Everyone flies for different reasons. Here’s a reason that you never want to have to fly. But, if you are flying because of a loss, or an emergency, you would want a pilot like this one.
http://www.elliott.org/blog/southwest-airlines-pilot-holds-plane-for-murder-victims-family/
Here’s a recent letter I sent to [US-based legacy carrier]. After my trip, I received an email asking for feedback about my recent trip. Rather than put my thoughts into a form letter, I sent my thoughts to an actual person.
My recent experience at JFK on December 2010 warrants some advice on the [airline] terminal at JFK.
Let me just be clear. This is not a rant on service I received, and while I was delayed (expected), I did make it to my destination safely, and without incident. That is what is truly important.
This is just a note with suggestions on how to improve the terminal. JFK is a major airport in the world, and the first point of entry for many travelers into NYC, or even the United States. Let’s make it a little more welcoming, shall we?
1 – Getting off the AirTrain
No signage and no personnel to direct travelers. The [airline] terminal I usually go through was closed for business and there is simply a pilot getting into an elevator, so I decided to follow him. Even though it looked like a dungeon (more on that later), I did get to the right place (after walking outside, inside, back outside, up an outdoor ramp and back inside.)
3 – Dressing area after security
For those that can’t collect their belongings and put their shoes on fast enough, have an area where they can sit down and do so instead of jamming up the pick up area.
5 – Three planes out of one gate
I listen to directions and can read so when I get outside I know that I will be on the right plane. Perhaps adding some electronic signs, or enabling the gate agents to speak with better microphones will help. I felt sorry for them. Hundreds of customers eager to board swarm the gate for information that only one person can hear because there was no microphone, or garbled words were coming out of that microphone.
7 – Dogs out of the cage, walking around the terminal with no leash
8 – Seating at the restaurants near the gates
Who was this meant for? Gumby? The seats are nailed to the ground and made for a 6 foot toothpick. Very uncomfortable, and not very design friendly.
10 – Signage
I cannot stress this enough. English is my first language, and I am a frequent flyer. What about the people who are visiting JFK for the first time, what about those who don’t travel much and what about those visiting from other places, or just do not have a strong command of the language? I travel a bit, and abroad, to countries where I don’t speak the language, and the signage is universal, so it makes it possible for me to get around without too much trouble. Give our international travelers the same respect.
Regards,
It’s neither breakfast or lunch. Good food, good drinks and good friends.
I wish brunch could exist every day of the week. Forget ladies who lunch, I would be happy to be ladies who brunch.
Much* earlier today there was a horrific shooting / assassination attempt in Tucson, Arizona. It was a senseless act of crime that killed and injured far too many innocent victims.
I heard many things while watching and reading the news. One item that stuck out from the rest was from an official who worked with the congresswoman, she was one of the people who was shot and the possible target. Her coworker said that she could disagree without being disagreeable. That’s how everyone should behave.
We, a diverse country of citizens, are never all going believe the same things or think the same way (I think that would be communism). Of course, we each have, and are entitled to, our own opinions and we may disagree with each other’s beliefs. Whether it’s politics, religion or what’s for dinner. There is absolutely no reason in the world to disagree violently. Or even disagreeably.
As for this murderer and possible accomplice, taxpayer dollars should not be wasted on a trial. I do not support violence but I do believe in an eye for an eye. One of the survivors or their families should be the one to pull the trigger. Realize there may be a difference of opinion here, and I welcome that BECAUSE we should be able to disagree without being disagreeable. One of the victims was engaged to be married later this year. Maybe his fiance should be the one to pull the trigger.
My thoughts are with the families of all of the victims, all of the survivors and all of their families.
Two other things I would like to note: I realize news channels each want to be the first to break news BUT:
1 – Use spell check prior to publishing. Initially, several major news outlets with an online presence spelled Tucson incorrectly – as Tuscon. The errors were corrected within the hour, but REALLY? Spell check is free. You are a major news outlet. Use it.
2 – Check, and double check, your sources. How do you report that someone is deceased before confirming with a reliable source? Congresswoman Giffords was in surgery. Not the morgue.
* I learned how to schedule posts to publish at a later time. This is one of them.
Yes, it’s winter. Yes, it’s snowing. It’s the second storm in as many weeks in the Northeast.
I’m no weather expert but me thinks it’s going to be a long, cold and snowy winter.
I missed the brunt of the first storm we had at the end of 2010. Instead, I was trying to get home by plane. The day started with a cancellation leading into stand-by and delays and ultimately being rerouted into an alternate airport. It was a journey by plane, train, taxis and subway. Due to the amount of snow we received, I was able to thoroughly enjoy (note: sarcasm) the residual mess left by the storm. I know that I was one of the lucky ones because even though I my flight had been cancelled, delayed and rerouted, I still got home on the same day I had originally planned.
Snowstorms in the city don’t come without: the slush pools several inches deep around street corners making streets a mess to manage, the plow jobs that make the sidewalks walkable for single file only and dirty snow (it’s only pretty as it falls – once it hits the ground, all bets are off).
No problem. I’ve been there (drenched), I’ve done that (stepped in the slush pool in inappropriate footwear) and with that comes wisdom. I know that there are two goals: keep warm and stay dry. I have my parka and (super awesomely warm and weatherproof) L.L. Bean winter boots for that.
I get that preparation is key; however, what will never cease to amaze me is the insanity at the supermarket in anticipation of a storm.
Granted, I do not have a car. But as long as my legs work, and I am willing to brave the yellow snow, I can get any necessity I need at the local supermarket, drugstore or liquor store. In fact, where I live, I can pretty much get anything delivered. And I mean anything (tp, laundry detergent and of course, pizza).
I understand that many people who do not live within walking distance, or have delivery services at their beck and call, may flock to their local supermarket for binge buying, to stock up for a storm that may, or may not, come to fruition.
I realize there are necessities one needs that they may not have on hand, should it be the blizzard of the century, and I know the timing isn’t the greatest if you are running low on diapers, medications or baby food. But these are not the shoppers I am referring to.
For the shoppers I am referring to, I have just two questions.
1- How long do people expect to get stuck? Even if they are truly stuck, doesn’t everyone have the stuff in the back of their pantry that they don’t want to eat but is there, and not expired, should they need it? I don’t keep a fully stocked pantry and fridge in my house and I am certain if I got stuck for even <gasp> a week, I’d still be alive. Alive AND thinner. The food I have may not be my first choice, but I certainly wouldn’t be gnawing off my arm for nourishment. I’ll live. I promise.
2 – Why, why, WHY are milk, eggs and bread the first items to be emptied off the shelves? Are people so desperate for omelettes and toast during a storm? Give me ice cream, potato chips and wine, and I am certain that I’d be a happy (albeit, not healthy) camper.
Finally, no matter how you travel, please do it safely.
WordPress has challenged bloggers to post once a day in 2011.
Challenge accepted. I even upped this challenge by figuring out how to include an image. (Hopefully it works when I publish the post. Update: it did!!)
I am slightly caveating this challenge with if I miss a day, or two or three, I will try and make catch up posts so I have (at least) 365 posts by December 31, 2011.
I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring and rewarding. I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the blogger community (that I will need to figure out) with similiar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.
If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments, likes and goodwill along the way.
We’re six days into 2011 and I already have six posts. I’d say that’s a good start so far.
I suppose you can call it that. Or just a sense of perpetual wanderlust that sets in especially in the winter.
It’s the time of year when everyone (or maybe just me) seems to wonder…why do I live where I live? It’s cold. There’s snow. It’s dreary and a little depressing.
Right now, there are people who are living at the beach, leaving windows open for fresh (and warm) air, wearing short sleeves and even sporting bathing suits. Some call it living somewhere nice, some call it vacation and others may call it retirement.
In the meantime, I need a getaway to summertime. Where the living’s easy.
Peeve of the day.
Texting and driving is not the only problem. Yes, texting while you are operating heavy machinery IS dangerous but so is texting and walking on crowded city streets.
Some people do anything and everything except pay attention to where they are going.
I do not have a car so I walk or take public transportation everywhere I need to go. I’ve walked with people who walk while sending emails and texts. I’ve passed people playing games on their phones (yes, as they are walking and yes, I am that nosy to look), using their iPod, iPad or iPhone, reading books (real ones or ebooks), snapping pictures, checking directions on a smartphone (if you are unsure where you are going, move over and stop walking!) and lest we forget, actually talking on the phone (this is a whole other rant for another day).
I am a self-proclaimed klutz. Yet I am almost always intercepted by these people who just don’t pay attention and think the sidewalks should part because they are coming through. It’s not just limited to tech savvy young ‘uns. Just last night I was in the supermarket, leaving with my groceries, and an elderly man simultaneously texting and walking nearly crashed into me. I was holding three heavy bags so my reflexes to move out of his way were slower than normal.
I am all for texting, surfing, reading and playing if you are traveling on public transport, sitting in a waiting room and even standing in line. Because I do it too! But while you are physically walking or moving on city streets…not so much.
Just like with driving, please move over and let those of us actually paying attention to where we are going, pass you by.
Surely there will be more posts along these lines. Observing people behaving badly is so easy with city living.
What to write? I wanted to make sure I wrote something today, so here it is.
Something.
No seriously, I think for days that I have brain farts (like today), I might post old letters that I’ve written and sent to companies. They are entertaining and they’re already written 😉 But not today….have to build suspense. Ha ha.
Funny how spring cleaning moves to January in my home. New year, new start. It’s a great motivator and one of my resolutions. Plus, the weather isn’t so great this time of year so it’s a perfect time to clean house and pare down the year’s clutter.
I’ve compiled bags of clothes to donate and thrown out at least four garbage bags of crap in the past three days. Seriously, stuff I didn’t even know I still had, or wanted. A textbook from college. Pictures with people that I don’t even know. Really?
I have moved a lot so I thought I was already traveling light. Now, even lighter.
I always start the new year with a list of resolutions – that I usually give up on by March. This year, my resolution is to stick with at least one of my resolutions. I’ve got it down to five (usually, it’s close to ten).
Readers – if you’re out there (which I realize is highly unlikely since this blog is just a day old)…do you have any interesting resolutions?
simply three cents 