What Happened to Family-Friendly Airlines??
Oct 26th, 2004, 01:05 PM
#41
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Just a small defense as to why some people need to leap up as soon as the plane stops. My husband is very claustrophobic, and once the plane stops he really needs to get up and get more air around his head if he is to refrain from having a real meltdown.
I think in general people need to be more tolerant. I don't know why people clamor to get on the plane ASAP--we much prefer waiting until the end to board. I guess it's the claustrophobia thing again. Also, we don't have much in the way of carry-ons, so do not have to worry about finding room to stow things.
I think in general people need to be more tolerant. I don't know why people clamor to get on the plane ASAP--we much prefer waiting until the end to board. I guess it's the claustrophobia thing again. Also, we don't have much in the way of carry-ons, so do not have to worry about finding room to stow things.
Oct 26th, 2004, 01:42 PM
#42
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First of all: Parents, no one is truly saying "don't take your kids on planes." I think we're all saying (parents and non-parents alike): "parents, please watch and control your kids while on the plane." Stuff you find cute and amusing ("Oh, Junior's making the CUTEST sounds today!"
may not be so cute in a confined space ("That kid sounds as loud and piercing as an ambulance siren!", so observe your kids with an eye to what others might not be used to.
As far as people needing to jump up and deplane quickly, may I remind everyone that this is not the Age of Non-Stops? If I fly trans-continental, I will almost always connect at Dallas/Ft. Worth; so yes, I have to get off that plane from my home airport ASAP and get to that second gate-- usually in another DFW terminal. If I use another home airport and have to connect at Chicago's O'Hare (ORD), forget it. I have to SPRINT off the plane since we will have undoubtedly landed late at ORD. So yeah, some of us have to get off the plane now. As a courtesy to your fellow travelers who may have connecting flights, if you're not running to your next flight please stay seated and don't block the aisles until the first mad crush exits. I will be flying next week through DFW-- I'd appreciate it. And happy travels and love to everyone!
may not be so cute in a confined space ("That kid sounds as loud and piercing as an ambulance siren!", so observe your kids with an eye to what others might not be used to.As far as people needing to jump up and deplane quickly, may I remind everyone that this is not the Age of Non-Stops? If I fly trans-continental, I will almost always connect at Dallas/Ft. Worth; so yes, I have to get off that plane from my home airport ASAP and get to that second gate-- usually in another DFW terminal. If I use another home airport and have to connect at Chicago's O'Hare (ORD), forget it. I have to SPRINT off the plane since we will have undoubtedly landed late at ORD. So yeah, some of us have to get off the plane now. As a courtesy to your fellow travelers who may have connecting flights, if you're not running to your next flight please stay seated and don't block the aisles until the first mad crush exits. I will be flying next week through DFW-- I'd appreciate it. And happy travels and love to everyone!
Oct 26th, 2004, 08:31 PM
#43
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RJW
I agree with your observation regarding springing to you feet to get off a plane. If you have no connection or baggage is to be collected then why the hurry to get off. You are only going to be standing round outside the plane, as opposed to sitting in "relative" comfort (and if you are in coach I do use this word advisedly) on the plane for another five minutes.
The number of times I have had something from the overhead bounce off my head because of an over enthusiastic passenger is a few times too many.
Your post also brought to mind a trip that has stuck in my memory for years due to impressive work by Continental Airlines (Which kind of brings us back to the first post). Though it was back in 1988 (Ancient I know). I was flying from London To Auckland in one long trip via Houston, LA and Hawaii on Continental. Our flight from Houston to LA was late landing. The flight crew called for passengers conecting for the flight to Hawaii and onto Auckland to make ourselves know prior to landing (there were about three of us) then they asked for everyone else to stay seated after landing to allow us off first. Everyone stayed seated, we three got off. Sprinted for the next flight about five gates down. Made that flight, which had been held for us and away we went. Time between landing and pulling away from the next gate - about five minutes. What was even more impressive was the two suitcases I was travelling with which had been checked made the flight to.
So the airlines do get it right sometimes, I suppose it is the times they don't that stick in our memories more.
Another 2 cents from me.
Steve
I agree with your observation regarding springing to you feet to get off a plane. If you have no connection or baggage is to be collected then why the hurry to get off. You are only going to be standing round outside the plane, as opposed to sitting in "relative" comfort (and if you are in coach I do use this word advisedly) on the plane for another five minutes.
The number of times I have had something from the overhead bounce off my head because of an over enthusiastic passenger is a few times too many.
Your post also brought to mind a trip that has stuck in my memory for years due to impressive work by Continental Airlines (Which kind of brings us back to the first post). Though it was back in 1988 (Ancient I know). I was flying from London To Auckland in one long trip via Houston, LA and Hawaii on Continental. Our flight from Houston to LA was late landing. The flight crew called for passengers conecting for the flight to Hawaii and onto Auckland to make ourselves know prior to landing (there were about three of us) then they asked for everyone else to stay seated after landing to allow us off first. Everyone stayed seated, we three got off. Sprinted for the next flight about five gates down. Made that flight, which had been held for us and away we went. Time between landing and pulling away from the next gate - about five minutes. What was even more impressive was the two suitcases I was travelling with which had been checked made the flight to.
So the airlines do get it right sometimes, I suppose it is the times they don't that stick in our memories more.
Another 2 cents from me.
Steve
Oct 27th, 2004, 04:20 AM
#44
I have NEVER been on a plane, (and I have flown alot in the past 5 years) that allowed the passengers who had quick connections to deplane first. I have to make connections every time I fly unless I happened to be going to a hub. It is always tight. I wish they would allow that more often. It would really help me out.
Oct 27th, 2004, 06:10 AM
#45
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Just a few comments about debarking...
I always let others off first if:
1) it's my final destination and I have luggage to claim (otherwise, I'll be just standing at the baggage claim instead of sitting down);
2) I'm connecting through a hub and have plenty of time to make the connection. I know others may have tighter connections than I do.
And, yes, I have heard FA suggesting people to let others get off first, if the flight is late getting into a hub. I think those announcements do help as I do see more people sitting down in the front and let others get off first.
Finally, I've also had a similar experience as Kiwi. That's about 10 years ago when NW still had a mini-hub in Seoul. Our flight coming from DTW was about 2 hours late, and as you know, DTW's Seoul (not anymore) and Narita hubs mainly serve connecting passengers between the US and various cities throughout Asia. They cannot afford to have people stranded there.
So, what they did was to have people deplane, depending on final destination. My flight to HKG was to depart SEL first, so I got to get off first. Then Taipei, then Singapore, and so on, and finally the Seoul passengers. We were escorted (and hurried) as a group, through security (yes, that's the setup in SEL), and directly to the departing gate. And they made this very clear. If one didn't follow instruction, then he/she probably would get a scolding from the Korean security, as he/she would be escorted to the wrong gate.
As a result, even though our flight arrived SEL 2 hours late (due to a non-scheduled fuel stop at ANC), we were only about an hour late into HKG.
I always let others off first if:
1) it's my final destination and I have luggage to claim (otherwise, I'll be just standing at the baggage claim instead of sitting down);
2) I'm connecting through a hub and have plenty of time to make the connection. I know others may have tighter connections than I do.
And, yes, I have heard FA suggesting people to let others get off first, if the flight is late getting into a hub. I think those announcements do help as I do see more people sitting down in the front and let others get off first.
Finally, I've also had a similar experience as Kiwi. That's about 10 years ago when NW still had a mini-hub in Seoul. Our flight coming from DTW was about 2 hours late, and as you know, DTW's Seoul (not anymore) and Narita hubs mainly serve connecting passengers between the US and various cities throughout Asia. They cannot afford to have people stranded there.
So, what they did was to have people deplane, depending on final destination. My flight to HKG was to depart SEL first, so I got to get off first. Then Taipei, then Singapore, and so on, and finally the Seoul passengers. We were escorted (and hurried) as a group, through security (yes, that's the setup in SEL), and directly to the departing gate. And they made this very clear. If one didn't follow instruction, then he/she probably would get a scolding from the Korean security, as he/she would be escorted to the wrong gate.
As a result, even though our flight arrived SEL 2 hours late (due to a non-scheduled fuel stop at ANC), we were only about an hour late into HKG.
Oct 27th, 2004, 05:28 PM
#46
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Yikes! Sorry, I didn't mean to step on any long haul flier's toes! I guess I wondered what the debarkation rush was about because the route I generally fly is EWR-PDX, (which is hardly a hub to anywhere)Quick trips to jump on cruises down in Florida yielded similar mass jumping response.I definately understand that airlines don't give connections enough time. Then again a few years ago, my layover to HNL in LAX was several hours so I wasn't in a hurry then,.either! I feel for anyone who is truly claustophobic, but I guess that's what the original post is about...if the airline made allowances for anyone with a special need, it would be anarchy anyway! I know I will bring all required to make my daughter content on pur cross country flight. Just shelled out a couple bucks for the portable DVD,and I promise all around I'll keep the Wiggles down to a low roar!!!
Oct 31st, 2004, 05:29 AM
#47
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Do parents really have to block the aisle when installing child seats? The child seat must be put in the window seat so the parent should be out of the way.
Meanwhile in most cases the kids can stand behind another seat while others walk by. This part is better with preboarding for families, but let it sink in over time rather than force the issue on your next flight.
Meanwhile in most cases the kids can stand behind another seat while others walk by. This part is better with preboarding for families, but let it sink in over time rather than force the issue on your next flight.
