Travel by air??

ART6 · 04-10-2008 06:53PM #1

It's a long time since I had a good rant on AH, but tomorrow I have to fly to Geneva, having had to fly somewhere nearly every week for the last six months, and I'm sick of it. I'm sick of the mindless security at airports (Oh I know, it's for my SAFETY). I'm sick of having to take off my shoes and walk on dirty carpets that thousands of other people from all over the world have walked on barefoot (where's the Health & Safety Gestapo when we need them?). I'm sick of being told to check in at least two hours before a one hour flight (No, I bloody well don't). I'm sick of booking a flight only to find that the "Airport taxes and charges" are double the cost of my flight. I'm sick of standing for ages in queues at check in desks because it takes a large part of human history to check in anyone who has a bag weighing more than an ounce, and there is always some dipstick who hasn't got the right ticket or wants to have a conversation with the agent. I'm sick of airports that don't seem to know which departure gate my flight leaves from until ten minutes from boarding, when the gate is ten miles away. And I'm very sick of watching baggage handlers (or destroyers) throwing my bag onto a trolley or into the aircraft from a distance of twenty feet, in the (I assume) hope that it will burst open and display my possessions to the world.:mad:

I am becoming a staunch supporter of Michael O'Leary. He seems to think that most airports are crap, and I couldn't agree more. I put this in AH mods, because it's a rant, not a comment on transport

Xavi6 · 04-10-2008 06:58PM

Then get the boat tbh.

I'm sick of having to take off my shoes and walk on dirty carpets that thousands of other people from all over the world have walked on barefoot (where's the Health & Safety Gestapo when we need them?).

Wear socks

I'm sick of being told to check in at least two hours before a one hour flight (No, I bloody well don't).

Check in a few hours before and this won't happen -

I'm sick of standing for ages in queues at check in desks because it takes a large part of human history to check in anyone who has a bag weighing more than an ounce, and there is always some dipstick who hasn't got the right ticket or wants to have a conversation with the agent.

I'm sick of booking a flight only to find that the "Airport taxes and charges" are double the cost of my flight.

But sure you know about them in advance. It's not like they're sprung on you.

Macha · 04-10-2008 06:58PM

Wait til the fuel surcharges come in - then it'll be every man, woman and child for themselves on Brittas Beach every summer..

And just to make you feel even better, the liquid explosives thing isn't even chemically possible!

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/17/flying_toilet_terror_labs/

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 04-10-2008 07:11PM

You can get around most of those objections if you're just well prepared. In fairness, though, I know where you're coming from. I HATE airports with a passion (mainly because of the hanging-around time)

humbert · 04-10-2008 07:18PM

I agree completely. I'll take my chances with the terorists/hijackers if you let me turn up half an hour before my flight. Seriously, it was never that common. It's like making somebody walk with a red flag in front of moter cars to prevent accidents. The end doesn't justify the means!

ART6 · 04-10-2008 07:23PM

Xavi6 wrote: »

But sure you know about them in advance. It's not like they're sprung on you.

Since I travel by air a lot, yes, I do know about them in advance. And I still think it's a rip off that the airport charges are more than the fare.

Macha · 04-10-2008 07:27PM

When you say charges do you mean baggage, seat allocation, etc? Or airport tax?

4zn76tysfajdxp · 04-10-2008 07:32PM

ART6 wrote: »

It's a long time since I had a good rant on AH, but tomorrow I have to fly to Geneva, having had to fly somewhere nearly every week for the last six months, and I'm sick of it. I'm sick of the mindless security at airports (Oh I know, it's for my SAFETY). I'm sick of having to take off my shoes and walk on dirty carpets that thousands of other people from all over the world have walked on barefoot (where's the Health & Safety Gestapo when we need them?). I'm sick of being told to check in at least two hours before a one hour flight (No, I bloody well don't). I'm sick of booking a flight only to find that the "Airport taxes and charges" are double the cost of my flight. I'm sick of standing for ages in queues at check in desks because it takes a large part of human history to check in anyone who has a bag weighing more than an ounce, and there is always some dipstick who hasn't got the right ticket or wants to have a conversation with the agent. I'm sick of airports that don't seem to know which departure gate my flight leaves from until ten minutes from boarding, when the gate is ten miles away. And I'm very sick of watching baggage handlers (or destroyers) throwing my bag onto a trolley or into the aircraft from a distance of twenty feet, in the (I assume) hope that it will burst open and display my possessions to the world.:mad:

I am becoming a staunch supporter of Michael O'Leary. He seems to think that most airports are crap, and I couldn't agree more. I put this in AH mods, because it's a rant, not a comment on transport

I think somebody's a terrorist...

Gran Hermano · 04-10-2008 07:45PM

Noah Big Mathematician wrote: »

I think somebody's a terrorist...

Or a trolley-dolly

truecrippler · 04-10-2008 08:01PM

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Or a trolley-dolly

Or a Lil' Miss Huffy-Pants.

robinph · 04-10-2008 08:04PM

Watch out for Geneva airport on the return, they have only on monitor displaying the departure gates once your past the passport control into the duty free and shopping area, but you still have to get through the "security" after that which is actually at the gates, but they won't tell you what gate until the flight is nearly due to leave.

Trampas · 04-10-2008 08:25PM

One thing annoys me about air travel is the price of food and drink when you get into the airport.

So you can't bring your liquid through cause is it could be liquid explosives but it can't be done as poster said above. Ok if they don't want that. Then you go through security to find out a 500ml bottle of coke (think that was the price I was last in Dublin airport in July).

All this smells of airports making more money out of people.

Not if you have much choice if you need a drink since you can't bring your own.

You can't bring a knife in your bag but you can still buy razor blades when you get through security. Get Gillette and you get 15 blades in a 3 pack :rolleyes:

Couple of packets of them not make a knife?

Don't get me started on people with kids and they think they have a god given right to get on the plane first.

mp3guy · 04-10-2008 08:35PM

Trampas wrote: »

Don't get me started on people with kids and they think they have a god given right to do anything they want.

Fixed.

But yeah, become a pilot, they don't go through security or check-in. As far as I know

ejmaztec · 04-10-2008 09:07PM

Just wear a pilot's uniform with a Whinger Airlines motif and they'll let you straight on.

growler · 04-10-2008 09:26PM

ART6 wrote: »

Since I travel by air a lot, yes, I do know about them in advance. And I still think it's a rip off that the airport charges are more than the fare.

if you wait until the last minute to book your flight you'll manage to get an expensive fare which will almost certainly be more than the taxes and charges combined, problem solved.

fitzgese · 04-10-2008 10:03PM

Pilots still have to go through airport security.

towel401 · 04-10-2008 11:00PM

+1 for taking the boat

everything about air travel is a huge rush - pack as many people as possible into a pressurised can as fast as possible. even people going on private jets have to go through all the security. generally the bigger the airport the more of a pain in the arse it is.

gatwick is just about the worst, with the separate shoe-scanner and then they hunt you into this big circular thing with expensive shops everywhere. I think they do all they can to make sure everybody buys at least one thing in those shops

m@cc@ · 04-10-2008 11:06PM

ART6 wrote: »

I'm sick of having to take off my shoes and walk on dirty carpets

I don't recall any airport I've been in having carpets.

ejmaztec · 04-10-2008 11:37PM

fitzgese wrote: »

Pilots still have to go through airport security.

First

04-10-2008 11:52PM

I love Boards sometimes, defo not for the ****** mods but certainly the good oul Joes

emeraldstar · 05-10-2008 03:22AM

heh?

ART6 · 05-10-2008 07:04AM

truecrippler wrote: »

Or a Lil' Miss Huffy-Pants.

Pardon? I am a six foot two, fourteen stone man, boyo:)

Trampas wrote: »

You can't bring a knife in your bag but you can still buy razor blades when you get through security. Get Gillette and you get 15 blades in a 3 pack :rolleyes:

Couple of packets of them not make a knife?

.

At Gatwick airport they take cigarette lighters off everyone so that they then have to queue at WH Smiths in the departure louge to buy new ones.
Then, two cases I've seen recently: A little old grey haired lady getting a pair of nail clippers confiscated -- I never realised that old ladies with nail clippers regularly hijack aircraft. And a guy in front of me with a nice bottle of Highland malt whiskey in it's shop wrapper -- confiscated. Might blow up the aircraft with it.

fitzgese wrote: »

Pilots still have to go through airport security.

Indeed they do. I wonder if it's ever occurred to the mindless officials who dream these things up that if the flight crew want to hijack the aircraft, who's going to stop them?

electric69 · 05-10-2008 08:11AM

ART6 wrote: »

Indeed they do. I wonder if it's ever occurred to the mindless officials who dream these things up that if the flight crew want to hijack the aircraft, who's going to stop them?

Nobody...we have locks on doors! Bet you didnt there is also a pickaxe in the cockpit! be afraid...be very afraid!!

What going to stop a bus driver from driving a packed bus with 50 people off a cliff?

pickarooney · 05-10-2008 09:09AM

Keanu Reeves?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 05-10-2008 09:26AM

I saw some officals once taking knitting needles from an elderly traveller. Apparentl they worried that she'd knit and Afghan.

kelle · 05-10-2008 10:27AM

Trampas wrote: »

Don't get me started on people with kids and they think they have a god given right to get on the plane first.

When we fly with our 3 small children, we always wait until the plane is fully boarded before we go on.

OP, I know how you feel, but it is harder when you have to keep small children entertained during the long wait. I found it luxury when I travelled alone to Aberdeen recently and just looked on the waiting as my "me" time!
However, you do it week after week so it's a different matter.

snorlax · 05-10-2008 10:55AM

Pickarooney whats the story with that sig?

Anyhow I think one of the worst airports has to be heathrow, Its no fun having to walk miles between terminals (even if you do get the bus) and then having really rude ticket agents. ALso that WH smith place is a rip off. I do however like the prices in dixons compare to the irish store.

nlgbbbblth · 05-10-2008 01:50PM

Anyone know how many potential terrorists have been caught in Dublin airport this year due to their stringent security measures?

If the answer is 'zero' then a lot of people have been inconvenienced for nothing.

Mimikyu · 05-10-2008 02:06PM

This post has been deleted.

towel401 · 05-10-2008 03:47PM

Solitaryman666 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

maybe in case they decide smuggle a few drugs on the side. i wouldn't blame them. pilots don't get paid much due to the huge supply of people who "just want to fly" and are willing to do the job for nothing.

but it probably has more to do with giving the public an illusion of 'fairness'.

faceman · 05-10-2008 03:49PM

Dear AH,

Im so cool I travel by airplane all the time. Therefore I going to massage my ego by ranting about it.

Yours etc,
ART6

Travel by air??

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