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 how passengers are rebooked. Here’s how American Airlines (the airline I frequent) doles out those precious seats: Elderly and disabled passengers, and unaccompanied minors, receive first priority. Next up: frequent fliers — those who have achieved “platinum” and “executive platinum” status in American’s program. All other passengers are added to a master list and are ranked by how early they checked in for their flight. The last to check in are at the bottom of the list, which could mean waiting days for an available seat.
NOT TAKING IT SITTING DOWN
One of the boys (he’s now a man) I babysat for when I was in high school is an air-traffic controller in California. I instantly thought of him when I heard how irate some air traffic controllers are about new government dress-code rules. According to news reports, some male air traffic controllers are showing their “displeasure in high-flying fashion,” by wearing women’s clothes.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s dress code was instituted in September, but some air traffic controllers are still upset about the changes. The new dress code bars jogging outfits, halter tops, shorts and jeans. Meanwhile, FAA approved clothing items include dress slacks, casual shirts with collars and sweaters. (Midnight-shift workers are exempt.)
According to media reports, several times during the past year male air traffic controllers have worn dresses or kilts to work to protest what they call the “silliness” of the dress code, which prevents some types of clothing but does not bar men from wearing dresses. Among other dress-code grievances, according to news reports, “at the FAA’s Cleveland Air Route Control Center in Oberlin, one controller was disciplined because he wore an orange shirt that a supervisor said ‘looked like a highway traffic cone,’ and another was told his aquamarine pants were ‘not gender appropriate’ for a man.”
Personally, I don’t care what an air traffic controller wears as long as he or she remains alert during his or her shift.
Related Articles:
Preparing For Travel Delays–Part 2