Yeah, no “wow” there. We The Public acquiesced to whatever we had to endure to get a ticket to Miami for $89.99 instead of $200 (ok, #notallpassengers but enough to outvote those of us willing to pay what it was worth).
Now in 2024 there are no more $89.99 tickets or even $200 tickets, but we surrendered 20 years ago. Whining about it is all we have left.
Another Uber driver comes close to being murdered by a moron with a gun.
Me too LurkMeister. I surrendered. I’m 6’2" and 63 years old. Just flew back and forth from Pittsburgh on United First Class. It’s not real fancy first class, but only 4 rows across on a 737 instead of 6. And of course the needed leg room. And the meals where surprisingly good. They have some good chefs that know how to pre-prepare a very good meal.
Yeah, it’s expensive. But I’ve come to consider it part of the vacation. Relax, have a few drinks and a good meal. Economy is no vacation at ALL.
I’m only 5’6" but at nearly 72 my knees, which have been giving me intermittent problems since I was in my 20’s, have decided that they are no longer interested in cooperating when I try to stand up or sit down. There’s no room between “standard” airplane rows to allow me to use a cane, or even stand completely upright.
When I was booking my upcoming trip to Iceland/Glasgow I looked at the cost options for the 8+ hour flight and decided to go with the second-from-the-top airfare. plenty of room, a choice of meal, and two free checked bags.
Yeah, I always book aisle seats. But for some reason, today, my boarding pass gave me a window seat. Whatever, lets do it. It was first class, but at 6’2" a real bitch getting in/out. My size 13 feet also get in the way.
A little derail here/. When I flew to Pittsburgh 3 days ago, I did self check in at the AP. The boarding pass it printed out for me was for Orlando FL. Ummm… Help! /LDR
No, I’m suggesting that non-amenity seating on airlines is what it is, and passengers should not expect to pay the prices for those seats but still get extra legroom (the lowest level of upgrade that goes by various names such as Coach Plus, which are exactly the same seats just with a few inches more legroom). In other words, if non-amenity seating is not adequate for a potential flyer, that flyer has two choices: don’t fly, or pay for amenities. You and I are not running airlines, we are only customers. We do not have the ability to make the economics of cheap comfort work to keep airlines in business.
The comments on Jalopnik’s site are always good. Like:
We can play Right Wing Media Bingo with this guy:
Child rape
Fentanyl
Trafficking
Military get out of jail free card
Entitled white man persecution complex
Parental Rights
BINGO!!!
One reader critiqued Florida Man’s inability to wear a polo shirt… it’s in his mug shot, too:
The disgusting part of that article (I read a few after I saw he “was released”) is that the local sheriff has to editorialize about how it’s understandable:
“I think it’s a case of being an overprotective parent to some extent,” Sheriff Johnson said. “Obviously you’re talking about a young girl being out at late at night. If it’s my daughter, I’d be worried as well…”
The “overprotective parent” had the driver out of the car, lying on the pavement with an AR-15" (?) pointed at him. With an unhinged nutjob screaming at him.
I just hope DeSantis doesn’t give him a medal…
You can just point at me as an example.
I’m fine with the cheap seats on a plane. I bring a sleep mask and earplugs, a neck pillow, and a backpack that easily fits under the seat in front of me and works as kind of a footrest. It doesn’t make my seat pleasant but makes it tolerable, and I generally sleep for most of the flight anyway. I save quite a bit flying this way and I’m perfectly fine with it.
If I wasn’t, I would buy a more expensive seat, and if I can’t afford that I won’t fly.
What I won’t do is demand better accommodations without paying for them.
You seriously think a private business needs to cater to your personal comfort out of the goodness of their heart without expecting compensation?
Wow.
I always preferred window seats, because I like being able to check out the view. Since almost all of my flights are short enough that I don’t need to use the restroom mid-flight, the only time I need to leave my seat is when I’m leaving the plane.
Yup, I like looking out the window, too (I like “collecting diamonds” on takeoff and landing, seeing how many baseball fields I can spot).
But the fact that some of us like aisle seats and some like windows is a Good Thing, because it means that usually, most of us can get what we like.
Since I usually sleep on flights I like to be able to lean against the fuselage, that’s why I prefer window seats.
Now that you mention it, that’s another reason I started getting a window seat.
I understand the appeal of a window seat. I’m in GIS. I make maps. It’s interesting to look out and see the layout - That’s a Section line, that’s a quarter section. They are defined by roads in say Kansas or Nebraska.
When you have long legs and big feet, you will not get a stretch under the seat in front of you. No room, not long enough. If you are in the aisle you can stretch them a little bit for a second or two if on the aisle. Or easily stand up for a minute.
When I sit down in economy, I have an inch between my knees and the seat back in front of me. That in itself makes it difficult to attempt to bend my knee. My shin hits before my feet can get under the chair in front. Not that it really matters when you have size 13 feet.
I sure as shit don’t have any answers. I guess the airlines do though. “If they want it and can afford it, they will pay dearly for it. If they can’t, they will suffer”. I think there should be some middle ground here.
I take 2-day train trips, and the aisle seat is not at all fun for just that reason. Though, the extra money for a roomette is almost worth it if solely for the shower. Well, and the coffee. But 3 meals a day is too much for me.
When I fly, I assume at the start that the experience is going to suck. I’m never disappointed. I’d happily opt for a worse but cheaper experience. Cut my fare in half and I’ll stand. No seat, no seatbelt, not pretzels, stand the entire trip.
In that situation all I’d be able to think about is all the previous passengers who leaned there previously. Eeeeewww.
For my wife and I we try to find a two seat row so we can get a window/aisle and have no one with us the whole flight. It really makes a difference on long flights.
Airlines have tried the middle ground. It doesn’t sell well.
Midwest Airlines had nothing but wide comfy leather seats, window or aisle only, decent food, and hot chocolate chip cookies baked on board. “The best care in the air” was their slogan.
Everybody loved to rave about their experience flying on Midwest, but they lost money and got taken over.
“I want to go spend $2000 in Cancun, but I only want to spend $80 to get there”
I don’t understand people.