It’s just not what it used to be!
It doesn’t help that I have turned into a cranky old lady. There is no escaping that fact.
On the flight from Denver to Washington, Dulles I found myself annoyed with the fact that the over head light above MY seat barely gave off a glow while the two lights for the folks next to me in my row shone brightly.
My feet ALWAYS freeze on a flight, so I wore my Alaska socks ((I was coming home from Colorado where it snowed a couple of days ago!)) and my Ugg boots because my feet ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS freeze on a plane, especially if I have a window seat.
It was so roasting hot that I had to put the window shade down to keep the sun off of me, cooking me to a crisp.
Boots off.
Socks off.
Long Sleeves on my shirt pushed up.
The window was half way between me and the gal behind me……and not only did she repetitively kick my seat the entire flight….I mean, the ENTIRE FLIGHT ((Yes, a grown woman!))….but as soon as I would put the window shade down, she would raise it up again so the light would blind me while I was trying to catch a few zzzz’s.
NOT COOL! She had a perfectly good working over-head light – what did she need her half of the window open for?!
Did I mention that she kept kicking my seat?
AND….the kicker….
There was a guy CLEAR ACROSS THE AISLE…with his ear buds in his ears, listening to his iPod…and it was so LOUD I could hear it clearly way over on my side. Remember --- I am in the window seat...so there are two other seats plus an aisle in between us. OY!
Is he DEAF?! He must be by now.
Let’s just say that he and I do not agree on our taste in music…..I hope he asks Santa for a new pair of NOISE CANCELLING headphones for Christmas. I’ve decided those are not just for those wearing the head phones, but so those around them don’t have to be inflicted with stinking awful ear-bleeding “music” the entire length of a long flight!
No, this is what airline travel is like today:
So here I am at Washington Dulles. On a 3 hour Layover.
I’m in a quiet corner. I’m gathering my composure.
I will head over for ice cream in a bit, because I KNOW where Ben & Jerry's is in this joint ---
And in a couple hours I’ll be back home, in my own bed, ,where no one is kicking my chair, raising my window shade, blasting noise or even looking at me strange.
Yep – the travel life certainly is glamorous, isn't it?
42 comments:
There is nothing glamorous about being a road warrior. The only good about it is getting enough frequent flyer points to get bumped into first class. I did it for over 5 years and I don't miss it a single bit.
Bummer. I think you should have raised your naked feet up in the air and stretched out a bit!
The worst thing about flying is all of the luggage in the overhead compartments. If the plane goes down, I think we'll all die from the flying luggage!!
Hope you get home quickly and can sleep in tomorrow!
Someone needs to get home and crawl in her own bed. Sleep tight!
As my hubster says, "Everyone thinks the universe evolves around them." I would have let the lady have an earful. Then of course be very embarrassed but I refuse to have someone's rudeness make my blood pressure skyrocket. I hope you have a peaceful night in your home sweet home!
Oh Bonnie I feel your pain! Never fails whenever I fly SOMEONE is kicking my seat! I've decided from now on I'm turning around and saying LOUDLY: PLEASE STOP!!!
Hope your next trip is better. :(
Love the "used to be" picture. They actually had leg room, rather than the "cattle car" of today's flying. Yep, did the road warrior thing for 15 years. I love retirement!
I hate the kickers. A few weeks ago I traveled with a kicker behind me. My husband told me she had so much stuff at her feet that she had her feet on top of the junk and she was also very large so there was no relief for her. After her kicking for half a 5 hour flight she kicker 4 times in what seemed like 5 minutes and i lost it and bounced back after the last kick. She wailed and I felt guilty, but after the next 15 minutes of constantly getting kicked because her legs hurt, i just figured she would never figure it out. DH said I should put the seat back. I am short and very rarely put the seat back if the seat behind me is occupied so it never occurred to me.
I agree with Ann I would have had to say something, or maybe offered to switch seats with her, hahaha paybacks are hell.
At work last week this guy was standing at the bank of elevators with the earbuds blasting, yeah he will be deaf soon, but the priceless part was the elevator "dinged" opened and he totally missed it as he had his back to it and could not hear the ding. It was hard to not bust out laughing.
I have not flown in years but have a trip planned next year here's hoping it is event free.
I have some great ear buds that fit in the ear and make the best earplugs. I always use them to cancel the noise. People are so rude
Seriously, if you move in your seat your going to bump another seat. These things happen, life is too short.
what a horrible flight! enjoy the ben and jerrys it always makes everything better!
"Courtesy" is no longer flying along with its passengers -- enjoy your bed #!{
So sorry, Bonnie - it seems like this more the norm these days and it definitely SUCKS!
Doesn't sound like much fun at all! And, you are so far from a crabby old lady, that comment was just not fitting at all :-) I hope the B&J helped and that your final flight home is much better!
Sorry you had to suffer. Let this be a reminder to us that we need to be aware of what effect our actions have on other people. Home at last!
Hubby and I came home to Utah last Monday from Portland, Oregon... as we started to head towards the runway... pilot couldn't get the 2nd engine to start! 1 hour later after the mechanics got the paperwork to actually touch the plane (yes, I said touch) they found the problem and got it fixed... then it took just as long to get permission to proceed to the runway (now that we were out of order...). Most everyone that had connecting flights missed them or just barely were able to make them. Hopefully their luggage caught up with them too! It's nice to have the ability to get to someone quickly... but while in Oregon we rode Amtrak back and forth between Portland and Eugene and then back. That was a great way to travel! Takes a bit longer... but it sure was comfy! When you have some time... try it!
I would rather drive eight hours than fly three. Flying is no fun!
A few years ago I was in a window seat from Atlanta to Salt Lake City. My husband was next to me and a very large man beside him. I had to sit sideways with my arm in the window the whole trip. Also, the little boy in the seat in front of me kept passing stinky gas. I know it was him because his sister kept getting on him about it. Debbie in WV
Amen, Connie ... after flying for business for years (amazing that some people think you ENJOY business travel ... they must equate it to a vacation) ... I much prefer driving, even if it is longer. Actually, unless you're flying cross country you can probably make it in the same amount of time as flying when you take into consideration the security wait, delays, actual flight, waiting for luggage, car rentals and other obstacles. Since I've retired I haven't thought about flying and would either drive or take a train (if that were another option).
Sounds like a looong day. Glad it is almost over. Sleep well.
i can think of only 1....maybe....joys of flying.....not my first choice for travel at all...at least in a covered wagon you might have more leg room...
dear bonnie, dear bonnie, i am so sorry your flight was a miserable one. i would not have been as composed im afraid as you were. rude people really get my panties in a knot. homeward boumd and soon you can snuggle in your bed and share your adventure with DH. sleep well, and we'll catch you on a better day.
Sara
A little ice cream can go a long way :). I hope the rest of your trip is uneventful and you were able to get into a happy Hexie place:)
it doesn't sound like I am missing anything by rarely flying - I'll take our small RV over planes any day :) Stop and stretch whenever we want to, go to the bathroom, cook, did I say stretch :)
Oh the benefits of flying standby and being bumped to business class...I am so sorry you had such a miserable flight across the country, but you handled it like the lady your momma taught you to be. Why didn't they teach us how to be assertive, not aggressive, but to stand up for ourselves? Hope the Ben and Jerry's helped and you enjoy your own peaceful bed!
Bonnie, you sacrifice so much to bring all of us such joy. Someday maybe a lighter travel schedule is in store? I have never had the pleasure of taking a class from you, but I'd love to do it someday...and I would be willing to come to you in order to do it. I bet there are many others who would too. Hopefully you can spend some good home time soon and nurture yourself.
Bonnie, I'm so sorry to hear of your unpleasant experience with your return flight home. I have not flown since 2001 and am planning to go to Houston. I'm not looking forward to the flight. Hope it turns out better than your experience.. I'd much rather drive too. Hmmm wonder if they have a train from here to Houston in 1 day??
Oh, that sounds awful. No fun at all......Hope you enjoyed your ice cream tho. I'd rather drive any day. This weekend I drove over 300 miles in Massachusetts on a Shop Hop. Beautiful miles here in New England...Here's hoping your next trip is much better, Hugs.
WOW, you did have the flight from Hades! Hoping by the time you reached your own home, sleepiness took over and you have had a wonderful snuggly night's rest.
HUGS and smiles
JulieinTN
Yep, we travel like cattle these days! I don't fly often but my brother does for business all the time and he doesn't have much good to say about it either! Eyeshade and noise canceling headphones may be your next purchases ???
So sorry that your flight was so uncomfortable, Bonnie. I don't fly too often but am always uncomfortable on the flight. If only I could afford First Class! Many thanks, Bonnie, for putting up with the discomfort and the headaches of flying in order to bring your talents to all of us in the hinterlands--we really appreciate having the chance to quilt with you.
Just curious if you think that the lady being "very large" made it worst than if she had been small? Small people experience discomfort as well. And not to mention that some people actually suffer from "restless leg syndrom" - a very real affliction.
Something to think about! Having classes near you and others travel to you! You would have to do all the organizing, but none of the traveling...
Ditto, 45th Parallel!
You sure had a rough flight! I've never heard you so disgruntled before. You are right though.......traveling by air just isn't what it used to be. I'm so glad you are willing to put up with the discomforts so that you can visit so many of us who enjoy you so much. I'm not so patiently waiting for you to be in Michigan. If I remember right you are coming to Lansing which is only about an hour from where I live. Lord willing, I'll be there to see you in person! Better travels in the future!!!
Oh, Bonnie, I have empathy for you. I traveled extensively in my job and some flights were absolutely horrible. Too many people forget their manners and that others are extremely tight in a close environment. After a few years, I got bold and and made polite requests to the offenders and they usually tried to comply. It took a lot of energy and nerve (for me) (at first) to protest to other's behaviors, but it was necessary for my peace of mind. Remember what they tell you about oxygen masks - save yourself first.
I know exactly how you feel. I travel for business from time to time but I am always hot, so it is not because of the flight but just because that is the age I am... LOL I do hate that some people believe they are the only people in the world ., How did we come to this? What ever happened to treat others as you want to be treated? Please help me to keep my composure on my flight out to NC this sunday! I will be in your neck of the woods ... or close anyway, in Raleigh...
I feel your pain...hope the next 100 flights or so provide you with better light, less kickers and better music too!
For us Down Under going anywhere is a long, long flight - 26 hours to the UK. 8 hours to Asia. And all the planes are packed solid with humanity. So many times I've had a kicker behind me ALL the way; or a broken seat in front, so its lying down on my knees. It is sheer, utterly unexpected luxury to have a vacant seat next to you. And internal flights get cancelled if they aren't full so you get herded onto the next flight whenever. Not good.
Welcome to my world! At least you and I share the same views of passengers who think it is all about them! There is no respect in the world, especially the travelling world. If there were anything else I could do in the world that pays the same as my job, and has the flexibility that it does, and let me be in solitude.....I would so be doing it. I don't know when or where things went wrong with people and their respect of others in confined spaces, but, I sure do wish there were something to turn it back around!
I don't fly often, but EVERY TIME I have flown, I've gotten very ill upon arriving home - yes EVERY TIME! I have not been ill at home for 15-20 years, only after I've flown somewhere. What does that tell us????
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