Beware the nose-picker: 10 not-so-common air travel complaints

by Jeffrey White on

The flight attendant whose skirt is too short. The seat mate who picks his nose…and eats the result. The passenger vexed by an odd vibe on the plane, and who insists the flight is haunted.

Chances are these types of things do not top the list of complaints that frequent fliers among us might lob at their airline of choice. We typically are miffed about late departures and delays, Draconian security measures at the airport, lost baggage, that sort of thing. Maybe there are a few of us who feel slighted for having to shell out for booze on international routes on American carriers.

Well, veteran fight attendant and MSNBC.com travel columnist James Wysong has a few not-so-common consumer complaints he’s heard during a 20-year career in the skies. “10 Wacky Complaints About Air Travel” has a few objections that we’ve all probably had over the years (like how to deal with a gassy passenger) and perhaps a few we haven’t (would anybody really care if their favorite airline switched from Pepsi to Coke?).

My favorite: The man with questionable English skills surprised at the water-landing portion of the inflight safety procedural. Alarmed that no one had informed him that this particular flight was landing on water, he confided to Wysong that he could not swim.

East and West Coasters: Virgin America releases 25% off code

by Grant Martin on

For those of you blue-staters out there looking to non-stop across the country, Virgin America (VX) just released a 25% off code redeemable on any of their flights.

Virgin America, in case you’re wondering, is the domestic Low Cost Carrier (LCC) arm of Virgin Airlines, the British based international airline and part of the Virgin empire. They’ve been flying since August of this year and fighting for their share of the non-stop transcon market.

This means that in addition to your normal service they’ll be offering other perks to try to win your business. Televisions in your seats. MP3’s. Power. Mood lighting.

VX flies from their hub in San Francisco among New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, so if you’re a red-stater or just unlucky like me, you have to take a pass on this one. I’ll dig up something for us later.

Use code ELEVATE25 to book before 2359 on December 7th to take advantage.

Travelling by air this Christmas? Some tips

by Martha Edwards on

I’m typically a homebody when it comes to Christmas, but with our family now scattered, I’m spending Christmas away from home for the first time since I was 11. I’m looking forward to it — sort of. We’re going somewhere warmer, where there’s a hot tub and skiing and lots of good food. But travelling around Christmas time when everyone else is in a mad rush to get to their family too? Ugh.

Here are a few tips for travelling this Christmas:

  • Bring your cell phone charger with you in your carry-on — that way, you’ll have it in case you’re stranded or delayed by poor weather.
  • Don’t pre-wrap Christmas gifts if you’re travelling by air — they’ll be un-wrapped by security.
  • Arrive for your flight on time. And expect to wait in line anyway.
  • Book early. If you haven’t do so already, do it now.
  • Don’t bring your car to the airport — it will be packed. Take a cab or public transportation instead.
  • If you do bring your car to the airport, pack some blankets and pillows in the trunk. If you end up spending the night at the airport, you’ll be set.
  • Consider flying on Christmas day. The flights will be much cheaper.

Airports Want to Charge You More to Fly

by Jonathon Morgan on

It may cost even more to fly this summer, thanks to our nation’s airports. As they try to fun new runways, terminal expansions, and other improvements, airports across the U.S. are pushing for higher boarding fees.

Specifically, they want to raise the “Passenger Facility Charge,” a fee that’s been automatically added to the cost of your ticket since 1992. At that time, it was $3 per ticket. The fee rose to a new high of $4.50 in 2001, but now the Federal Aviation Administration wants to raise the fee to $6, while the airports want it raised higher still — to $7.50.

The hike doesn’t sound like much, but amidst rising fuel costs, flying is becoming more expensive across the board. This worries passengers like Carlisha Colbert, a university student interviewed for the story by USA Today who said, “Tickets are already expensive. … I don’t think they should be increasing the price.”

But will the rising costs keep people from flying? Only time will tell.

Birds Inspire Aircraft Of The Future

by Jonathon Morgan on

The people designing tomorrow’s aircraft are turning to animals for inspiration.

In an effort to create a plane that would make no noticeable noise outside an airport, the Silent Aircraft Initiative is mimicking owls. The owl’s fringe-like feathers muffle the passing air as the bird swoops in for the kill — an age-old technology that could be Incorporated into planes of the future.

But it’s not just owls. For instance, NASA is also looking to birds, as they research planes that can shift the size and shape of their wings — creating a more efficient and versatile aircraft. NASA is also examining bats, and their ability to move more nimbly than man-made aircraft by sensing tiny changes in winds.

And yes, there’s even someone trying to create a machine that keeps itself in the air by flapping it’s wing. How completely and totally awesome.