Bethany sent along this great link to Zagat’s latest survey of customer satisfaction in the airline industry. Really funny stuff here. Choice quotes:
“Need air marshals to protect passengers from crew.”
“Cabin staff treats you like a stranger crashing a dinner party – only they don’t serve food.”
“Economy class is like the Bataan Death March with carry-on luggage.”
“I’ll start with the good: Web site easy to navigate. That’s the end of the good.”
That is just a few, there are many more equally funny. This is a must read.
I also find it somewhat sad that it has gotten so bad. When I was a kid, I used to fly all the time. My Grandmother flew a lot and very often took me on trips with her. I even would fly alone sometimes, under the care of the stewardesses (yes, that is what they were then). I remember everyone being so friendly. They always gave me the chance to see the cockpit and talk to the captain. I lived for the little tin wings he would pin on my lapel, which I had of course, because people still dressed up to travel. I remember the food being pretty good and served on real plates with real silverware which I would sometimes sneak in my pocket for an extra souvenir. I must have had a full set of silverware from every airline we flew for a while.
And the planes! Braniff painted each one of their 727 Whisperjets a different bright seventies color. I always tried to guess the color of the jet we would be flying on before we got to the terminal. Then, one day, I saw across the tarmac a Braniff that had been painted like a Mondrian. Oh my god! I have to ride that plane. I prayed for several trips afterwards that I would get to ride that plane. I never did but it has stuck with me for a long time. There were other airlines of course. Republic, Piedmont, Northwest Orient, Delta, we flew them too. Not quite Braniff, but still, it was always fun to fly.
Well, have I got a musical for you, then! Plane Crazy!
http://planecrazythemusical.com/
Disclamer: I haven’t actually seen this musical. But I did see a wicked cool musical about Siamese Twins called “Sideshow”, but that, of course, is a different story.
Oh that just looks great. Thanks for the tip Randy. I will have to try to see that the next time life finds me in NYC
RE: Braniff
when I was scheduled to return home from vietnam, I was allowed to pick the color of my plane (Braniff).
at the time runway was under constant mortar/rocket attacks…so I chose a Black Jet, at night, and added an extra couple of days in-country just to be on the safe side.
choice is good.
lyndonk