Foo - The rules don't apply to me! (a flying rant)

I'm amazed every time I fly how many people think the security rules don't apply to them. I'm in line at the security gate, they announce over and over that liquid, gels... aren't allowed on the plane, so take them out of our carry on, and yet people keep slowing down the line because they have liquid, gels... in their carry on. Then they get all pissed when security searches and throws the stuff out. The guy in front of me had that stuff in his bag, he got all upset when they told him he couldn't bring it on the plane and turned to me and said "come on, do I look like a terrorist?" No you look like an a$$hole, follow the rules like everyone else.
Now I'm am at my gate, flying US Air. They announce people sitting in Zone 1 and 2 can board, and I watch as the ticket checker has to tell about half a dozen people they can't board yet because they aren't in zone 1 or 2. Apparently they are too stupid to look at their ticket. These are usually the ones with a refrigerator box sized carry on. I wish the airlines would enforce the carry on size rule!
Now we are on the plane. The guy two seats over is banging away on his lap top. They make the announcement to turn off all electronic devices, because we're getting ready to take off, and still this guy has to be told THREE time by the flight attendant to turn off, and of course he's pissed about it because, of course the rules shouldn't apply to him.
I figure between 29% and 37% of all people who fly are complete morons who need a severe ass kicking!

Now now efrobert. It will be okay. Don't you fret now, don't you fret. *pats efrobert on back and kisses top of his head*

Flying in general is a pain.
Some of my pet peeves are when it's time to get off the plane and there is always someone in front of you that takes forever to get their bag out of the overhead and why do people have to have their whole family stand at the baggage carosel making it hard for everyone else to see their luggage?

I reattach the bolts to my neck when I fly. When I growl at people who slow things down, it has more effect...

The best way to avoid this behavior is to not fly.

Given that the whole security system is pretty lame, one could say it's stupidity all around.

the liquid\gel thing is confusing. my GF flies a lot for work and apparently you are allowed to have liquids\gels if they are a) under a certain size and b) in a plastic container (why on earth does that make a difference?).

people should just avoid the hassle and not bring them, BUT the rule is entirely stupid IMO.

flying is one of those human activities that places everyone in the same boat (or plane as it is). anytime you're in contact with the general population - you're going to encounter countless idiots. it's like going to the DMV. lots of idiots there too.

I suspect it's the casual once a year travelers. Those of us that have to learn how to make it as painless as possible.

Joe
:beer:

anytime you're in contact with the general population - you're going to encounter countless idiots. it's like going to the DMV. lots of idiots there too.

Ding ding, We have a winner.

Include WalMart to the list.

What is this thing you speak of??? Rules....hmm....

I really wish sometimes it was legal to rain down a flurry of pimpslaps upon people that stupid.

Funiest airline moment ever....man in front of me....jerk thought his blackberry was more important than us getting to our destination....his kid decided to punch it out of his hands until he turned it off.....priceless :D

Ding ding, We have a winner.

Include WalMart to the list.
;)

Ha! Yeah, security is one thing, but my peeves are people who can't get on, stow their bags, and sit down. Airlines should limit carry-ons to one small bag, including a laptop, or a purse. No exceptions. My wife and I carry one small item each, swoop into our row while sliding the bags under the seat in front of us in one amazingly smooth and efficient motion. :p

Then there are the "seat-grabbers", who can't seem to get out of their seats without yanking your seatback. Ah, the joys of commercial aviation. :rolleyes:

Yeah I am with you there. They need more air marshals that once your told............oh yeah, once, then they come up to you and politely take your crap you have on......cell phone or PC and place it on the aisle floor and smash the begeezies out of it and say to them......"Thank you for flying US Air".

I hate those self pompous a$$holes too. They should be headshot.

This is why I drive or take the train. I have only flown 2 times in the past 5 years and both were due to last minute circumstances. Otherwise, I have driven from Florida to Socal, Nevada, Washington, Virginia, New Hampshire, etc. The train is my preferred choice because they can haul my car, so makes life easier at the destination rather than playing the car rental game.

The best way to avoid this behavior is to not fly.

Or fly yourself. That's what I've done on my last two trips. Much better way to go! Quicker, too, door to door, in many cases. And I can bring as much water as I want and my luggage doesn't get lost.

Or fly yourself. That's what I've done on my last two trips. Much better way to go! Quicker, too, door to door, in many cases. And I can bring as much water as I want and my luggage doesn't get lost.
How does that work out costwise, mile-for-mile, in comparison with a commercial flight in coach?

How does that work out costwise, mile-for-mile, in comparison with a commercial flight in coach?

Really depends on how far you're going.

And if you're willing to factor in training costs...

Or fly yourself. That's what I've done on my last two trips. Much better way to go! Quicker, too, door to door, in many cases. And I can bring as much water as I want and my luggage doesn't get lost.
I envy you...

One of the things I wished I had was a commercial pilot's license, and enough cash for a decent twin-engine Cessna.

No waiting, no whining, no babies going off like air raid sirens in your ear, no elbow to elbow squeezes with schmucks with colds (which you will catch hours after leaving the plane), just drive to the General Aviation section, park, go to where your plane is tied down (or if you are lucky/rich your airplane hangar), do the paperwork, get flight clearance, and take off.

Around Texas, there are a number of resorts with landing strips where you can schedule needed repairs, fly over, and have a mini vacation while the props are serviced.

I'm amazed ......................................snip............. of course the rules shouldn't apply to him.
I figure between 29% and 37% of all people who fly are complete morons who need a severe ass kicking!

I think your figures are a little low but agree with the solution. On my last (at least I hope it was) airline adventure, I thought I had caught a break. Two of three seats in the row ahead of me were empty as was the seat next to me and the entire row behind me. No one had boarded for the past ten minutes and the Flight Attendants were getting ready for departure when they came running down the aisle... four feral children and a woman carrying a pizza box the size of a table for four. The little boy who was to sit between me and the poor soul in the window seat registered his disapproval of the seating plan by screaming non-stop for about two minutes at ~125 db. Mom seemed not to notice and the nice lady in the aisle seat in the row in front of me offered to trade with young Frankenstein. I offered to buy her dinner and drinks.

The flight attendant broke the sad news that the XXX large pizza had to be stowed in the overhead bins or under the seat. Not so! Said mom. That's our dinner. The kids are hungry. And she passed around several slices to each of the kinder... to hold on their laps as the plane took off. The harried Flight Attendant figured that's as good as it was going to get and let it pass.
The kids spent the rest of the 3 hour flight to Minneapolis throwing pizza at each other and smearing the rest on whatever part of the plane was within reach.

Short of having to pick up a winning Powerball ticket, I can think of nothing important enough to get me on another of those winged social experiments that pass for air travel in this century.

How does that work out costwise, mile-for-mile, in comparison with a commercial flight in coach?

In almost all cases it'll be more expensive for the direct costs. For example, when I flew to Chapel Hill last summer from Newport, it took me about 3+ hours each way, maybe 3.5, so say 7 hours total. At average of 15 gallons per hour, that's 105 gallons of avgas at $4/gallon. So, I was looking at $420 for fuel. My government rate ticket would have been something like $250 (which is all I get reimbursed). However, I flew directly to the Chapel Hill field from the field down the street from my house. Door to door, I was probably an hour faster than taking the airlines. Plus I got to fly!

When I flew to Norfolk last fall, I took a passenger with me. Since I get reimbursed for both our travel costs up to the cost of Government rate tickets, I actually broke even on that one. But, it was under 3 hours door to door. I filled out all the forms and landed right on base making it much more convenient. Some other people from here went to the same meeting. They left at noon for the airport. I left here at 5PM. When I walked in to the "hotel", guess who had just got there and was checking into their rooms?

Don't get me wrong, flying is stupidly expensive. But, it's fun and in a lot of cases, more convenient than the airlines. I'd much rather sit in the REAL first row any day!

They announce people sitting in Zone 1 and 2 can board, and I watch as the ticket checker has to tell about half a dozen people they can't board yet because they aren't in zone 1 or 2. Apparently they are too stupid to look at their ticket. These are usually the ones with a refrigerator box sized carry on. I wish the airlines would enforce the carry on size rule!

I never understood that. I always wait until the line disappears down inside the jetway. Why stand in line waiting for people to try 10 different ways to make their carryon fit in the bin or adjust their sweater before they bother to get the heck out of the aisle only to cram into a tiny seat, when I can wait until the last minute stretched out comfortable in the terminal, which is now quite spacious that there are 100 few people in my vicinity.

Between security and dumb people, flying has lost almost all of its glamour. At least United still lets passengers listen to the cockpit radio.

Skiahh, I really like the idea of flying oneself. Sounds like it doesn't work out half bad for you. I know financially it's a bust, but I figure if I get my license, I could get an hour and a half of seat time renting a 152 to visit my parents on the occasional weekend, and enjoy the trip a heck of a lot more. I think I'm too much of a cheapskate to do it for any long trips though, and it takes a bit of extra planning.

Plus I got to fly!


Sometimes, that's what it all comes down to, eh? :D

If you're ever gonna be down this way again, let me know. I'll split, or even pay for, the AVfuel just to fly in a small plane. I so love that! :) Could even drive to Raleigh/Chapel Hill area.

In almost all cases it'll be more expensive for the direct costs.

Another pilot! I wonder how many BFers are pilots. Anyway, I've got a great deal in my flying club. We pay $55/Hobbs-Hour, including fuel, for an instrument C-172L. No "fees" for overnight or that sort of thing.

So for regional trips, it's definitely cheaper for me to fly myself. Most of my family is in the Albany NY area. If I wanted to fly commercial from BTV to ALB tomorrow, it would cost a minimum of $509, round trip, with a stop in Philly, and take almost 4 hours each way. The drive is only 3 hours. :rolleyes: In the Cessna, it would be about 1 hour each way, so $110 round trip. (I fly to nearby Schenectady County, not Albany, but it's the same area.)

And you can't put a value on being your own pilot. :) It's priceless.

Now if I wanted to fly to, say, California, it's definitely cheaper to fly cow-class. ;)

Another pilot! I wonder how many BFers are pilots. Anyway, I've got a great deal in my flying club. We pay $55/Hobbs-Hour, including fuel, for an instrument C-172L. No "fees" for overnight or that sort of thing.

So for regional trips, it's definitely cheaper for me to fly myself. Most of my family is in the Albany NY area. If I wanted to fly commercial from BTV to ALB tomorrow, it would cost a minimum of $509, round trip, with a stop in Philly, and take almost 4 hours each way. The drive is only 3 hours. :rolleyes: In the Cessna, it would be about 1 hour each way, so $110 round trip. (I fly to nearby Schenectady County, not Albany, but it's the same area.)

And you can't put a value on being your own pilot. :) It's priceless.

Now if I wanted to fly to, say, California, it's definitely cheaper to fly cow-class. ;)

Do a search... there's been several "Who's a pilot" threads over the years.

$55/hour wet is a great price these days. At $4/gallon, that's almost nothing for the airplane itself! I was in a pretty good ownership/equity club in TX, but I must say I've got about the best deal going right now. My brother has a 2001 Mooney Screaming Eagle that I have my own set of keys to. The only catch is he lives up in NH and the plane is at LCI, so I unless I can coordinate with him to bring it here, I have to drive up there to get it. In that case, even at 190 KTAS, the door to door time calculation goes out the window!

VV: Yep, as we say, "Flight time's flight time!"

http://www.joelandtrish.net/picstorage/131ma.jpg

Mmm. Mooney. :) We have $55/month dues so there's that for "income" as well. We have an STC for mogas, and we can fill up at a private strip (VT26 - Allenholm, VT) as well. Saves money and keeps your short field landing skills in order. :D :eek:

Here's our bugsmasher sitting at VT26...
http://www.airport-data.com/images/aircrafts/small/019/019342.jpg

Screw all'a ya'll! I paid my ticket just like you. If I wanna clip my toenails, fart high volumes of noxious and malodorous fumes, and constantly kick the seat in front of me, I will cuz I paid for my ticket and I'm entitled to! And if you don't like the constant wailing from my kids, too damn bad! I paid their tickets too!

I love how even on the shuttle flights bet. the NYC-WDC-BOS triangle (which are basically commuter flights), there's always the odd buttmunch that's more important than everyone else who won't shut off his cellphone til he/she gets yelled at a few times by the attendants.

And if you don't like the constant wailing from my kids, too damn bad! I paid their tickets too!


If you've been watching the news lately, you'd know this one isn't "too damn bad!" They removed a family from a flight in FL because their kid wouldn't calm down. Refunded their ticket price and, essentially stranded them there; they were on their way home to somewhere up here.

A bit extreme I think but still... there you go.

I got the sarcasm, but he's right, lots of people have that "too damn bad" attitude. I'd pay more for a an adults-only flight. ;) At least, as general aviation pilots, we can quietly reach over and unlock the door, unhook the kid's belt, and throw the plane into an uncoordinated 45-degree bank. :eek:

That is, as long as we adhere to FAR 91.15. Wait, does it violate the FAR if the object being dropped is a person? Hmm.

If you've been watching the news lately, you'd know this one isn't "too damn bad!" They removed a family from a flight in FL because their kid wouldn't calm down. Refunded their ticket price and, essentially stranded them there; they were on their way home to somewhere up here.

A bit extreme I think but still... there you go.
The problem with that child in that case was the child would NOT sit down and be belted into a seat. A seated screaming youngin is fine, but one up running around raising hell before takeoff is a problem. That child had already caused a 15 minute delay in takeoff, and was about to upset a whole slew of takeoff and landing schedules.

As for you lucky SOBs with your own plane, you forgot to rub it in you never pay that steep fee for transporting your bike(s). Just remember to balance your cargo.

As for you lucky SOBs with your own plane, you forgot to rub it in you never pay that steep fee for transporting your bike(s). Just remember to balance your cargo.

I haven't tried to squeeze a bike into the Mooney yet, but they're known as the sports cars of private planes. It's a very tight squeeze in there. In order to get a bike in there, at a minimum, I'd have to remove both wheels and the handlebar. Beyond that, I'm not sure.

As for you lucky SOBs with your own plane, you forgot to rub it in you never pay that steep fee for transporting your bike(s). Just remember to balance your cargo.

Okay, fine. You asked for it. Our club has its own bicycle bag. :p One of our guys is an avid cyclist and will fly places and ride for food or whatever. I haven't taken advantage of it yet. And yeah, we have to remove the wheels. :o

A couple of years ago, I flew once or twice a month. Doing so, I started to rack up airline miles pretty quick. When going on any trips I always picked my seats toward the back of the plane. Since I was a "priority" member, I got to board first. After waiting few minutes for the first class to sit down, I walked to an empty back portion of the plane and got my luggage stowed, took me seat and put on my ipod. No worries.

My only complaint I have with flying is when I have an aisle seat and get smacked in the head when other people are not watching their purses or bags when walking by.

Another pilot! I wonder how many BFers are pilots. Anyway, I've got a great deal in my flying club. We pay $55/Hobbs-Hour, including fuel, for an instrument C-172L. No "fees" for overnight or that sort of thing.

$55? Nice. $50/hour was the cheapest I found for a 152 around here, from the outfit I'm looking at taking lessons from. I think he also had a couple 172's for $85/hour. Then again, I guess the dues offset that pretty well for most of the members.

Skiahh, that's a very nice looking plane. Sounds like you picked a good brother to be related to.

I'm amazed when I hear of ordinary seeming people having almost new twins or old warbirds (and buy gas for it!). Some of these cost the same as a decent house.

$50 wet (incl. fuel) would be a great rental rate. The 152 is a good plane. Docile, like the 172. Moonies are nice. I secretly lust after them. Don't tell anyone. :o A few months ago Burlington closed runway 1/19 to set up a flight line of Moonies. They sure looked pretty as I taxied past them.

Warbirds. Ghhllll. I'll take a Mustang, thanks. ;)

F4U Corsair for me, please.

Oh those are pretty too. What the heck. I'll take one of each. :) I dived an F4U on the bottom of the Pacific off Oahu a couple of years ago. Pilot ran out of fuel, ditched, and was still alive & living in Hawaii when I was there. Pretty cool stuff. Wait, I have pictures. That's me checking out the prop. :)