Some thoughts on air travel

[girlyswot]

This is a post which was originally intended to be entitled, "Some thoughts on air travel courtesy of the Wifi at Chicago O'Hare airport" but the stupid thing wouldn't accept my credit card.

1. There is something really wrong with a system that charges twice as much to take one direct 6 1/2 hour flight than to go hundreds of miles further in a 2 hour and a 7 hour flight. $1150 for a US Airways flight from Philadelphia to Manchester vs. $569 for United/BMI from Philly to Chicago to Manchester.
   
2. When indicating baggage allowances on your website, it's not that helpful to say that excess baggage is charged at a variety of rates without specifying what these might be. I arrived at the airport to be told that I would have to pay $200. I did some rearranging and the guy went to check what the actual rates were and we reduced this amount to $50.
3. Just recently I was saying to a friend how terrified I was of being given an exit seat in a plane. I am appallingly bad at following pictorial instructions and I panic in emergencies. So guess which seat I was allocated on the flight to Chicago? On the plus side, there was lots of room for the large amounts of carry-on luggage I had, it was an Economy Plus seat which was very comfortable and had masses of legroom, and I wasn't squashed in the middle of two strangers. And we didn't have an emergency so it didn't matter that I wouldn't have been able to work the emergency door.
4. Chicago O'Hare is weird. It's the only airport I've ever been in where almost all the shops and concessions are on the main concourse before you go through security. Because I am always paranoid about huge queues to get through check in and security*, I prefer to do my shopping on the other side. All I wanted was a bottle of Coke and some crisps. Huh. There were a couple of news stands which only had Pepsi (evil brew of the devil) and a thing that called itself a bar but was really a few bottles of alcohol on a trolley. Oh, and the duty free shop. Pathetic.
5. I am still British. At the place where I eventually bought a smoothie (in the absence of any coke), I waited at the counter for several minutes before saying, 'Excuse me' to attract the attention of the sales assistant. She turned to me, glared, and told me that the register was on the other side. My response? 'Sorry.'
6. BMI is much, much nicer than US Airways. In fact, I think probably every airline is much, much nicer than US Airways. Such a shame that the only operator to go directly from Philadelphia to Manchester is US Airways. Things I liked about BMI:
• Music playing while we boarded. I found this very relaxing.
• Free earphones
• Free toothbrush and toothpaste. Also, socks, blanket, eyeshade and tissues.
• British chocolate and other goodies available for sale. Excellent for those of us starved of Cadbury goodness.
• The cabin services manager who sounded just like Victoria Wood doing a skit about cabin services managers.
• Nice, helpful cabin staff who helped us all find the best seats on the half empty plane. I ended up with a whole block of three to myself, so I could lie down properly to sleep.
• Excellent vegetable biryani for dinner.  The meat options looked pretty good, too.  Fresh fruit with a muffin for breakfast.


7. Things I didn't like about BMI: having a pilot's eye view of the runway come up on the TV screens as we landed.  Not good for those of us of a nervous disposition, who generally like to get through the whole flight without thinking about the fact that we're thousands of feet up in the air.  Also, no Coke. 
   
8. Mainly I spent the flight finishing my book (review later) and sleeping, but I did watch the last ten minutes of Prince Caspian which was enough to set me weeping.  I also saw the first hour or so of Made of Honor and I am now very excited about moving to Scotland where, when you are lost in the pouring rain and surrounded by cattle, Kevin McKidd will come riding through the rain to rescue you and instantly propose marriage.
9. Running over your toe with a luggage trolley is a bad idea.  Especially when wearing sandals.  You also know your suitcases are too heavy when you break four nails in the process of getting them off the baggage carousel.
10. It will always be raining when you arrive in Manchester.  This isn't actually a bad thing after three weeks of temperatures in the high 80's with lots of humidity.

*This is probably because my first proper experience of an international airport was at Heathrow about 10 days after the bomb scare. Check in took about 30 mins and security about 1 hour. At Manchester everything always takes forever, too.

Comments

[petitecrivan.livejournal.com]

Chicago O'Hare is weird. It's the only airport I've ever been in where almost all the shops and concessions are on the main concourse before you go through security.

I KNOW. We flew from O'Hare when I went to the UK, and I was planning on getting lunch over there before we took off...wrong! I managed to get a drink and chips/crisps. No real food at ALL, not even sandwiches! Very disappointing.

I feel Experienced with airports now, though it's probably not as true as I'd like to think. But spending 24+ hours in Heathrow kind of makes you feel like you can survive any airport experience. :P

Good to know you got there and back in one piece! :)

[girlspell.livejournal.com]

Your luggage rate got reduced to $50.00? Wow, you really have to do some haggling.

Nice of them to let you have a group of seats to yourself. As for British chocolate? I don't think I've ever eaten any. But I bet they're really good. I'm glad they served you a meal. They don't do that on a lot of flights.

All in all, not a bad flight. Nice Airline.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

I think meals on transatlantic flights are standard.

[rhetoretician.livejournal.com]

When were you at O'Hare? The daughter and I were there from about noon until about 2:00 central time Monday.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

LOL - I just missed you. I was there from about 4-6pm local time on Monday.

[megan29.livejournal.com]

First time we fly together, you can change your exit row seat with me. :-) I like flying BA (despite the fact that they always always always mess up my luggage and/or connections) b/c you can choose your own seat 24 hrs ahead of time, online. Not many people know this, and I was always able to get an exit seat. Not that I'm any good at following directions, but I'm really good at stretching my legs.

Oh, and all that Coke will rot your teeth. O'Hare was just taking care of you. :-)

[amamama.livejournal.com]

You got long legs too? I loathe being seated anywhere but the emergency exit, as that usually means I'll have my knees squished into the seat in front of me. No fun. BA is not the only airline who lets you do that, you know. If you buy your tickets online, at least Norwegian and Continental both lets you choose your seat - at the time of ordering - so I figured most did that.

Regarding Coke - agreed. It's dah evil!

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

I think most airlines let you choose your seat if you book directly with them. This time, to get a good deal, I went through an agent, so I couldn't.

[megan29.livejournal.com]

Nah, I don't have long legs, nor long anything. I'm 5'5". That doesn't mean I don't feel cramped in an airplane.

And I kind of misspoke. Yes, many airlines let you choose your seat online, but BA doesn't do that except 24 hours before the flight, and few people know this. Most people get their seats on BA at the airport, and I can easily beat the crowds. :-) Plus, BA is the only airline I know that lets you choose an exit row online. All other airlines block those rows, and you can only get them at the airport, if you're there early enough.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Right, because it's well known that Pepsi has no sugar in it. None at all.

[megan29.livejournal.com]

Pepsi rots your teeth too. Pepsi = Coke = crap. I don't drink either. I don't like either.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Actually, on this plane, if you really wanted legroom, you would have chosen the seat in the row behind the emergency exit which had the space in front of it, whereas my seat had a space beside it. The reason I had legroom was because it wasn't an economy seat.

[amamama.livejournal.com]

3 - You had the carry-on luggage in the overhead locker, right? Because if they let you have it by the emergency exit, I'd avoid that airline. Emergency exits should be unblocked. I don't know how many times I've had to give the flight attendants everything that won't go into the pocket, because I've been seated by an emergency exit (often the only place that has room for my legs.

4 - It's like that at Lanzarote too. Or, at least it used to be, at the old airport. They've built a new one, so maybe that's different. Or maybe not, as the whole island is tax-free iirc.

7 - Weeee! I LOVE that. :-)

8 - *swoon* You ready for that? Even with the relationship test I saw further up on my flist?

9 - Ouch!

Good thing you got back safely - all the best for your move to Scotland! *hugs*

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

It was under the seat in front of the exit, not blocking anything.

[bookwormsarah.livejournal.com]

I am flying into Chicago O'Hare on the 2nd of September, so this was a fascinating read. I hate exit rows too, although I think I am not convinced that the door wont open in mid-air. Illogical, but fears are rarely logical... Needless to say I shall be booking my seat in advance.

Did you just change planes in Chicago, or did you see any of the place? Any recommendations for things to do there, or in Philly (or any of the Great Lakes/Capitol District/New England area really - I'm travelling round)?

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

No time in Chicago at all, I'm afraid.

Things to do in Philly - visit the art museum, walk along Kelly Drive up the Schuykill river, take the tour of Independence Hall, eat fabulous things at Reading market.

[megan29.livejournal.com]

In Chicago, one of the best things is the architecture of the buildings. I recommend walking along Wacker Dr. and staring around. The Millenium Park (at the end of Wacker) looks surreal. Then you probably want to go up into Sears tower, and shop along the Magnificent Mile. And there are several huge statues made by Picasso and Miro, that are placed outside in public places. But I strongly recommend buying a guide book, as there are too many interesting things that you don't want to miss. At least, not if you like modern design. Chicago also has gorgeous art galleries, and one of the largest museums of art. Again, the emphasis is on modern/contemporary art - so if that's your thing, this is THE city to visit. And even if it's not your thing, there are still plenty of sights that steal your breath away. Enjoy your vacation!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

having a pilot's eye view of the runway come up on the TV screens as we landed
Ironically, though I am scared of flying, I really like the idea of that. I prefer the seat behind the exit row myself. I'd rather be able to stuff my glasses case in the pocket in front of me, and as I fly on (prescription) drugs, it is probably best not to have someone who is slightly stoned trying to open the exit door in an emergency.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

The seat behind the exit row was definitely the one with most legroom on this plane.

I'm not exactly scared of flying, but I am terrified of heights. So when we're near enough to see the ground, I prefer not to look out of a window. Or have the view on the screen in front of me...