Learn the most from the worst experiances

[katbuad]

How come you always seem to learn the most from horrible experiances, but almost nothing from good experiances?

Went on overnight with hubby to Ft. Lauderdale FL. It was supposed to be a "good" overnight. I was to get there early. Hubby was to get there early. We were going to rent a car. Afternoon report the next day. Should have been great.

It was not. The weather was horrible. His plane was delayed in JFK. I couldn't get on early flight out of Atlanta. On way back couldn't get on first flight out of Ft. Lauderdale. Missed connection in Atlanta because of Ft. Lauderdale. 6 hrs of "airport apperication" in Atlanta. Plus bad communication between hubby and I created some MAJOR problems.

But we did learn some interesting things. . .Hubby attempted to take me through the employee security line in Ft. Lauderdale. The id checker sent me down the line, go ahead. The TSA guy said I had to go through normal line. Litarally, I went back and forth between the two lines several times. Finally Id checker went over to TSA guy. They got into fight (no joke) whether I could use the employee line. I ended up in the normal line, but the id checker was so mad she went and got the TSA superviser. The supervisor came over. He gave the other TSA guy what for. Told him that he didn't own the lines, if a uniformed member of the crew wanted to escort someone, then they could go through the employee/crew line too, any airport anywhere. Supervisor made TSA guy apologize to me and Hubby. Hubby and I didn't say more than two words durning the whole ordeal while they were going at it.

I have been hit or miss through the crew security lines with hubby at various airports. Usually we don't even try unless the normal line is super long. Now I feel pretty confident that I can go through the employee/crew line. Hubby said that was what we were going to go with next time and he would ask for a TSA supervisor if there was a problem.

Another thing I learned. . .pilots in disguise. I never knew this (hubby taught me) that some off duty pilots like to take off their uniform shirts when traveling. Hubby thinks it is to avoid people looks and questions and so if they are placed in first class they too can drink (and in fact the pilot we spotted ended up drinking rum and coke with me in first class on the flight to Atlanta.) Black shoes, black socks, black pants, tee shirt (undershirt) and a normal pull over shirt, crew badge was missing until he flashed it at gate agent to list and get on plane and then he put that back away. I never knew. Anybody else ever heard of this?

Got to fly on several different planes that I had never been on before, including a Song. The Song 757 had personal tv's in front of every seat. I must admit, flying on those big planes (also flew on a 767, but I had been on that before) is quite the thrill and I can see why my hubby has even more goals and dreams of moving on up. Would love to be on a 777, maybe one day. . .

[katbuad]

Oh, just in case anyone is wondering. We did nothing in Ft. Lauderdale. Twenty something hours turned in to way way less. We didn't rent a car. It was raining horribly. We walked to TGIF and the movies (saw Gone Baby Gone, it was good). We had so many more plans, but non rev, flight delays, and bad communication killed those.

[Hokuspocus]

When my dh used to commute (out on ltd right now) he would wear his uniform except for his shirt (he would carry that) because he couldn't wear his uniform in the presidents club in iah. I'm not sure what difference wearing versus holding the shirt was....

[ace12]

I find it very interested that some pilots hide their crew badges- bad form. My DB (well, on the rocks right now- sigh...) always acts the part. I mean that he helps other passengers, doesn't drink, etc. whenever he is commuting or wearing his crew badge for a personal trip. It must give some guys a bad name (especially from a FA's point of view), if they hide their identity.

Katbuad- sorry to hear about your trip. It's all part of the crazy risk, isn't it. It seems to work out most of the time, but your trip to Ft. Lauderdale just goes to show that being a pilot/pilot's wife is not inherently glamorous, etc.!

[christykay]

As ace12 stated- being a pilot/pilot wife is not glamorous, we can all agree with that!

You sound dissappointed because it was supposed to be a "good" overnight? What exactly is the definition of a "good" overnight if you don't mind me asking? So it was raining and your experience with the TSA was a horrible one, but if I read correctly you finally made it through security and found yourself at your destination. As I see it- it's just easier to make the best of any situation. You may not have done everything that was planned, but you found other things to do. You spent some time with DH, which I am assuming was the whole reason for the adventure. Sounds pretty "good" to me.

[lucky81698]

Sorry you had a bad experience with your flights, the weather, the TSA etc. That stinks when your plans don't go as you hope.

As far as traveling in disguise, my husband does as much as possible. We went to TPA/Clearwater Beach 2 weeks ago. He always wears his uniform through security so we can cut the line with him (it was really long) and to carry the contraband (suntan lotion,that type of stuff). Then if we are flying on his own airline, he changes his shirt and puts away his ID. If he is trying to jumpseat on a different airline, he obviously has to keep that stuff on. It's no use hiding your ID when you are in uniform, but out of uniform it used to be the company did not want paying passengers to know you were an employee. I don't see why any FA would care or not whether you were a pilot wearing and ID or not.

[Brenda]

Originally Posted by ace12

I find it very interested that some pilots hide their crew badges- bad form. My DB (well, on the rocks right now- sigh...) always acts the part. I mean that he helps other passengers, doesn't drink, etc. whenever he is commuting or wearing his crew badge for a personal trip. It must give some guys a bad name (especially from a FA's point of view), if they hide their identity.

Katbuad- sorry to hear about your trip. It's all part of the crazy risk, isn't it. It seems to work out most of the time, but your trip to Ft. Lauderdale just goes to show that being a pilot/pilot's wife is not inherently glamorous, etc.!

How is that bad form? When you aren't on duty why should you wear your id? I never wore mine, well, maybe when I first got the job, but then, I hid it. It isn't a requirement to flash it everywhere you go if you aren't in uniform.
My hubby commutes from EVV to ATL. When he comes home to ATL, he usually gets out of uniform cause there is time in between flights, he'll change. Not to drink necessarily, but for compfort. On a typical commute he won't have his flight case, but if there isn't enough time, he will have it and that spots a pilot right off the bat.

[Brenda]

Originally Posted by katbuad

How come you always seem to learn the most from horrible experiances, but almost nothing from good experiances?

Went on overnight with hubby to Ft. Lauderdale FL. It was supposed to be a "good" overnight. I was to get there early. Hubby was to get there early. We were going to rent a car. Afternoon report the next day. Should have been great.

It was not. The weather was horrible. His plane was delayed in JFK. I couldn't get on early flight out of Atlanta. On way back couldn't get on first flight out of Ft. Lauderdale. Missed connection in Atlanta because of Ft. Lauderdale. 6 hrs of "airport apperication" in Atlanta. Plus bad communication between hubby and I created some MAJOR problems.

But we did learn some interesting things. . .Hubby attempted to take me through the employee security line in Ft. Lauderdale. The id checker sent me down the line, go ahead. The TSA guy said I had to go through normal line. Litarally, I went back and forth between the two lines several times. Finally Id checker went over to TSA guy. They got into fight (no joke) whether I could use the employee line. I ended up in the normal line, but the id checker was so mad she went and got the TSA superviser. The supervisor came over. He gave the other TSA guy what for. Told him that he didn't own the lines, if a uniformed member of the crew wanted to escort someone, then they could go through the employee/crew line too, any airport anywhere. Supervisor made TSA guy apologize to me and Hubby. Hubby and I didn't say more than two words durning the whole ordeal while they were going at it.

I have been hit or miss through the crew security lines with hubby at various airports. Usually we don't even try unless the normal line is super long. Now I feel pretty confident that I can go through the employee/crew line. Hubby said that was what we were going to go with next time and he would ask for a TSA supervisor if there was a problem.

Another thing I learned. . .pilots in disguise. I never knew this (hubby taught me) that some off duty pilots like to take off their uniform shirts when traveling. Hubby thinks it is to avoid people looks and questions and so if they are placed in first class they too can drink (and in fact the pilot we spotted ended up drinking rum and coke with me in first class on the flight to Atlanta.) Black shoes, black socks, black pants, tee shirt (undershirt) and a normal pull over shirt, crew badge was missing until he flashed it at gate agent to list and get on plane and then he put that back away. I never knew. Anybody else ever heard of this?

Got to fly on several different planes that I had never been on before, including a Song. The Song 757 had personal tv's in front of every seat. I must admit, flying on those big planes (also flew on a 767, but I had been on that before) is quite the thrill and I can see why my hubby has even more goals and dreams of moving on up. Would love to be on a 777, maybe one day. . .

I am so sorry you couldn't get out and wander around FLL. At least you did get there and not ended up in diverted city, lol.
I love it, Airport Appreciation, lol. Hubby does a lot of that with the commuting since he has to have 2 flights before his report to be covered under his commute clause, sigh.
Don't be afraid to try it again.

[BAC]

I agree with christykay... I consider a good 'overnight' when I can actually spend time with my boyfriend on his days away from home.

Keep trying.. its all part of the fun of non-reving!!

[flyershoe]

Originally Posted by BAC

I agree with christykay... I consider a good 'overnight' when I can actually spend time with my boyfriend on his days away from home.

Keep trying.. its all part of the fun of non-reving!!

I consider it a good overnight if I:

a) actually get to the intended city and
b) spend less time in airports than at my destination!

A few months back, I had planned on tagging along on BF's LFT trip... hours spent at destination: ~14. Hours spent at airport/traveling: 24. I told my bf that I should've gone to Paris instead!!