Travel

We are back from Phoenix. We had a great time. The 80 degree weather wasn't too shabby either.
However, arriving at the airport and finding your vehicle in 32 degrees, covered with a fine layer of snow will snap you back into reality quickly. Marci was jumping up and down at the car door begging me to let her in, out of the cold while I loaded our stuff into the trunk. It's always nice to come home from a long trip and flop down onto your own bed. There's just something about swinging the door open to your own home that makes you let a out a breath of warm relief. The smell of familiarity. It somehow fells like the most comforting thing to let your house wrap it arms around you again.

Much less can be said for air travel. I don't quite know where, or when I stopped enjoying this part of the adventure. Maybe it was when they made you completely disassemble and then re-assemble yourself at the security checkpoints. Maybe its the long lines at the airports, and is it just me or does every employee of every airline just look miserable and annoyed these days? It's somehow feels like its my fault that the airlines are losing money because of years of poor management, delays, and under staffing. Now, the bar of misery has been raised even higher.

It costs $15 dollars to check 1 piece of luggage, and $25 for the next. Am I the only person who thinks this is completely insane? That's like staying at a hotel, and being charged for the air you breathe while staying in the room. How on earth is one supposed to travel without luggage?
Surely this is part of carrying a passenger. Ok - 250 pounds of extra boxes and junk I can understand, but ordinary luggage? Really??

As we were herded onto the plane I saw a nice sign from US Air, explaining that drinks and coffee are all now $2 per serving, and a small snack is $7. I opened their on-board magazine out of sheer boredom and read the note in the front from their CEO, explaining with his big smile that this was their new "you choose your level of service" strategy, and how it was going to make my whole US Air experience so much better. So, let me get this straight - $15 to check my baggage (per person, so that is actually $30) plus a drink for us each ($4) and a pathetic sandwich with a nice plastic spork for lunch ($14) equals a total of $48 (one way)
He's right - this is much better strategy than free. And they wonder why they are losing money.
When did Southwest - (remember them? the "discount, no frills") airline suddenly become the luxury option?

I wish the Captain would simply turn on the PA and state the following:
"Good morning folks, this is the captain speaking. Today's flight is going to suck - you are going to be cramped, freezing and uncomfortable, and our bathrooms are going to be extra nasty. You will probably have to sit next to some annoying passenger and pretend to be polite. We are going to rip you off with our pathetic cabin service and your luggage is likely already smashed in the cargo hold. We are definitely going to be late for your connecting flight, because I don't feel like making the plane go any faster. So, sit back, relax and enjoy your flight suckers"

And another thing - when are they going to update the Skymall magazine? Seriously, I see the same junk in there year after year.

Pictures from Arizona are here.


Sean.