thursdaysd

Whereas I prefer American to United. Big time. But every airline can come up short. Glad you made it there and back successfully!

rachel120

One flight being late, yeah bad luck. But hearing from others who landed around the same time....that sounds more like an airline problem. Also the woman at the gate that wouldn't give any helpful ideas on making that connection, or what to do if that connection couldn't be met, she could have been more helpful. And why do they have window seats if the windows aren't meant to be used? I wasn't making any sort of disturbance or moving around and thumping other seats while moving, I was simply gazing out the window.

My original layover was 2 hours. When I checked in the agent said the plane was late and changed my connecting flight to a later time. The boarding pass she gave me had a new departure time 57 minutes later than the scheduled time, and the new layover time, as printed on the documents, was 2 hours 30 minutes. How much time is reasonable for a layover, if that is too short?

Edit: It may not be clear. When I checked in, the flight was one hour late. After checking in and getting the new connecting flight, the first flight was delayed an additional 2 hours, which destroyed most of that layover time. Then getting off the plane was pure havoc because everyone was late, so more time eaten up there.

thursdaysd

I agree with you about the window, but so many people are using screens on board now, that they asking for blinds to be down even on day flights.

American is having problems right now because a number of their planes are grounded because of the Boeing 737 MAX issue. At least your flights weren't canceled!

suze

https://community.ricksteves.com/tra...se-the-windows

Do you have to close your window shade on planes when asked?

https://www.smartertravel.com/can-a-...-window-shade/

rachel120

I wish I had known this, I'd have refused. The arguments for putting it down involuntarily sounds like an HOA - "You paid for it, it's your property, but I get to tell you what you can and can't do with it so my off-property viewing area is to my approval."

janisj

Look at it this way . . . do you have any idea how bright and glaring and actually painful to other passengers an open window shade is when flying east at SUNRISE? I'd have been pretty ticked off if you had opened a window shade in that situation. If you want to peek out to see the 'scenery', just raise the shade a few inches and take a look. No reason at all to raise it any higher.

But the more you get used to traveling -- you'll learn about some of the etiquette involved.

rachel120

Well considering I was watching the sunrise and the sun was peeking over the wing, yeah I know how bright it is. But as far as etiquette, is it polite to insist I do nothing but stare at a dark cabin? Equally wrong.

kja

I'm glad you made it home and congratulate you on making it work despite the bumps in the "road."

janisj

>>is it polite to insist I do nothing but stare at a dark cabin?<<

You were on a red eye -- most people were probably still asleep . . . or trying to til the cabin lit up. You could have 1) read a book or the articles in the seat back magazine, 2) done the crossword puzzle, 3) watched a program or played a game on the seat back entertainment, 4) or even slept. No need to stare at a dark cabin. Once everyone is stirring, heading to the toilets to brush their teeth/freshen up, waiting for the breakfast/snack/beverage service - opening the shades is a little more acceptable. But like I said, now that you've broken the ice and traveled you'll be doing more in the future and will learn the cabin crew usually have good reasons for what they ask . . .

rachel120

What triggered the motion sickness was looking at my daughter's phone screen long enough to figure out the onboard entertainment. I had forgotten that looking at my phone for several minutes while a passenger in a car does that to me, and I would not have been sick at all had I remembered that little fact and not looked at the phone. Book and cars are even worse, so it'd have been stupid to try and look at a magazine or borrow my daughter's book. Besides, if they complained about the shade, wouldn't there have been equal complaints if I had turned on my light?

Beyond that, no one there was helping out paying my ticket, and I was not doing anything that would affect anyone's health (like smoking). I even left the tuna packets at home and brought less smelly beef jerky. I also had to restrict liquids so I wouldn't bother the stranger sitting in the aisle too much (not a good thing to do with the medication I'm on), so I think I went a little beyond etiquette there. A little bit of light is not bothersome when you are already asleep, which is why people don't wake up wired at the crack of dawn but can actually sleep in a couple hours past dawn.

janisj

>>A little bit of light is not bothersome when you are already asleep, which is why people don't wake up wired at the crack of dawn but can actually sleep in a couple hours past dawn.<<

I won't kick this around any more since you are semi-sure what you did was OK. But remember, you hadn't traveled in 25+ years and asked for our help. This is just another thing to learn about. It isn't just some morning light coming in your bedroom window. It sin't a 'little bit of light'. It is brilliant, intense sunshine (and brighter up at 35,000 feet) streaming in to a darkened cabin in a situation where people don't have an option to move or roll over and ignore it. The flight attendants have to think of everyone on the plane, not just you.

suze

Book and cars are even worse, so it'd have been stupid to try and look at a magazine
A plane is not a car. I can't read in a car or on a bus. I can easily read a book or magazine on a flight. And judging from looking around, most people can.

if they complained about the shade, wouldn't there have been equal complaints if I had turned on my light?
No because the shade was supposed to be closed, but it is OK to use your above-seat reading light.

You can get up to use the rest room as many times as you need to. No reason to suffer. Or next time book an aisle seat and TWO problems will be solved (bathroom access & the window situation)!

You will find traveling is a lot easier and less stressful if you don't fight the "small stuff" every step of the way.

rachel120

Round two, my mother's memorial service

I have the tickets but had I known better I'd have not used the 3rd party site I did. At least Alaska Air found the return ticket. I have the rooms but I'm going to watch for a better deal, free cancellation. No car yet but I'm using the same company, going directly to them because their pay up front price is equal to the 3rd party sites and I'm still jazzed over how they didn't bat an eye about 1218 miles I put on the car. I've got time so I can wait a week on the car.

Day flights this time, I don't want to get that sick again. And my window is staying open this time. Thinking about my flats for travel, easier to take off and on than sneakers. I now know that my backpack is personal item size rather than carry on size so I won't need to check a bag. I'm packing a lot less food for the flight, last time a third stayed with my sister and a third was thrown out. And a lot less cash.

Any words of wisdom not already said? And other than a hanging bag, what's the best way to pack a suit jacket?

kja

My sincere condolences, rachel.

marvelousmouse

rachel120

Thanks. She died the day after Christmas but Dad has had a lot with my grandma and coordinating dates with my uncles, Mom's brothers. There's still a lot of pain but nothing like the beginning of the year. And I've already faced being back home without her there, so I know what will hurt and what will ease.

suze

You can wear the suit jacket on the plane. Or fold it with tissue paper if you want to put it in a suitcase.

Wishing you a safe and smooth trip. I am sorry for your (your family's) loss.