Airline - I can't watch anymore

[Barbara]

I have to say... we set the Tivo to record "Airline", and I forget about it until I see an episode sitting there, but I just can't watch anymore. The first couple episodes were interesting. All subsequent episdoes have made my DH very frustrated. And now, I am just disgusted with the whole thing.

DH says, "I feel like I'm at work... and it's always a bad day." At first, I didn't know what he meant, since he doesn't deal directly with the passengers. He explained that even though he isn't a CSA or gate agent, all the troublesome & negative 'vibes' trickle up to the cockpit. I know it hasn't been on that long, and I know A&E has picked up a second season, but I feel like I'm watching Jerry Springer.

Do all the freaks fly Southwest? I know better... they're out there on every airline... I don't want to travel anywhere after watching that show, and, we're in the industry! What must the 'average Joe' be thinking when they watch? Sigh. I'm disappointed, because I thought it would actually have to do with aviation and how things run, and not with the freak show element.

[Kristie]

that's what i thought the show was going to be about too... how the airline operates.. but it is more of a jerry springer type show where they try to portray just how "excellent" southwest is when dealing with the type of passengers they have....

i can't watch it either because it's just a bunch of hooey.... if they weren't being filmed, they wouldn't be quite so nice.... that's just obvious... and you know the people being filmed have to sign a consent form and i tend to wonder just how many of them "overplay the scenario"....

Doug runs into those type of pax whenever he flys into florida (NO JOKE!)... and he usually ends up having to - sometimes - throw them off the plane... there's been 3 occasions just in the past month that he's been transfered in atlanta and he's had to do just that...

southwest is kind of what valuejet was -> a flying greyhound... granted, their prices are right.. but how they board and the clientele themselves is very greyhoundish...

[skibum515]

Hey now, I take offense to you calling them greyhoundish. I am one of those poeple who flys southwest, and fairly often seeing as how they are so cheap. Not all of us have enough money to fly other airlines unless they are running a good deal. With southwest having their $99 one way ticket deals it is hard to beat.

also, for one who's flown southwest a decent amount i've never encountered the singing fa's or anything along those lines. they have been nothing short of professional and what i would expect out of any airline fa.

[MQAAord]

I can TOTALLY relate to the "I feel like I'm at work and it's always a bad day" thing. I watched about 5 minutes of the first show, and I turned it off saying "Ugh, it's too much like being at work".

For the first time ever, I was [i:0c7a2f5dcb]glad[/i:0c7a2f5dcb] I was furloughed.

[Kristie]

Emily... I was not trying to offend anyone... that's just what many people (mainly pilots) call southwest....because of it's low prices and good ride...pilots also call passenger planes (no matter the airline) "cattle cars" most of the time - their philosophy..."move em on, move em out.... rawhide" hahaha

Doug and I have taken southwest many times and we enjoy their flights (just not the way they board)... they're a good airline to fly on, they've got good management, good maintenance, very personable F/A's... i have encountered the singing F/A's (they're always on the vegas fights) and everyone usually gets a kick out of them...

I've ridden greyhounds too and there's nothing wrong with those either (except that they make too many stops along the route).. but they're comfy and affordable rides.. same as southwest...

and honestly, I can hardly afford the other airline prices myself, which makes me glad i have non-rev priveleges and that i only pay for a ticket around the holidays.. there'd be no way i'd be going anywhere once a month if i had to pay for the flight!

the only problem I have is that they're normally so packed, that doug and I have a hard time non-revving on them... it's good for them because business is good.. bad for us because we just wanna hitch a ride! haha

I don't hold a thing against southwest or people who use southwest.. more props to you!

[roz]

I haven't seen the show, but I can imagine the scenarios.

I guess it all depends upon your attitude. Charlie is very relaxed and funny. He can diffuse a tense situation easily. He has never had to throw anyone off the plane--he has always been successful at de-escalating the situation. And he says that he loves the Jerry Springer show in the back--they are paying the bills! Of course more and more suits with computers are showing up.

As a frequent paying business passenger I've experienced and witnessed some pretty bizarre and rude behavior on the part of flight crews--all on the majors. And I find it interesting that, as a woman traveling in a business suit, I get treated in a second class manner to the men traveling in business suits. And of course the customers have some pretty strange behaviors too. One of my best trips, however, was on AirTran! In fact all my business traveling on LCC's has been terrific because the crews go out of their way to cater to us. Flying no longer has the glamor associated with the early days of flying.

[Amanda]

I was one of the people really excited about this show before it aired! Nick was also excited because he thought he would be able to see the perspective of the Cpt and FO (especially since he would love to work for one of the majors). Some of the situations are insane-- I agree when you say "very Jerry Springer"! Too bad. It could have been an excellent show.

I know this may be hard to believe, but I've never been on a Southwest flight! I'm from Philly and Southwest will be there in May of this year. I have no idea what to expect on my first flight. Nick loves flying them- he says they have always been very nice.

[skibum515]

heh its all good kristie, sorry i didn't mean to come off as being pissed off, i was still peeved after reading JC earlier.

as far as greyhounds go, i've taken them a couple of times between here and johns, and it sucks. the train is way more comfier and a lot smoother ride, though greyhound is on time more than the train is...(that's a whole 'nother rant!)

[roz]

Amanda, my point is that all airlines are now Jerry Springer. People are used to shopping for the lowest fares. They show up with oversized luggage and pets and expect all will go on board. It's not the same as it was years ago when we got dressed up to travel and behaved with dignity.
So, given that, there is nothing to distinguish the legacy carriers from the LCC's. That is why more suits are gravitating to the LCC's. As a frequent business flyer, I can say that what you are seeing in this program is very similar, IMHO, to what is going on with all the carriers.

[Kristie]

you have a train to ride? SWEET!!! Wish we had a train from here to vegas or whereever

We loved taking the trains over in europe.. they're the bomb!!

yea.. interesting events in JC lately huh?! I can't wait till it gets closer to the election.. hahahhaha we'll see what chunk has to say then! hahaha :roll: