Comments on: Do-good passenger slams elite seatmate in open letter

By: abass

abass — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:21:12 +0000

Small Business owners are largely forgotten. Thats why I only focus on them. I have experience several members of my family file bankruptcy due to small business failures. I also I suffered through 2 destroyed businesses due to failure however, in my failings I have learned some of the secrets to success. (Who can say they know it all?)
What I like about small business owners is that they are not afraid to take huge risks and lay it all on the line. But, I agree they do need a lot of help with their marketing. I think having them go the social media and email route is not only the least expensive but its also the most effective. Thanks for the stats!
onlineuniversalwork

By: Topher

Topher — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:03:16 +0000

Over Halloween weekend, I flew Delta to Chicago from Minneapolis for a much-needed getaway. What should have been a 52-minute flight, was delayed by three and a half hours or so due to mechanical problems that required the airline to change aircraft/gates for the flight. When I got to the new gate, there was a woman behind me who complained, incessantly, about the fact that she had been bumped off the upgrade list for some reason, and as a result would be flying coach. The flight was full, everyone was cranky as a result of being delayed for so long, and this woman complained to everyone within earshot of how ridiculous it was for her to have to fly coach to Chicago. I wanted to scream, GET OVER YOURSELF LADY, IT’S A 52-MINUTE FLIGHT.

By: MJ’s Travel Favorites 11-1-09 | Traveling with MJ

MJ’s Travel Favorites 11-1-09 | Traveling with MJ — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:42:10 +0000

[...] Elliott brings us a tale of two passengers, one nice guy, and one elite, not-so-nice guy. Frequent travelers, does the story ring all too familiar? [...]

By: Joe Farrell

Joe Farrell — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:39:17 +0000

back when the airlines did that triple miles deal – I needed 2 segments and 3000 miles – I lived in LA at the time. The flights to SFO and Seattle and Phoenix cost about $125 each way and would not give me the distance I needed. It was $79 to NY. So – one Saturday I went to the airport in the evening, red eye out, same airplane – 730am flight back to LA. Slept out, slept back – $170 later with taxes I’ve got triple miles and platinum status in TWA’s program for another year. Got back in time to meet the wife at church at 10.30a. That was back when the airplane flew a little faster than they do now. So the 730a JFK departure got me back to LA at 930a instead of 1030 like they do now.

As for being nice yeah, it works. 2 weeks ago I flew USAir on a free ticket. I have silver status on USAir. As I walked up the gate in CT I saw a truly goregous sunrise beginning behind the counter – and I told the woman she needed to turn around and take a look. She did – it was spectacular – salmon and gold and red decorating the underside of some mid-level stratus. She was an attractive lady and I told her so – no one likes to be working the 5am shift and she smiled at the complement. I moved off to the side to wait for the elite preboard. She asked me my name – and handed me a first class boarding pass – it was a short flight – to Charlotte, and I was an elite so it was easy to do – but sometimes not asking is the best way. And honestly – I wasn’t even trying it was pretty morning and she was a very attractive woman.

By: barbie45

barbie45 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:19:07 +0000

Dori be realistic not going to happen period ; flight attendants have more to do than separate good and bad passengers; whats annoying to you might not be annoying to me. If a child is constantly kicking your seat do not onfront the parent.call thFA over explain you have had back surgery or something like that; surely some good natured slob will change with you; maybe even the charity guy who is so againt elite travelers; screaming baby; you have a migraine or sever non contagious ear infection; maybe you can get moved; remember ifants are non paying passengers occasionally; if I had kids I WOULD DRUG THEM.

By: Dori

Dori — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:23:14 +0000

I fly a fair amount, always on my on dime, have elite status with different airlines but usually not enough to get more than a free checked bag. I usually try to be nice and hope for the best and plan for the worst and I love Chicky’s idea of a back of the plane jail. The lessor offendors could be the buffer row with the rest of the plane. Oh wait, who decides whats really bad behavior?

By: barbie45

barbie45 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:27:09 +0000

Cindy; it is wonderful that you are the model passenger; gee most people are but they do not brag about it; who really cares.

By: Liz Zollner

Liz Zollner — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:31:42 +0000

I’d like the airlines to know that, as a result of constantly mistreating casual fliers by calling us “self-loading baggage” and treating us as such, we have decided to severely limit our flying. Every 18 months or so, we may fly to an exotic vacation destination. Other than that, we drive everythwere in the US and Canada that we want to go. We have more time than money, and that’s how we choose to spend it: NOT being treated like annoying trash by the airlines.

We used to fly several times a year, including to many domestic destinations. We could still afford to, but we won’t. We won’t pay to be abused. We encourage other people who have the time to travel by car and rail to quit flying. Maybe the airlines won’t care, but they can’t mistreat you if you stay away from them.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:18:14 +0000

I started to read the above responses but admittedly stopped about a quarter of the way down..I am not an elite passenger although I do fly at least 10 times a year and my view on all of this is elite or not elite, manners and common sense have to play a role.. I don’t care if you are sitting in the front or the back of the plane!
And sorry elite people out there, this is not to say that all of you are behaving badly but if you are one of them that are behaving badly then you are no better than those that you complain about.
Each of us, no matter the status can and should show common sense and think before we talk or demand anything rudely..
Manners are something that each of us should know and have when dealing with any circumstance or person…
I pay my own way and sit in the small seats, I roll with the punches and when I do get to my destination rather than being cranky and whiny I am one happy camper..
Oh and by the way.. I also help that elderly person lift their bag into the overhead bin..

By: barbie45

barbie45 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:42:49 +0000

Greg ; please do not fly AIR FRANCE; every one just boards at once ; no such things as lines; but boy do they serve fantastic food ; and DE Galle airport is one of the most friendly around; I wanted a cigarrette so badly, and one of the emplyees told me to use the ladies room; Iwas so grateful; also do not cruise on a a Costa ship which is a EUROPEAN VERSION OF Carnival; no one lines up people cut right and left and hold up chairs; did no bother me; as long as Igot what Iwanted.