I'm a well seasoned air traveler, ok, I WAS untill today. I give up.

Imagine these following scenarios (just unbelievable what these stupid airlines think they could get away with):

1. Weather problems - how is it that we could put a man on a moon, but yet these useless airliness can't fly when there is some weather activity. I'm pretty sure that the plane itself is very safe to fly in any weather, so what's the problem? Conspiracy? I think so. The airlines just LOVE to play with passengers. They must be making money doing this!

2. Crew rest time - What the hell is that? Hell I have a job and when I get home I have to go shopping, cook, clean the house, entertain few friends and guess what? I didn't get any rest in between. Poor pilot, flies for 4-6 hours and can't hack it anymore? Maybe s/he should get a real job/life!

3. Aircraft mechanical problem - Jeeez!!! These are multi million dollar machines, one would think they fix themselves. After all my car never died in the middle of the road, or my dryer didn't stop working at the worst possible time or the electricity in the city never goes out, or...... What's the airlines excuse?

4. Other passengers - PLEASE STAY HOME. Most of you are obnoxious, worthless, always getting in my way. Without you I would never have any problems getting to my destination.

and finally,

5. Fares - Can they be any more expensive? What do these airline employees do with the big checks they get? If it was my airline the fares would not be more than $25 for domestic and $50 for international and that's for first class including a five course dinner from the originating city's best restaurant. Whoever chose to work for me, well they would need to get by on a $1 a day, ok, I'm not heartless, $2 a day if they had a spouse and at least 5 children.

So, in conclusion. I'm asking you to never fly again. These airlines are just one big rip-off. All airline employees are evil and love nothing more than to screw our vacation plans because after all it's the official policy of the airlines. Let's all get into our cars and drive next time. Hell, I'm driving from Tampa to Sydney next month. At least I know I won't be treated like garbage.

Just my opinion and you don't have to agree....

Feel better now?

2. It is the airline's job to schedule the crew so that they can show up on time and ready to do their jobs.

3. If your car was the taxi that you used to make a living then you would not break down in the middle of the road.

Stuff happens, sure, but that doesn't mean we can't complain if the airlines aren't prepared for stuff.

Ha, AAFF. I told people to fly full-fare only, but you went a step ahead!

They also make all their employees come in on their own time to take classes in passenger abuse, and any employee who fails to achieve their customer complaint form quota for two consecutive weeks is summarily dismissed, or transferred to TSA.

Well, thank goodness there's an AAFF (yeah, I know you're aiming some of this at me -- too bad, but I still like Sarasota), and an rkkwan to defend them -- they are SO unfairly abused and so completely unable to defend themselves.

Thanks - just what I wanted to hear the afternoon before I board a full flight in predicted bad weather at 7 AM when nothing is open at the airport.

The person who said some years ago that air travel has become the modern equivalent of taking a bus is right.

Thanks for a good AAFF!

Air travel might not be perfect, but it beats the heck out of the days when people had to travel by land or sea only. Can you imagine how much time and money it used to take to get to another continent before there was air travel? You had to go by land to NY or some other port city, then sail overseas, then go by land to the city you are going to. No wonder travel was only for the wealthy then.

This is not to dismiss any complaints we have about the airlines. I've had my share of bad experiences too. But sometimes when I'm sitting in the airport, feeling mad that I'm delayed a few hours, I remind myself of these facts. We are lucky to live in a world where travel is so much easier than it used to be.

Thanks, AAFF, very funny.

AAFF - My, my... what in the world got you ticked off today? Ranting and raving, but no details. Do tell!!!

Driving from Tampa to Sydney - gotta watch out for that very big water hazzard!

sandi - Just scroll down the thread list on this forum. Not too far down is a thread about American... that's what ticked AAFF off.

I can relate, AAFF. I was on a shuttle bus from the terminal to the parking lot at Detroit Metro Airport Monday, and four of the passengers were complaining that Northwest had the audacity to cancel flights Sunday night because of an ice/snowstorm. All of them said they would be sending emails and letters this week.
I guess they'll pressure Northwest into allowing planes to take off in hazardous flying conditions from now on. Sacre bleu!

rkkwan - Might you be referring to "American Airlines - even the pilots complain?" Duh! If that's it, as they say "s#$%t" happens! I can certainly feel for the poster, but... a good reason to avoid winter travel, or tornado season, or hurricane season, or whenever. Gotta approach air travel as if "it ain't going to work" and guess what? People lie! This country is slowly but surely destroying the airline business and everyone is guilty - the airlines, the government and the passengers. We want service, meals, drinks and also cheap tickets. Something has gotta go and apparently it has!