And we're off again....

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by lucky81698

Roz, did you by chance fly on USAir? If so, I know what you mean. I flew on them from BOS-PIT in September. Now they have the flight attendants trying to get people to sign up for credit cards. They make an announcement and walk up and down the aisle passing out enrollment forms. The guy said they get a commission for everyone they get signed up! The lady in front of me took a form but decided not to do it when she realized there was a $50 annual fee for the card. When the FA came to collect it, he walked away in a huff because she changed her mind. I thought this was extremely tacky for an airline to do.

They do that on the domestic Delta flights too...and the other thing I don't like about the TO flights is that the FA's are now required to try and sell duty free while in flight... I'm thinking, if i didn't buy it before the flight, why would i want it during when i can't even receive it till after landing? but it's just part of their job.

[flygirl813126]

Ah the joys of airline travel. I think after 6 years of supporting my pilot that I should get some travel, but he is happy not at the airlines for now. He is thinking about heading to corporate now...we'll see how that goes. He doesn't have turbine time yet, so it is still a long way off. For now I will just enjoy my private charter service of him flying me places (like DTW)

I am extremely jealous of your trip. I haven't even been out of the country yet, though I have hit a lot of states.

[lucky81698]

Originally Posted by Kristie

They do that on the domestic Delta flights too...and the other thing I don't like about the TO flights is that the FA's are now required to try and sell duty free while in flight... I'm thinking, if i didn't buy it before the flight, why would i want it during when i can't even receive it till after landing? but it's just part of their job.

Oh you are kidding me! I was so embarrased for the poor flight attendants. i'm sure they feel like complete idiots doing that credit card thing. The only one that didn't on my flight was the guy that walked away in a huff when the lady changed her mind. I always remember them offering duty free in flight, but never really pushing it.

[roz]

Doug,

I know you're not barking at me. But you are generalizing. Not all of us who buy tickets a lot fall into that stereotype.

I don't have a card that earns miles. I earn my miles the hard way--by buying tickets and flying. I don't do mileage runs and I don't ask for much. But, when you have to wait an hour and a half to get a drink of water because the FA's first have to hawk credit cards, then hawk snacks for $3, that is a new low! You know, I flew up to MHT to visit my HR web friends on SWA. It was a one hour flight that was full. They served two rounds of drinks and were pleasant!

What I am saying is that, a lot of us frequent flyers are leaving the programs because service is so poor. That is why you are seeing empty seats on international flights. And, one of the perks of being in the program and being a member of the alliance is that upgrades are included. So, if employees think they should be upgraded over someone who pays full fares to travel over 200,000 miles per year, then that is what is wrong.

But, I'll keep this in mind as I book my next four figure non-refundable (don't ask what they charge for refundable tickets or upgraded classes!) ticket! Oh, wait, BA is only $550--and for the same four figures I can buy an upgraded ticket. See why people are leaving?

I do have an AMEX. When I redeem my points for miles, the airline is getting paid. Heck, Delta borrowed against AMEX miles to avoid bankruptcy in 2004. It's worth A LOT of money to the airlines.

[rgphib]

I am so jealous! I want to go overseas! I just got my passport in May of this year. My name was all screwed up from changing my middle name when we got married so I finally went to court in March to have my name legally changed.

Now that i have my passport I have not gone anywhere! It is so had to take time off with my job (teacher) and the times when DH and I can travel, the planes are full (school vacation).

It is getting so bad that I might just buy my tickets to Florida in April so that I can enjoy my vacation instead of worrying if I will be able to non-rev home! We usually go to Hawaii in February but we are afraid our Continental pass privledges are going to be downgraded (right now CAL/Express have had same privledges based on Date of Hire), there is talk that come the new year it will be- CAL employeess, CAL Family, CAL buddy pass and then Express. So basically we won't get on any flights anymore. At least I got to get to Hawaii for 4 years in a row

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by flygirl813126

Ah the joys of airline travel. I think after 6 years of supporting my pilot that I should get some travel, but he is happy not at the airlines for now. He is thinking about heading to corporate now...we'll see how that goes. He doesn't have turbine time yet, so it is still a long way off. For now I will just enjoy my private charter service of him flying me places (like DTW)

I am extremely jealous of your trip. I haven't even been out of the country yet, though I have hit a lot of states.

see, that's where we differ.. cuz altho i love going out of the country and all... i'm kinda jealous that your hubby takes you up flying.. mine won't even get in anything smaller than a jet anymore!! but hey, we take what we can take right? haha

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by rgphib

I am so jealous! I want to go overseas! I just got my passport in May of this year. My name was all screwed up from changing my middle name when we got married so I finally went to court in March to have my name legally changed.

Now that i have my passport I have not gone anywhere! It is so had to take time off with my job (teacher) and the times when DH and I can travel, the planes are full (school vacation).

It is getting so bad that I might just buy my tickets to Florida in April so that I can enjoy my vacation instead of worrying if I will be able to non-rev home! We usually go to Hawaii in February but we are afraid our Continental pass privledges are going to be downgraded (right now CAL/Express have had same privledges based on Date of Hire), there is talk that come the new year it will be- CAL employeess, CAL Family, CAL buddy pass and then Express. So basically we won't get on any flights anymore. At least I got to get to Hawaii for 4 years in a row

i find that buying my tickets to florida generally works best because you can hardly ever get there on a non-rev, no matter what airline your flying!!

you could easily go overseas on your vacation in february.. not many traveling during winter overseas, so the loads should be fairly good!

[flygirl813126]

Originally Posted by Kristie

see, that's where we differ.. cuz altho i love going out of the country and all... i'm kinda jealous that your hubby takes you up flying.. mine won't even get in anything smaller than a jet anymore!! but hey, we take what we can take right? haha

It is awesome to fly with him. It is very cool to look at teh ground after the first snow, or see the colors changing. It is a very different way of travel. It is all about looking at what you have as the glass half full (I was going to add the beer smiley, but couldn't.)

[Amanda]

Originally Posted by flygirl813126

It is awesome to fly with him. It is very cool to look at teh ground after the first snow, or see the colors changing. It is a very different way of travel. It is all about looking at what you have as the glass half full (I was going to add the beer smiley, but couldn't.)

I remember that! When I first met Nick (even before we dated), he took me up in the Cessnas (he was a CFI/CFII/MEI). He even flew me for dinner to Sedona from Phoenix, which was amazing. Our first Christmas he took me up over the city and we looked at all of the beautiful lights.
A

[Kristie]

I gotta talk doug into doing that this xmas!!! that would be a ton of fun!!