Tag Archives: airplanes

The Dirt on Dirty Airplanes

If you thought that the restrooms on your last flight departing from Los Angeles or San Francisco international airports were filthy wait until you see them now. Passengers complaining about unclean facilities say they were “repulsed” and “disgusted” at the sight of the bathrooms. But get this–the people in charge of cleaning the onboard restrooms are not disputing the claims. Union workers who clean airplanes at both the L.A. and San Francisco airports blame the dirty bathrooms on serious understaffing and lack of equipment. The maintenance workers claim they aren’t being given the time or resources to properly do their … Continue reading →

How Do You NOT Know When Your Child has Gone Missing at an Airport?

A real life version of the big screen hit “Home Alone” took place in Canada on Monday and despite hearing the story multiple times I still don’t see how a 23-month-old boy could be “inadvertently” left behind in a gigantic airport. So here’s the deal: According to The Vancouver Sun, a family immigrating to Canada from the Philippines claims the mix-up occurred during a last minute scramble to a catch their plane. Jun Parreno, the boy’s father, told the paper he, his wife and the tot’s two grandparents were desperately trying to make their connecting flight from Vancouver to Winnipeg … Continue reading →

Would You Walk Barefoot in an Airplane?

Frankly, the idea repulses me. Especially given the recent rodent sightings reported by airline passengers. Still, I have to admit I have seen (and winced at) literally dozens of passengers on my flights to and from Hawaii who feel compelled to stroll about the cabin sans shoos. Perhaps, it’s because one of my best friends is a flight attendant for one of the nation’s largest airlines and she doesn’t hesitate to share the horror stories detailing what has been dragged on airplane floors. (I won’t even dare divulge the wretched items she has seen on the plane’s bathroom floors.) Regardless, … Continue reading →

Cellphones at 35,000 Feet

Does listening to folks yak incessantly on their cellphones in restaurants or on buses drive you mad? Well, consider how you would feel if Johnny Blabber was given the green light to talk all he wanted on his cellphone during a trans-Atlantic flight. It could happen…and sooner than you think. Earlier this week the European Union opened the way for air travelers to use cellphones to talk, text or send e-mails on planes flying throughout Europe’s airspace. According to travel experts, midair cellphone service may be available in a few months on some airlines for passengers using European GSM technology. … Continue reading →

Meals Most of Us WON’T Be Dining on at 35,000 Feet

A new study shows that today’s average first-class, round-trip ticket costs $13,000. (So basically you could buy a compact car or fly in luxury for a day.) For that amount of money you are not guaranteed a delay-free flight or one that is void of turbulence. Heck, for $13,000 the airline can’t even promise that your luggage will arrive at your final destination in one piece. However, what you are guaranteed in first class is a four-star meal. Champagne, caviar, lobster—-you name it. These days the sky is the limit when it comes to dining on fancy food in first … Continue reading →

Are You In Favor Of “Cattle-Call” Boarding?

There was a lot of attention paid to discount giant Southwest Airlines this week. First, the low-cost carrier announced it would no longer be allowing families with children to pre-board flights. Then, the company revealed that it would be sticking to its unique open seating policy—-a process many passengers have nicknamed the “cattle call.” In a previous blog I told you about Southwest’s efforts to experiment with different seating strategies. The carrier spent the summer running several different seating and boarding tests in San Diego and San Antonio. And according to airline executives, the results of those tests convinced them … Continue reading →

The Noisy Airplane Ride – Mike Downs

Are you planning to fly anywhere this upcoming holiday season? If so, “The Noisy Airplane Ride” might be a great way to help prepare your children for the trip so they know what to expect. Written by Mike Downs, an airline pilot, you get the inside scoop on everything that goes on during an airplane ride, complete with illustrations. First we see a boy and his family walking down the Jetway, getting on the plane, and buckling up. They experiment with the vent above their seats that sends cool air down for them to breathe. Then the tug comes along … Continue reading →

Are Airlines Becoming More Family Friendly?

Well, at least one is trying to be. Southwest Airlines recently announced that it is experimenting with innovative ways to board and seat traveling families. The company calls it their “Family Boarding and Seating Plan” and has been testing out a few different ways to conduct boarding for those people single passengers glare at in the gate area. According to Southwest officials, most of the testing has been done on flights departing from San Antonio, Texas. Some of the boarding and seating options being tested by the airline include: having designated rows for family seating, having families board with no … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits: How Do I Get A Seat and Not Taking It Sitting Down

HOW DO I GET A SEAT? You don’t have to be a frequent flier to know that flying anywhere during the busy summer travel season can cause major stress. Couple a ton of seasonal travelers with seasonal thunderstorms and you’re looking at the potential for some major delays or cancellations. Which begs the question, with airplanes bulging with passengers, when flights are canceled, what becomes of the thousancs of stranded passengers? And what happens when all those displaced fliers have to compete for just a few extra seats on later flights? Individual carriers follow their own rules on figuring out … Continue reading →

Visiting Pearl Harbor’s Newest Attraction

Imagine taking flight with your son over the Hawaiian Islands on a peaceful Sunday morning. You’re piloting an Aeronca 65TC, sportstrainer airplane en route to Honolulu. The views are incredible, you’re enjoying your son’s company, and the ride is as smooth as silk. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, you encounter the first wave of Japanese Zero fighters on their way to attack Pearl Harbor. Next thing you know, your plane is being riddled with machine gun fire and you’re fighting to keep it in the air. Sounds like the stuff movies are made of (a version of the scene was … Continue reading →