Airlines Convert Passengers Into Sardines With Cash
Posted: Tuesday, August 18, 2009
by Gerry Charbonneau
http://nibblednews.typepad.com
A number of weeks ago, for the first time in many years, I booked an airline flight to the west coast. My destination was Saturna Island , one of a group of islands , located in the Pacific Gulf Islands. The price was right and the opportunity to get away from the humdrum everyday world was irresistible. It was the opportune time to treat myself to a planned vacation and venture into unfamiliar territory.
Last Monday morning I timidly entered the airport terminal. Happily, my experiences at the security check points were totally uneventful. My carry on luggage was more thoroughly inspected on my return flight. The female security officer performing that inspection was courteous, friendly, affable and even has a sense of humor. My recurring nightmares about being detained, interrogated and even tasered were all unfounded.
The taser, an electroshock weapon, is an incapacitant weapon used for subduing a person by administering an electric shock aimed at disrupting superficial muscle functions.
One type of such weapon is a conductive energy device (CED) , an electroshock gun popularly known by the brand name Taser, which fires projectiles that administer the shock through a thin, flexible wire. Other electroshock weapons such as a stun gun, stun baton and electroshock belts administer an electric shock by direct contact.
The biggest shock I received happened when I entered the passenger compartment of the plane. The once spacious aisles I remembered from previous travel experiences were now sliver thin. Two additional rows of passenger seating on both sides of the center aisle transformed passengers into flying sardines. The overhead comparment to place your hand held luggage was larger and more spacious. A good thing .
I also noticed that the once glamorous occupation of airline stewardess had also been redefined and somewhat sullied. The modern day version transforms many of these career-minded women into mere ballpark hawkers offering headphones, refreshments, pillows and blankets and alcoholic beverages for a nominal fee.
On both of my flights to-and-from my destination the friendly stewardess on the plane's public address system asked "good sport" passengers to forgo asking for their change. Imagine yourself handing the flight attendant a $10 bill to cover the cost of a six dollar micro-sized bottle of your favorite whiskey. "Keep the change and thanks!" I don't think so. Many other passengers felt the same way and opted to enjoy the complementary, freebie refreshments.
The leg room which used to guarantee passenger comfort while seated has also been compromised. I am about six feet tall and average weight and slid somewhat uneasily into my seat. On the return flight the plane was filled to capacity. A last minute standby passenger had a less than pleasant flight experience.
The gentleman in question was at least six-foot, six inches tall and weighed in at about 290 pounds. He asked the attendant for a seat belt extension. The requested extension he received easily enough. He really needed extra leg room to sit comfortably.
While in flight a female passenger sitting directly in front of this passenger tried frantically and repeatedly to place her seat in a more reclining position. She was unable to do this. Each time she tried to crank back her seat the guy yelled out, "No leg room lady. No leg room".
The woman was getting visibly upset at having this pushy person cramp her style and comfort. She did not seem to realize that she was actually cramping his limited leg room and comfort. Eventually, the woman realized what she was doing and apologized for her actions. I was sitting beside this guy and was grateful not to have been squished or seriously injured should an altercation develop.
These experiences brought home the message to me that passenger comfort and convenience have been unduly sacrificed to meet an imposed corporate cost cutting objective that not only lessens passenger importance but also demeans all those dedicated personnel who make a livelihood and career as employees of these companies.
My flight was generally uneventful. The weather for my vacation was ideal. The only negative impressions I developed were aimed at the way airline travel service has seriously complicated the way in which people are treated during their vacation down time.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Yes, airline travel is not what it used to be, and I should know, I worked in that industry for 32 years.Thank you for a well-written article and a special thanks for understanding that the employees who work in this industry are as much a victim of their situation as those paying customers.There was a time that a job with an airline was considered to be a 'glamour job'. It definitely was a great job with good pay and benefits. But those times have really changed. I'm so glad to be retired from that industry and doing something totally different.Thank you David for you comments and insights.Things change over time especially the way we view our lives and where we want to go in our lives.I am glad you enjoyed the article.
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