The Frustrations of Modern Flying

Leaving sunny Palm Springs and hoping we can land
in stormy Seattle!

I recently flew with my Chinese friend from Palm Springs to Shanghai, China. It was something that I had planned to do alone and then in a surprise to me, he piggybacked on my flight when we went back to China.

You see, I had planned the trip when it became impossible for him to visit at Christmas. Searching for the best time to visit our original April date got moved to March as he was sure that he would have to go on sea trials on one of the gigantic bulk carriers his company was building, that he was the electrical engineer for. In April though the date was still up in the air. Poking around Expedia I got a fare from Palm Springs to Seattle, then on to Shanghai, China for $490.00 ... cheaper in fact than flying to NYC! I discovered that a day could mean the difference of up to $400.00 a ticket and this was just for coach. Telling him about it he said, “Get it!”

Coach is a misnomer don’t you think? Why don’t they just say “cattle car” and give us bales of hay to sit on. They might actually be softer and more comfortable. At least it would give you something to munch on with far more to eat than those tiny packets of “free” whatever that stuff is. I think someone counts the nuts, pretzels, etc. The taste would not be much different.

Anyway, in one of our January morning FaceTime talks he says, “I will see you in a Month.” “No, I replied, its more like six weeks.” “No, he says again, I WILL see you in a month, from today.” His planned trip to Singapore was changed and he instead decided to fly to LAX and return with me to China. He mirrored my flight.

Immediately I called Expedia and asked them to help me put our seats together. After about 90 minutes it appeared that we were successful and I was sent confirmations that our seats on the Alaska flight to Seattle and the Delta flight to Shanghai had us together. Since the Delta flight was about 12 hours who wants to sit apart?

Five days before we left I had a feeling that something was amiss. I got confirmations about my flights from Expedia to stick into my iPhone calendar and that showed the original seats. Worrying about the Delta flight first I gave them a call.

While not easy to find, I was able to find a phone number, left my message and they called me back right away. We went over the confirmation and seating and she told me that I was set. My number had been changed and that my friend and I were seated together. I asked for a written email and it came as we talked. The only missing assignment was the Alaska flight going to Seattle. I thanked her and then called Alaska.

Alaska also was easy to reach and they too confirmed the seats I had changed two months before. Evidently it was recorded by them and they emailed the complete itinerary for me, going and coming with the seats I had reserved months before.

Palm Springs airport is a dream for flyers. Since our flight was number two of the morning, at 6:10 there were few people and we went through check-in at the counter in a few minutes (no pre-boarding, they needed to see our passports) and moved 6 pounds of goods from one suitcase to another. However, if there is any complaint about this or any American airport its that the rules seem to change like the days. What you did once, you don’t do now. They want to see your electronic devices, then they don’t, or they want them in another basket, sometimes turned on and another time off. I got frisked this time but normally don’t as I have done the TSA Pre-Chek for faster check through. Ah well, nothing has been the same since 9/11. We only waited a short time until we boarded.

We left on time for Seattle. Our weather had been cold and dreary. The final days before we left our Palm Springs weather was back and off we flew to the lands where winter was still in full sway. The flight was uneventful and since neither one of us could sleep the night before we both fell asleep before we left the ground.

SeaTac has to be one of the worst airports in the world. We ALL know LAX is in the top 10 for worst airport in the world; how SeaTac escaped is beyond me. If we asked once, we asked several times how to find our gates. Turns out, unless you’re counting steps that day, you need to take a train. Finding it and using it are like LA freeway signs, they merely tell those who know where they are going they are almost there. Someone needs to grab a few out-of-towners, give them places to find and carefully watch what they do. Luckily we had three hours; we used up one getting from Alaska to Delta!

767's were built until January of 2019. Their first flight though was
 in 1981.  Trust me, the electronics showed it. We sat in the midst
of the plane in darkness and no power for 10 hours

I had never flown Delta before and my friend who is literally a world traveler thought it was a good flight. However, after our trip to China he, as well as I, wasn’t so sure any more. First off as we sat at the gate, the signs cheerfully announced that we were on time and that boarding would be soon. When the boarding time came and there was still no plane we asked how could we board when there was no plane? “It’s coming,” we were told. Finally, a full 30 minutes after boarding time was to start it arrived. Then we waited some more as they checked it out. Boarding finally started with about 20 minutes to leave “on time.” It was during this “boarding” time they decided to fuel the plane. That went on after we boarded, the doors were closed and we were all strapped in. Then, I guess because we missed out departure time we sat. Compared to Chinese airports where you sit in the plane an hour waiting to pull away from the gate we were only delayed 30 minutes.

SeaTac is a busy airport as we saw at least 10 lined up ready to take off. We joined the line after a good 20 minutes getting to the runway lineup. Even though we hadn’t taken off yet, we were told we would arrive early even though we left late. Actually we did but not quite as we expected.

It was a full flight, as usual. I didn’t spot one empty seat. We were served a decent meal soon after we left and there was a good selection of music, TV shows and movies to see, some recent Oscar nominees. However, that soon stopped. For some reason the area of our seats lost all power ... the controls “only” accessible via a TV screen embedded in the seat back died and despite complaining and attempted fixes didn’t work the rest of the flight. It makes for a grim 10 hours where you can’t read, there is little to watch other than on your phone or iPad. We were on the sun side of the plane and opening the shade was like placing a spotlight on everything around us. Uneasily we tried to sleep, I listened a little to music on my headphones and attempted to sleep.

Coming home from Shanghai, not only was my seating area affected by buggy software, the entire plane was. We were told multiple times NOT to touch the control panels as they attempted to boot the entire planes audio-electrical system and finally an hour out things more or less settled down.

This was after the two 737 MAX crashes and after each announcement I wondered, if they can't get this right, what about the flight deck  that is also all software controlled. It leaves a hollow in your stomach, trust me. You are over the open ocean for at least 10 hours.

In short, I wasn’t impressed with my flight and if asked would probably rate it a 3 or 4. In short, I got what I paid for.

However, the fun hadn’t stopped. When we landed we were told that we would be going to a new gate. We actually landed 30 minutes early. As we headed to the gates, and drove and drove to where we finally parked on the tarmac after passing at least 10 empty gates. We were told that we would be taken to the terminal by buses (we were on a 767 packed to the gills) and there was a high step so be careful and since it was raining it could be slick. It WAS high and it was slick..AND wet.

Yup, there we were waiting for the bus to take us to the terminal.
It didn't help gazing at at least 10 empty gates.

Trundled off with carryons and backpacks in hand onto the cold wet ramp, trudging down the stairs and hustling over to the bus where we were packed like sardines, it didn’t take too long and we entered the terminal near immigration. In hindsight it was a plus. As inconvenient as it was, we actually were through the entire immigration process faster than it had taken on several previous trips using a gate. Here too the entering procedure had changed and you truly felt like you were living 1984. Pictures and fingerprints were now collected though not much interest was shown in me but citizens of China were carefully screened. 

At last we were free to go and find our driver to take us to our hotel, a short meal and bed! It had been a long long day, about 29 hours long and all I could think of was stretching out!!!

In my lifetime, flying has literally been reduced, unless you pay from 5 to 10 times coach for business or first class, to my first long trip on a Greyhound bus heading from Portland, OR to Stillwater, OK as a college freshman. In fact, that old Greyhound bus had more room and far more comfortable seats. All we have gained is faster travel, most of the time, as planes are subject to the same restraints of weather as buses or trains. Another flight taken soon after I returned from China flying to and from Memphis, TN in fact was worse. They could get me to Houston but I would have to stay the night and leave for home the next day. I called my son-in-law who came to get me and I stayed another night.

As the victim of a thrombotic blood clot from an airline flight, seat spacing is a real concern. It’s time that the FAA and our government step in and decree what is an acceptable space for passengers. There needs to be a law that “NO” government official can fly anything but coach and has to go through the same travails the average citizen goes through for their flights. You can rest assured this would be the only way meaningful changes would be made that would benefit the rest of us. To me, an elected official is just that, chosen to represent us, not to lord over us. 

Thank you for reading my blog. I invite you to take the time to read earlier blogs where my emphasis is to explore the ways art and design affects our daily lives ... and always has. I share with you what inspires me with the hope that it will inspire you as well. Comments are always welcomed! 

Be sure to check my ETSY store ... KrugsStudio.etsy.com. I am adding many new and exciting, collectible birdhouses and craft items. Many of the items talked about here will be for sale there!