What irritates you most while flying?

[redrat]

Thanks Redrat.

Is this the best you could come up with?

See you at MENSA

NC

Uh, yeah. Whatever. :roll:

 

[shillard]

I think you're holding back, nutcase.

What do you really think?

 

[pomjim]

Personally, I tend to agree with nutcase!

 

[thadocta]

Personally, I tend to agree with nutcase!

Personally, I think you are a nutcase as well.

Dave

 

[thadocta]

Re: Things that annoy me about travel

1) Looking at the bottom of the posts on this forum and seeing all the FF memberships that youve got. You sad sad people.

WHat do you see at the bottom of my posts?

2) The fact that most of you either dont pay for the airline travel (company expense) or worse, buy a heavily discounted airfare and expect to be treated like royalty

Now, all of my travel comes out of my own pocket. There are only three flights per annum from SYD-MEL and return which are funded elsewhere, I doubt that those flights are what is keeping me at Gold FF level.

4) Expecting something for nothing. Why the hell should you get any more than you paid for.

Because they advertise it as being available?

5) Using your laptop on a domsetic flight. Ive seen some fantastic presentations by my competitors over the years. Be careful, I may just be sitting next to you!

8) Screaming children. Yes , you were once one of those. How do you think the parent feels when 300 bloated, suited, business men are looking disapprovingly at you when the child is screaming in terror?

I have never had this experience, and I have travelled approx.160 sectors over the last four years with brats that are now aged 10 and 6. All it takes is a little preperation when younger, and suitable threats of punichment for the HEALTHY older brats.

11) Complaining about the staff. How would you like to have to serve YOU? Do you really think that the staff have a vendetta against you? There is a reason why you are called "pigs in space".

Yeah, I really would hate to be serving YOU. I realise this is a response to a troll, but I could not let it go.

Dave

 

[Yada Yada]

Annoyances?

7. Hippies/ Lefties/ ALP voters. Again, nothing specific to air travel - they just s*it me.

Don't start. Liberal/National Party voters cough me.

 

[Yada Yada]

Re: Things that annoy me about travel

Best wishes

Geoff Dixon
CEO
QANTAS Airways

Funny post, Nutcase. A lot of what you say is true.

I've flown with my kids a few times, some of it long haul, and while most of it has been quiet and successful there have been occasions where ear problems have made it uncomfortable for one of them and they get noisy. Most others are OK with it but there are always a few who stare disapprovingly, like there is something I can do about it.

The point about frequent bathroom visits is well made. Some people have medical problems and need some additional consideration. God forbit it could easily be one of us.

My only real irritation about flying is not being able to handle the SMH in a confined space. Although I think I've solved that - I recently purchased a O2 Xda mini PDA/Phone and using Avantgo software can read the SMH much more confortably. The only issue is that most FA's quiz me because they realise it is a phone. It's difficult to explain that the PDA can be used in "flight mode" and that the phone is actually disabled. Guess they're just doing their job.

 

[bravoecho1]

People who are sitting in the back of the plane, but when boarding place their carry-on in the overhead lockers at the front of the plane.

These days people are carrying on more and more and by doing the above, causes unnecessary stress and annoys the cough out of me.

 

[Bob]

Most of my pet hates have been covered before, but I have strategies to manage most. For example, fly on the AC B767 Sydney to Vancouver and you can get a single business class seat down one side of the aircraft - no neighbour. All issues to do with toilets, laptops, smells, hair pulling, etc disappear.
I now know where all the alternative security screening areas are. When the QF area is queuing I go to Jetstar, etc.
Buy a good noise cancelling headset.
Sleeping pills (apparently the FA couldn't wake me the other night en route HNL SYD). Hello - that is the idea
Right size cabin baggage for the Dash 8 (even better is the system in Canada where you can check your cabin baggage as you enter the aircraft).
Turn up early and relax in the lounge.
Always be courteous.

There are still a few hates:
Arriving at an airport for a transfer and having to go out and then back through security. (Cairns en route to Weipa last Sunday)
Having to queue for an hour to go through US customs and then back through security at Honolulu, when in transit for only 1.5 hours on Sydney to Vancouver flights.
The disappearance of the dedicated business class check in lane at BNE domestic.
Tom Bradley International terminal.

 

[MetroAir]

There will always be annoyances with any public transport system and variation in standards of service. Perhaps a little more truth in marketing would overcome the differences in what is promised to what is delivered.
I can handle the delays, missed connections, lost luggage etc but what really gets me is being lied to. If there is a problem just tell me then maybe I can find my own solution to it. For example, when the monitors tell you your flight is still scheduled for on time departure and with half an hour to go there is no 'plane at the gate, its just not going to happen. Being told you checked your luggage to the wrong destination (American Airlines once had the audacity to say that to me!).
Or havenig airline staff just 'make up' excuses for something that is not quite right.
Just be honest.

 

[Mal]

Re: Things that annoy me about travel

<snip>
My only real irritation about flying is not being able to handle the SMH in a confined space. Although I think I've solved that - I recently purchased a O2 Xda mini PDA/Phone and using Avantgo software can read the SMH much more confortably. The only issue is that most FA's quiz me because they realise it is a phone. It's difficult to explain that the PDA can be used in "flight mode" and that the phone is actually disabled. Guess they're just doing their job.

Watch out with some FA's and using Phone/PDA's in flight mode. I've been on at least 2 flights where the safety announcement says similar to "Some phones have a feature called flight mode which turns off the radio. Qantas have not approved this feature for use, and the use of these devices is banned"

It's amazing how much choice they have in the announcement though - I've heard everything from Flight Mode to Furbies to IPOD's to Blackberries to walkmans to discmans mentioned on certain flights, but not others.

 

[Bob]

It's time that avionics manufacturers faced the fact on every flight there is probably at least one mobile phone left switched on in someones bag or pocket, and manufacture avionics equipment that is fit for purpose.

To get back to the topic - another pet hate is row 2 on the Dash 8, with the prop spinning just a few feet away from me. I hope they do really good crack inspections.

 

[alien]

When QANTAS lose you luggage and then they find, then its stolen and not having a change of clothes for a 2 day meeting...............Not happy Jan...........

Only finishing half of your meal and FA's then collecting your half meal without serving tea and or coffee because they ran out of time.........Not Happy Jan....

 

[Mal]

It's time that avionics manufacturers faced the fact on every flight there is probably at least one mobile phone left switched on in someones bag or pocket, and manufacture avionics equipment that is fit for purpose.

To get back to the topic - another pet hate is row 2 on the Dash 8, with the prop spinning just a few feet away from me. I hope they do really good crack inspections.

Ahuh, I agree with both your points.

For the first, add in laptops with Wireless / Bluetooth... No-one complains about that type of wireless interference. Also, the number of times I've heard "Beep, Beep" or other more colourful SMS tones happening when I'm landing/about to land is more than I care to recall.

As for the Dash 8's ... after sitting in 2D (RHS by the window), I definately agree. Things could be a little bit scary if something was to go wrong!

 

[infoworks]

The best flight I have ever had was SIN-HKG on SQ mid-SARS and I was the only pax in Business (or first for that matter). So everything else is an irritant!!!

 

[mykal]

First Timer, be kind.

I fly mostly to get to work, (FIFO to the mines) and have not really had too much of an issue with the service that you get on Qantas or on Nasho's but what irritated me was when we fly (on average) every 7 days and returning home after 4x12 hr day, 4x12 hr night shifts the new FA giving us a bollocking for ignoring the safety talk.

I know it’s her job but its about 664 miles to home, and the only time we would need to don a life jacket is if we crash into the Mundaring Wier. Done it enough to know the sequence off by heart, leave me alone I’m trying to sleep.
:?

 

[icarus]

I flew economy from LA to Sydney with Qantas over the weekend (business class was booked out) and the woman in front of me put her seat back as far as it would go before the plane had even left the runway, leaving me literally about eight inches between my face and the back of the seat. I had to hold my book above the back of her seat in order to be able to see it properly, I could not use my tray table at all and it was difficult and uncomfortable to watch the screen. Every time the flight attendant asked her to bring her seat back up (for take-off, meals etc) she put it back again as soon as the attendant had left, on one occasion spilling my meal tray into my lap. I can understand wanting to get some sleep, but on a 14 hour overnight flight you can't expect to get 14 hours worth.

My other bugbear was that I couldn't get any water. I had brought a bottle with me, and Qantas gives you another in that little snack packet, but when I asked for a refill, I was told curtly that there was a water fountain by the loos. When I pointed out that the menu said bottled water would be available throughout the flight, the attendant grudgingly agreed to get me a refill (of my existing bottle), but when she finally brought it the water was cloudy and disgusting and clearly not bottled. By contrast, a passenger in the adjoining row got violently drunk, and once the attendant realised, she got all the fresh water she cold possibly have wanted. To be fair, that attendant (a different one), handled the drunk woman beautifully. I just wish those of us who had stupidly remained sober had received service one-quarter as attentive.

 

[bambbbam2]

I had an incident several years ago where someone bumped into my seat, throwing my just-full scotch and cola all over my shirt..

Was grrr at the time, but with all these things I look back and laugh on it now.

If people try that seat thing in front I always give a few slams of the tray and that usually sorts them out.

 

[NM]

I fly mostly to get to work, (FIFO to the mines) and have not really had too much of an issue with the service that you get on Qantas or on Nasho's but what irritated me was when we fly (on average) every 7 days and returning home after 4x12 hr day, 4x12 hr night shifts the new FA giving us a bollocking for ignoring the safety talk.

I know it’s her job but its about 664 miles to home, and the only time we would need to don a life jacket is if we crash into the Mundaring Wier. Done it enough to know the sequence off by heart, leave me alone I’m trying to sleep.
:?

Last week I was the only person in the F cabin of QF10 MEL-SYD acter arriving on the same QF10 LHR-MEL (and the same crew SIN-MEL). So when it came time for the safety briefing, the FA who drew the short straw and had to stand in front of me playing with the lifejacket, seatbelt and oxy mask was getting a hard time from his "mates" in the F galley. We had a good joke about the sillyness of him having to go through the process since we both knew that I could have stood up and given the briefing word-for-word anyway.

But its a CASA requirement that they do it, even if there is only one person on board. He said they used to be allowed to give a personal safety "discussion" when there were only one or two pax in the cabin, but now CASA makes them do the whole thing - no exceptions. Its a good thing he had a good sense of humour.

 

[serfty]

.. Last week I was the only person in the F cabin of QF10 MEL-SYD acter arriving on the same QF10 LHR-MEL (and the same crew SIN-MEL). So when it came time for the safety briefing, the FA who drew the short straw and had to stand in front of me playing with the lifejacket, seatbelt and oxy mask was getting a hard time from his "mates" in the F galley. We had a good joke about the sillyness of him having to go through the process since we both knew that I could have stood up and given the briefing word-for-word anyway.

But its a CASA requirement that they do it, even if there is only one person on board. He said they used to be allowed to give a personal safety "discussion" when there were only one or two pax in the cabin, but now CASA makes them do the whole thing - no exceptions. Its a good thing he had a good sense of humour.

I had a similar experience last year on a Sat night 763 MEL-AKL. In J there were three PAX, me in 1A and Newlyweds in 1J/1K.

Two FA's did the 'whole-thing', one for me and one on the other side for the honeymooners.

The n/w's were having a good time and were cracking up with laughter with through the whole thing. The FA's were trying not to laugh; I had a struggle to keep a straight face myself.

When the demonstration was finished the n/w's started clapping and cheering; that was it! All of us started laughing; I was still grinning as we took off.

That was the start of one of the more memorable sectors I have had.