How Has Airline Travel Changed?

Compared to when there used to be more legroom and not all seats were filled, today's airplanes seem to have shrunk considerably. 'Bums in seats' have become an important statistic. Additional controls put in place after 9/11 have not helped either. Having to be at the airport hours before take off really adds to the time needed to get from point A to point B. Greater adherence to airline weight restrictions makes packing and deciding what to pack an ever more ominous chore and lightweight quality rolling carry on luggage becomes ever more important in making airline travel bearable. Airline luggage restrictions can turn airline travel into something we dread. I used to look forward to airline travel very much. So did our kids. The air travel part of the holiday was something we would not have wanted to do without; even though rolling carry on luggage was still in it's infancy. Now? I'm not so sure. Airline travel has changed! Yes, there were no movies, but we could listen to music, read, or get to know our neighbor. We used to visit more and depend on being entertained less Thinking back, one trip in particular stands out. It was just I and the three children, 3, 8 and 10. You would think the quicker we got the flight over with the better, but no. In those days there was legroom even in economy. Flight attendants – we called them stewardesses – were picture perfect in appearance and customer service. Meals were served on real china and the cutlery was silver. Our kids played cat's cradle with kids they had just met, while we parents socialized across the aisle. All this has changed. The expectation today is for cheap airline travel. It is no longer anything we expect to save for until the necessary funds are in place. In the past, the only cheaper rates available were through a registered group that chartered an airplane. Today all airlines try to cut costs because that is what the customer seems to want. Costs are cut at the expense of quality of service. Fortunately, some airlines try very hard to reinvent customer service — no meals, but stand-up comics for flight attendants. Screens built into the back of the seat in front of you permit TV watching and game playing. What suffers, in my opinion, is communication between passengers. Being aware of the carry on limits has become more important than ever, and checking airline exemptions ahead of packing is more than just a good idea. Fortunately today's more lightweight materials help keep the weight of the empty luggage in check, thus making airline travel bearable. More neighborly interaction with fellow passengers would make it more enjoyable. Compared to when there used to be more legroom and not all seats were filled, today's airplanes seem to have shrunk considerably. 'Bums in seats' have become an important statistic. Additional controls put in place after 9/11 have not helped either. Having to be at the airport hours before take off really adds to the time needed to get from point A to point B. Greater adherence to airline weight restrictions makes packing and deciding what to pack an ever more ominous chore and lightweight quality rolling carry on luggage becomes ever more important in making airline travel bearable. Airline luggage restrictions can turn airline travel into something we dread. I used to look forward to airline travel very much. So did our kids. The air travel part of the holiday was something we would not have wanted to do without; even though rolling carry on luggage was still in it's infancy. Now? I'm not so sure. Airline travel has changed! Yes, there were no movies, but we could listen to music, read, or get to know our neighbor. We used to visit more and depend on being entertained less Thinking back, one trip in particular stands out. It was just I and the three children, 3, 8 and 10. You would think the quicker we got the flight over with the better, but no. In those days there was legroom even in economy. Flight attendants – we called them stewardesses – were picture perfect in appearance and customer service. Meals were served on real china and the cutlery was silver. Our kids played cat's cradle with kids they had just met, while we parents socialized across the aisle. All this has changed. The expectation today is for cheap airline travel. It is no longer anything we expect to save for until the necessary funds are in place. In the past, the only cheaper rates available were through a registered group that chartered an airplane. Today all airlines try to cut costs because that is what the customer seems to want. Costs are cut at the expense of quality of service. Fortunately, some airlines try very hard to reinvent customer service — no meals, but stand-up comics for flight attendants. Screens built into the back of the seat in front of you permit TV watching and game playing. What suffers, in my opinion, is communication between passengers. Being aware of the carry on limits has become more important than ever, and checking airline exemptions ahead of packing is more than just a good idea. Fortunately today's more lightweight materials help keep the weight of the empty luggage in check, thus making airline travel bearable. More neighborly interaction with fellow passengers would make it more enjoyable. How Has Airline Travel Changed? is a post from: Traveling China from Traveling China http://www.chinaya.org

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