The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
QUESTION: When was the last time you flew on an airplane? Was your experience good or bad?
Talk about it.
A long time ago, probably 4 years. I have no desire to fly until the clown show with the masks and the flight cancellations are over. We have friends and family who have been stranded, lost luggage, had rental cars canceled, had to fly to different airports and have family pick them up and drive 4 hours home, etc.
Besides the masks that sounds about like normal to me…
1998
And it was a fine flight.
Actually, I never flew on an airplane, but I have flown in them. The last time in a commercial plane was when I flew down to San Diego, and it was not a good experience. I had a window seat, and two extremely obese women sat in the two seats next to me. These lovely ladies were so huge, that they kept me pressed up against the window. I’m grateful that the flight was less than an hour and a half. I love flying, but I’d rather do it in a helicopter, or a private plane.
Wasn’t this question asked a few weeks ago? I haven’t been on a plane since 1974 when I got out of the Army.
June 27th, 2022, It was wonderful! Southwest is the best!
.
2019… Southwest Airlines. I attended a conference in Las Vegas.
July 18, 2022. Southwest flight # 2425 – Spokane to Oakland. The flight was full (as it was going on the 13th) but it was a good flight.
As an ex pilot and passenger I remember getting on airplanes with the same ease as getting on a greyhound bus. You bought your ticket and you got onboard. I loved flying. Now, not so much anymore. It has been several years for sure. Now it is an ordeal. Since we will probably not go to Europe any more I will drive wherever I go. No more flight cancellations and delays for me. It’s all yours.
Flew to San Antonio in 2007, but was stuck on the ground for about 2 hours in San Francisco, first. A technician was trying to fix one of the toilets and kept going back and forth to get more spare parts, etc.
March 2020 with Southwest from here to Colorado with my Hubby to deliver our daughter’s 2 cats we were babysitting for 3 years while her and her Hubby were stationed in Cordova Alaksa for his job in the Coast Guards.
Everything was good, but ONE thing was NOT. Had to hold cat(s), one at a time, to let their carrier(s) be scanned, then put them back in carrier(s). A lady, put her purse in our tote with one of the carriers, and had to be scanned again. This happened 3 times, till I was pushed to my limit and yelled at the guy scanning, to remove the dame purse, since it wasn’t mine. Poor cat was shaking for 8 minutes in my arms.
On a lighter note, the cats were happy to see Mommy & Daddy again and the dog was happy his kitties were back home with him.
Just flew to Las Vegas to see Luke Bryan back in June. Flew Southwest. Southwest is always good.
January 2008 round trip to Seattle and back from Oakland. Hassled a little at Oakland trying to find the Alaska terminal but took wind out of the sails of the woman chewing me out by asking “so then where is the Alaska terminal?” It had moved since my last trip. Good think I was flying via Alaska because Southwest had long lines and there were none for Alaska. It went smooth. Returning the Seattle TSA manager actually apologized to me for his trainees being slow.
I see the Real ID requirement got pushed out to May of next year. My passport expired in October 2019 and my DL in December 2019. Should have gotten the DL before the passport expired.
last October…. Oakland to Denver Round
Was great…..
I can’t remember it’s been so long.
My neighbors have unvaccinated family members coming from Ohio this weekend. Will see how their trip goes.
We flew to/from Alaska in June of this year. In general, flying was OK. No mandatory masks. But our flight to Seattle was delayed on the ground because of paperwork, not mechanical issues. So we missed our connection to Alaska and had to take a much later flight on the “Milk Run”, which stops at more little airports than a bad Southwest flight.
July 23 and 24. Will fly again Aug 16 and 17.
Flew to Kansas to pick up a low production number mid 90s full size AMERICAN vehicle. Was years before tsa.
Well over 50 years ago. Perfect flight, refuse to ever do it again.
A little over a month ago from Amsterdam to SFO on a KLM B-777. It was a good flight, had adequate leg room, was on time and both of our checked bags made it soon after we got to baggage claim. It was at the end of a little over a month going all around Europe (9 countries) on an ocean and then a river cruise (both Viking), with 10 days in hotels on pre- and post-cruise extensions. Our flight over was SFO to Zurich on a B-777 with a little less than 2 hours in Zurich and then to Barcelona, both flights on Swiss Airlines. Everything went as well as our return flight, except we could have used a little more legroom (both my wife and I have long legs). The masking was a bit of a hassle, but bearable. Our timing was good, as soon after we got back things got pretty chaotic in Europe with cancelled flights, lots of lost luggage, and a major heat wave. We’re anxious to go back. We’ve also been to Hawaii three times in the last 13 months.
mid July, San Antonio (roundtrip) for a wedding – flew with our 4 adult kids/inlaws and their combined 5 children (11 of us total) on Southwest and great experience. Some standard delays but nothing bad
Last time was 2003 to Seattle on Alaska. Delays on return, but it wasn’t the airlines fault. Seatac was being remodeled. Always had great experiences with Southwest anywhere I flew it. United used to be good, but I don’t know now.
Nowdays, if it isn’t too far, I’ll drive. It’s a bleeping cattle call to fly now.
Last Xmas, at the start of Omnicron, I took six flights RT over a month – no delays or hassles except people hacking & coughing all around. But, I never got covid. Getting out felt good – like breaking free a third world prison.
Earlier this year, to LA, it was fine except for having to wear the masks, which is ridiculous.
We fly frequently but only first class which keeps us off the POS Southwest planes with no assigned seating, no first class seating and not who I wanna be sitting with in coach especiallt flying out of Oakland…
Have no complaints at all with who we fly with.
2011 and it will probably be the last time.
TSA made it so hard for my elderly husband who is oxygen dependent to
get through the screening process we were exhausted by the time we boarded the plane. We had a FAA approved oxygen device and he has a ICD implanted in his chest. It was our 50th anniversary and we left plenty of extra time and had all our documentation organized as well as the batteries for oxygen unit packed precisely for the trip our children had given us as a gift.
The SFO TSA personnel tore the oxygen unit completely apart including every battery and all the equipment, all the while depriving him of oxygen and then handed the whole mess they made to me in a bin and said Your OK you may put it back together. 45 minutes later we were finally ready to scurry to our gate. By the way we went through none of that on the return trip. If you are disabled flying is not for you apparently. I think they just expect you to go somewhere out of sight and not bother them.
I haven’t flown for vacation or to visit friends and family for several years. I have flown for some insurance training in the past, usually to LA, and one trip to Nashville, and another to Texas, small town Harlington. When my parents were alive I would go to Denmark quite often. Flying was so different then, usually I flew SAS, food was good, and you got pampered. One time when I was leaving Copenhagen for the US I almost missed the flight and I was put in business class, what a treat, all kinds of wine, and port with dessert. I went to Denmark in 2002, have gone since as well, and I flew back to the US on the 1 year anniversary of 9/11, I was a little concerned, but not too much I few SAS. Years ago when I lived on the East Coast I usually flew Icelandic air, since I had lived in Iceland I had a girl friend there, and at time you could stop for 2-3 days without paying extra.
About three years ago. Drove a truck from Sac to Indy for my folks and flew back. TSA agents were rude and after two scans had me step aside and get frisked. I was pissed off and humiliated in front of a long line of people. After they “cleared” me, the agent at the bin belt said, “Have a nice day.” I was fuming the whole flight home. No plans for future air travel any time soon.
Three years ago; once as my father was dying in Minnesota (I drove for the funeral) and once to Vancouver, Canada. The first trip was a CF. Planes were changed in Denver after a long delay and my luggage with all my clothing was lost for several days. Had to buy new grundies, etc. The Vancouver flight was uneventful.
We flew to the East Coast for a vacation about a year ago. We have TSA Pre-check, which makes the security screening easier. Brought our own food for the flights. Wore a mask, which was not a big deal to me because I am not a delicate snowflake. Had no problem with either flight.
Wearing a mask as you do we have a term for that..haha
1997…..It was fine for me and my family but not good for everyone behind us…..my kid barfed the second she got past the door while we were exiting the plane.
July 2019 when I flew out of San Fransicko to Saigon … good riddance KhaliPhorniya !!!
It was super sad too … Seeing the roadways lined with tents of the thousands upon thousands of homeless families.
Sighhhhh
Last month.
The good: NO FREAKING MASKS!
The bad: Flight delays, but only but a few hours
My husband and daughter also flew during that time, but on different flights (United and Southwest, respectively.) Both had legs of their flights cancelled mid-travel and had to be accommodated overnight. In my daughter’s case, she was stranded in her connection city, and I suggested she have Southwest route her to Atlanta so she could stay with her aunt and uncle. Surprisingly, they agreed. But what a pain in the a$$.
Flying now really is a crap shoot as to whether you will arrive at your destination. Be prepared and have a back up plan!
… 8 or 9 yrs ago…. felt like cattle in the herd then sardines in the plane … but got there on time
Probably 8-10 years ago. I don’t remember. I prefer driving and that’s what I do if distance and time allow. If I have a work meeting within a 12 hour drive, I’ll drive. I like solitude, time to myself to listen to an audiobook, taking random back roads to see what’s down them, and if I see something interesting, being able to go check it out. So if I’m going to Southern California, I drive if I can work out the timing. And I prefer vacation road trips. I probably flew to San Diego for a wedding or funeral or something when time was short in the last 10 years though.
This past June, 6/2022. From SFO to London. Wonderful time, getting through customs was a breeze now that it’s all automated. Return trip was not as nice, plane crew was down a couple people and a screaming baby made it rough.
I use AMTRAK now. Was less hassle and stupidity.
Last week. 5 hour flight. It was doable.