great deal and the Northwest flight attendances are by far the worst. They are pissed off and brusque and they act like they hate you. Give your attitude a rest, eh? What would it cost you to act like a human being?
10. The seats that don't recline should be clearly marked as such when you reserve your seat. If the airlines want people to sit there, they should give them a $50 rebate.
Same for those seats with broken lights and headphone jacks---the airline should give you a rebate if it turns out the headphone, video or overhead light doesn't work.
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Passengers are taken as suckers...
... with only one right, which is to pay up.
I agree with the description of economy and the hell it is for any trip but the shortest one. But sometimes paying much more does not give you a much higher level of comfort. Recently I had the very unpleasant experience of flying United from IAD to LAX and back in first class. Cramped is the only way to describe it, to the point where it made one wonder why one had paid so much more and what abysmal conditions there must be in economy class. Not to mention that at LAX there was no lounge even for first class passengers (unless they were going to JFK!) as I was explained.
Will open skies increase the competition for quality?