Comments on: planes, trains and automobiles http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/ An American in Bloomsbury Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:44:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Gregory http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45864 Gregory Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:29:52 +0000 http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45864 "I never ever yell at the people at the gates! It’s not their fault those things happen, and people yelling at them just make them want to help even less." It is a (historic) Spanish thing with us in the CTA area, we treat planes more like a bus, people forget that Brits did and do industrial scale flying. It is not a stiff upper lip area, Brits learned the hard way that if one keeps quiet, it will get worse. It doesn't really translate from airtours to air travel. Not these days anyway. I couldn't do three hours at Charlotte, I'd need to rent a cabin in Vermont or something to chill after 2 hours. I would probably not be able to deal with it. I can do a train in India or to Shanghai, because I know (in advance) it will be grim. I could handle Cuban air flight attendants telling me the champagne is for 'first class'. I can do funny, I have to plan discomfort, I think that is the way to describe me. On the Titanic they have had to shoot me to stop me killing the band. http://www.troutmanchairs.com/ They make the chairs at Charlotte. They took the contract from the Portico Furniture Company which did the original white examples. "Rock on — What's with the rocking chairs in the Atrium? Originally part of a temporary public art installation, the rockers became such a hit with harried travelers that administrators elected to keep them. If you want one for your front porch, contact the Portico Furniture Company (800-672-6962). Another charming bit of Southern hospitality is the piano in the Atrium; the public is invited to tickle the ivories to pass time in the terminal. As you walk through the terminal, scan the walls for artwork by regional artists; the displays change on a regular basis." “I never ever yell at the people at the gates! It’s not their fault those things happen, and people yelling at them just make them want to help even less.”

It is a (historic) Spanish thing with us in the CTA area, we treat planes more like a bus, people forget that Brits did and do industrial scale flying.

It is not a stiff upper lip area, Brits learned the hard way that if one keeps quiet, it will get worse. It doesn’t really translate from airtours to air travel. Not these days anyway.

I couldn’t do three hours at Charlotte, I’d need to rent a cabin in Vermont or something to chill after 2 hours. I would probably not be able to deal with it.

I can do a train in India or to Shanghai, because I know (in advance) it will be grim. I could handle Cuban air flight attendants telling me the champagne is for ‘first class’. I can do funny,

I have to plan discomfort, I think that is the way to describe me. On the Titanic they have had to shoot me to stop me killing the band.

http://www.troutmanchairs.com/

They make the chairs at Charlotte. They took the contract from the Portico Furniture Company which did the original white examples.

“Rock on — What’s with the rocking chairs in the Atrium? Originally part of a temporary public art installation, the rockers became such a hit with harried travelers that administrators elected to keep them. If you want one for your front porch, contact the Portico Furniture Company (800-672-6962). Another charming bit of Southern hospitality is the piano in the Atrium; the public is invited to tickle the ivories to pass time in the terminal. As you walk through the terminal, scan the walls for artwork by regional artists; the displays change on a regular basis.”

]]> By: William http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45856 William Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:25:50 +0000 http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45856 Geez! I can't believe that story about your flight home! And the pilot's sense of humor- but his logic does make sense about trying out the part overland for at least one hour. I love it that you flew back to Philly! You should've came back here to welcome the New Year with us! Geez! I can’t believe that story about your flight home! And the pilot’s sense of humor- but his logic does make sense about trying out the part overland for at least one hour.

I love it that you flew back to Philly! You should’ve came back here to welcome the New Year with us!

]]> By: Anglofille http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45654 Anglofille Mon, 31 Dec 2007 10:35:26 +0000 http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45654 thanks for the welcome home! i'm still feeling tired. i didn't really experience jet lag going from the UK to the US, but coming back has been a killer. oh well, at least it's the holiday so i can relax. anita: did i *enjoy* 'the gathering'? no! but at least i finished it. ;) thanks for the welcome home! i’m still feeling tired. i didn’t really experience jet lag going from the UK to the US, but coming back has been a killer. oh well, at least it’s the holiday so i can relax.

anita: did i *enjoy* ‘the gathering’? no! but at least i finished it. ;)

]]> By: Anta http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45589 Anta Mon, 31 Dec 2007 01:30:37 +0000 http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45589 So how are you enjoying "The Gathering?" So how are you enjoying “The Gathering?”

]]> By: Gregory http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45550 Gregory Sun, 30 Dec 2007 21:06:33 +0000 http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45550 "I sat next to one British woman who told me that the engine on the plane was ruined and that if we took the flight, we’d effectively be “committing suicide.” You know, I hate flying and I really didn’t need to hear stuff like that. I can be quite pessimistic but even I’m not that bad." Once you've flown in a Soviet era, aircraft, you will be just fine for the odd rattle on anything else. An Antonov An-14 was apparently once taken up by a truck-driver with four hours training. “I sat next to one British woman who told me that the engine on the plane was ruined and that if we took the flight, we’d effectively be “committing suicide.” You know, I hate flying and I really didn’t need to hear stuff like that. I can be quite pessimistic but even I’m not that bad.”

Once you’ve flown in a Soviet era, aircraft, you will be just fine for the odd rattle on anything else.

An Antonov An-14 was apparently once taken up by a truck-driver with four hours training.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45549 Rebecca Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:59:15 +0000 http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45549 I can't believe people were acting that way. I've actually had horrible experiences with late/delayed flights and missing connecting flights, but I never ever yell at the people at the gates! It's not their fault those things happen, and people yelling at them just make them want to help even less. I'm sorry you had such a harrowing experience, but welcome back to London! I can’t believe people were acting that way. I’ve actually had horrible experiences with late/delayed flights and missing connecting flights, but I never ever yell at the people at the gates! It’s not their fault those things happen, and people yelling at them just make them want to help even less. I’m sorry you had such a harrowing experience, but welcome back to London!

]]> By: s. http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45539 s. Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:45:40 +0000 http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45539 What an ordeal! Pleased that you are back in London safe and sound! What an ordeal! Pleased that you are back in London safe and sound!

]]> By: SpliceGirl http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45537 SpliceGirl Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:14:45 +0000 http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45537 US Airways is pure evil. They are the airline that had to stop to "re-fuel" in Las Vegas on my NON-STOP flight to Los Angeles. Ridiculous. They were rude, inconsiderate, unprofessional and their planes have since replaced Southwest's in my mind as the "Greyhound Bus of the Skies". I agree Americans seem to take international air travel in stride, which is weird to me since if a domestic flight is delayed or something they all go apeshit. But I noticed traveling internationally that Americans travel quietly and politely and don't complain much while Europeans get crazy and irrational if something as simple as meal service is delayed. Maybe all the Americans are just glad they aren't being blamed for everything so they keep quiet! Ha ha! Glad you eventually got home...though honestly I would have never gotten on that plane...not in a million years! US Airways is pure evil. They are the airline that had to stop to “re-fuel” in Las Vegas on my NON-STOP flight to Los Angeles. Ridiculous. They were rude, inconsiderate, unprofessional and their planes have since replaced Southwest’s in my mind as the “Greyhound Bus of the Skies”.

I agree Americans seem to take international air travel in stride, which is weird to me since if a domestic flight is delayed or something they all go apeshit. But I noticed traveling internationally that Americans travel quietly and politely and don’t complain much while Europeans get crazy and irrational if something as simple as meal service is delayed. Maybe all the Americans are just glad they aren’t being blamed for everything so they keep quiet! Ha ha!

Glad you eventually got home…though honestly I would have never gotten on that plane…not in a million years!

]]> By: daniela http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45519 daniela Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:01:34 +0000 http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45519 wow. that was an ordeal. i am half a nervous flyer and if i had heard something like "test" i would be writing my will on any paper i could spare (very unlikely to arrive in one piece though....). arrogance definetely doesn't help in a situation like this... anyway, glad you arrived safe, hope you had a nice one back at home! wow. that was an ordeal. i am half a nervous flyer and if i had heard something like “test” i would be writing my will on any paper i could spare (very unlikely to arrive in one piece though….). arrogance definetely doesn’t help in a situation like this… anyway, glad you arrived safe, hope you had a nice one back at home!

]]> By: Lillie http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45377 Lillie Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:01:42 +0000 http://www.anglofille.com/2007/12/29/planes-trains-and-automobiles/#comment-45377 Glad you arrived home safely. A couple of summers ago, I was headed to London from O'Hare. We were delayed a couple of hours because of a computer problem in the flight deck. They announched they just happen to have a 'spare' 777 in the hangar, and we'd be on our way as soon as they brought it around -- removed the food and baggage from the first plane and place them into the 'spare'. We were scheduled to leave at 11:30 pm -- and finally left at 1:30 am. There were a few children on the flight who were visably tired, and thankfully fell asleep as soon as we were in the air. Glad you arrived home safely.

A couple of summers ago, I was headed to London from O’Hare. We were delayed a couple of hours because of a computer problem in the flight deck. They announched they just happen to have a ’spare’ 777 in the hangar, and we’d be on our way as soon as they brought it around — removed the food and baggage from the first plane and place them into the ’spare’. We were scheduled to leave at 11:30 pm — and finally left at 1:30 am.

There were a few children on the flight who were visably tired, and thankfully fell asleep as soon as we were in the air.

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