I was just reading about Alec Baldwin getting booted off an American Airlines flight. While I was amused at his statement that retired Catholic School teachers become AA flight attendants (not stewardesses anymore), he is wrong. Plain and simple – wrong.
With more than two million air miles under my belt or my butt, I have seen a lot on planes that look like fun. Candidates for the Mile High Club were very evident on late night flights. Those were the days when you could get a blanket. With DVD players I have spied people watching porn as I was returning form the lavatory. They didn’t mind my over the shoulder approach to viewing for at least three minutes then the lady got testy so I made my way down the isle to my too small seat.
One of the things I liked to do was get a sandwich at Carnegie Deli and keep half for the flight the next day. When they brought out the trays I would bring out the sandwich. Inevitably I would get the question, “Where did you get that?” I told my seat mate that I requested the deli special when I got on board. Always good for a laugh! Now they don’t bring out the trays – so the joke died with inflight service.
I have seen people duck under their seat to make a cell call while taxiing. Their call is so much more important that our safety – just ask them. I am not sure that items with on-off buttons could cause a problem. I don’t know. I have seen some documentaries that demonstrate that they could interfere with communications and navigation equipment. So, I have to defer to the airlines – which all have the same rules throughout the world. Who am I to say that my call, my game is more important than the flying of more than 150 people on $35 million aircraft – I guess if you are Alec Baldwin and/ or a famous restaurant owner that I saw almost sitting on the floor making a call, you have a false sense of importance. Go ahead and arrest Baldwin, I don’t watch his show – he won’t be missed.
Most of the flight attendants are quite nice. Today, they are not the chic images that the Pan Am series promotes – actually, many are men. Can’t imagine men in those tight, blue uniforms and white gloves. I do recall PSA Airlines with the short shorts. That is while there was smile on the face of the planes and on the men that flew on them. In those days no-one would cross a flight attendant or argue with them or be rude. Well, almost no-one. I can’t recall anyone ever being disrespectful – even the drunks were cautious.
Those were days that the flight attendant said, “Eat something, you will feel better.” Today they say, “Buy something!” Recently, I had to fly home for six and a half hours with a bad headache. I didn’t have any medicine for the pain so I asked for aspirin. Don’t have I it on board. Tylenol – same answer and once again rebuffed when I asked for Advil. They can’t give it you anymore – you can’t even buy it on board.
Getting back to the seats. I agree with the airlines that when someone is big enough to sit in their seat and yours, too, is charged for two seats. I have had that experience and the flight attendant said, “Too bad!” Screaming kids, “Too bad.” Smelly lavatory, “Too bad.” So, while Baldwin was being a rude bore he was up against a trained cadre of flight attendants that have police power to eject you from the flight. But they can’t tell a parent to shut the kid up! (They didn’t from Philadelphia to Munich, they let the parent let the kid scream). What happened to the idea of safety and comfort? I am sure someone was close to opening the door at 35,000 feet and jumping out – me!
In the good old days before hi-jacks to Cuba, D.B Cooper and the 9/11 events, flying was fun. The lounges, the food, the stewardesses – all made the experience rewarding. Now the only reward posted is for the capture of the guy that didn’t turn off his cell phone. It is a Federal offence. Four ounces of shampoo, see in the pen!
That’s my take on it, you decide.
With more than two million air miles under my belt or my butt, I have seen a lot on planes that look like fun. Candidates for the Mile High Club were very evident on late night flights. Those were the days when you could get a blanket. With DVD players I have spied people watching porn as I was returning form the lavatory. They didn’t mind my over the shoulder approach to viewing for at least three minutes then the lady got testy so I made my way down the isle to my too small seat.
One of the things I liked to do was get a sandwich at Carnegie Deli and keep half for the flight the next day. When they brought out the trays I would bring out the sandwich. Inevitably I would get the question, “Where did you get that?” I told my seat mate that I requested the deli special when I got on board. Always good for a laugh! Now they don’t bring out the trays – so the joke died with inflight service.
I have seen people duck under their seat to make a cell call while taxiing. Their call is so much more important that our safety – just ask them. I am not sure that items with on-off buttons could cause a problem. I don’t know. I have seen some documentaries that demonstrate that they could interfere with communications and navigation equipment. So, I have to defer to the airlines – which all have the same rules throughout the world. Who am I to say that my call, my game is more important than the flying of more than 150 people on $35 million aircraft – I guess if you are Alec Baldwin and/ or a famous restaurant owner that I saw almost sitting on the floor making a call, you have a false sense of importance. Go ahead and arrest Baldwin, I don’t watch his show – he won’t be missed.
I do love watching the new series Pan Am. That is how flying was and maybe how it should be again. The acting is not exactly top quality and the story lines are pretty weak . I started flying as part of my way of doing business way back in the late 60’s. It was a class experience in both first and in the coach cabins. Now it is welcome to Greyhound in the sky.
Most of the flight attendants are quite nice. Today, they are not the chic images that the Pan Am series promotes – actually, many are men. Can’t imagine men in those tight, blue uniforms and white gloves. I do recall PSA Airlines with the short shorts. That is while there was smile on the face of the planes and on the men that flew on them. In those days no-one would cross a flight attendant or argue with them or be rude. Well, almost no-one. I can’t recall anyone ever being disrespectful – even the drunks were cautious.
Those were days that the flight attendant said, “Eat something, you will feel better.” Today they say, “Buy something!” Recently, I had to fly home for six and a half hours with a bad headache. I didn’t have any medicine for the pain so I asked for aspirin. Don’t have I it on board. Tylenol – same answer and once again rebuffed when I asked for Advil. They can’t give it you anymore – you can’t even buy it on board.
Airlines say, “We know why you fly.” I fly because it is too far to walk! Or “Fly the friendly skies.” I am not sure where the friends are if they can’t feed you, offer you drinks or give you an aspirin.
Getting back to the seats. I agree with the airlines that when someone is big enough to sit in their seat and yours, too, is charged for two seats. I have had that experience and the flight attendant said, “Too bad!” Screaming kids, “Too bad.” Smelly lavatory, “Too bad.” So, while Baldwin was being a rude bore he was up against a trained cadre of flight attendants that have police power to eject you from the flight. But they can’t tell a parent to shut the kid up! (They didn’t from Philadelphia to Munich, they let the parent let the kid scream). What happened to the idea of safety and comfort? I am sure someone was close to opening the door at 35,000 feet and jumping out – me!In the good old days before hi-jacks to Cuba, D.B Cooper and the 9/11 events, flying was fun. The lounges, the food, the stewardesses – all made the experience rewarding. Now the only reward posted is for the capture of the guy that didn’t turn off his cell phone. It is a Federal offence. Four ounces of shampoo, see in the pen!
That’s my take on it, you decide.
