<i>The Morning Rant</i>: MBAirlines

The Morning Rant: MBAirlines - Air Travel is Broken

It’s no secret that air travel is completely broken, and the complaints I see online are growing in anger and desperation, including from many conservatives.

How has air travel gotten so much worse? Feels like every flight Im on is delayed hours. Airlines can just burn your whole day, for any or no reason, and you have no recourse. They are all terrible and none of them care.

Is this fixable?
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) April 3, 2025

3rd flight in a row delayed by hours unrelated to weather. One before this was a stuck seat back tray. Now, we have a “staffing issue” (plane here, can’t find a pilot)

Domestic American Airlines have become a logistical/customer service disgrace, with no incentive to improve
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) April 6, 2025

Like Mr. Sexton’s experience in the tweets above, a nightmare ordeal my wife and I recently had in trying to get from Airport A to Airport B is hardly unique. We’re certainly not the first persons to see the sun rise and subsequently set from the same terminal in the same day without ever taking off, but I do have some thoughts on the total breakdown of air travel:

• A cartel of airlines that carves up market share rather than competing for market share is not capitalism nor free enterprise, thus the airlines are not incentivized to compete or set themselves apart by being the carrier that consistently gets its customers to their destinations in accordance with the tickets being sold.

• The elite business school concept of increasing profit through cost cutting has virtually eliminated customer service in this service-intense industry. Rather than increasing profit through revenue growth, airline executives focus on mergers and expense reduction instead.

• Service is a product, but it is clearly seen as nothing more than an expense by airline executives. When flights are being cancelled, there is no one to talk to on the phone, and there are few if any available gate agents.

• I’ve twice recently had elderly relatives request wheelchair accommodations when they land, but none were there when they arrived. Whether it’s the airline’s responsibility or the airport’s responsibility to get the wheelchair there, it’s clear that airlines will take money from a senior to allow them to get from Point A to Point B, but the airlines then consider the burden of getting that senior from the jet bridge to baggage claim to be an unacceptable expense.

• While weather delays are an acceptable reason for delays and canceled flights, extended mechanical delays are not. If mechanical breakdowns are a predictable and accepted occurrence that “just happen” in this industry, there should be sufficient backup equipment available. I strongly suspect that corporate budget cutters consider any underutilized aircraft unacceptable rather than seeing those planes as a form of insurance to ensure that customers receive the service they paid for.

• Based on my air travel in recent years, mechanical delays have increased significantly. My recent nightmare trip was supposed to be a simple non-stop between two major airports, yet there were three separate mechanical delays involving two separate aircraft. The fact that mechanical delays are now routine indicates that there is an acceptance of relaxed aircraft maintenance, servicing, and inspection. That should be unacceptable in any industry, but it is a potentially deadly way to save money for an airline.

• I also understand that “mechanical delay” is also quite likely a euphemism for other snafus, since airline cost-cutters have made staffing and scheduling so brittle that any one interruption can ripple through the system, causing a broad failure. If this is the case, it also means that airlines have normalized lying to their customers. I don’t like to think about the ramifications of institutional dishonesty by a company whose product is traveling at 600 mph at an elevation of 30,000 feet.

• The contempt that airlines have for salary expense and for any expenses related to customer service is manifested in front-line employees no longer caring. Why should they? Since airline executives have made it abundantly clear that they have a spitting contempt for providing customer service and for paying employees to service those customers, why should airline employees care about the customer experience?

With Pete Buttigieg as the hapless figurehead of the Transportation Department, the situation only worsened over the preceding 4 years. But we now have a Republican Transportation Secretary and a Republican Congress. Air travel is deeply broken as the oligopoly of non-competitive carriers continues to cut service in pursuit of profit growth in the way our elite MBAs are taught – expense reduction. Perhaps it’s time for the party of free enterprise to intervene and break up this cartel. If the airline oligopoly is going to be allowed to perpetuate and further consolidate, then it is inviting further regulation to make it feel some pain in exchange for the cruelty it is inflicting on American air travelers.

[buck.throckmorton at protonmail dot com]

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 1st?

Posted by: Bulg at April 07, 2025 11:00 AM (77rzZ)

2 I'll call 'em.

Posted by: Bulg at April 07, 2025 11:01 AM (77rzZ)

3 OK

Posted by: Lizzy at April 07, 2025 11:02 AM (Cki93)

4 'Em status: Called.

Posted by: Bulg at April 07, 2025 11:03 AM (77rzZ)

5 Not flying anytime soon.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 07, 2025 11:03 AM (kxUKc)

6 Gee thanks for this. I have a trip planned to Italy in three weeks, connecting though JFK outbound and ATL inbound. 4 hour layover in JFK, 2.5 in ATL.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 07, 2025 11:04 AM (PiwSw)

7 Air travel has been shit since about a minute after the first plane on 9/11.
It never got better.

Posted by: Reforger at April 07, 2025 11:04 AM (xcIvR)

8 That art thread aint right. Is that the kind of thing they do in France?

Posted by: fd at April 07, 2025 11:05 AM (vFG9F)

9 I also blame covid.

Something broke - both the flight crew and the passengers became shrill and inflexible.

On flights post-covid, the takeoff instructions about emergency procedures have become more of a scolding, with warnings of great consequences should you slip your mask blah blah blah.

And we are treated like cattle, both in the airport, and within the more crowded planes thangs to continual fun-sizing of the seats. I am a short person and even I feel like my legs have no space. I have no idea how a tall or plump person can stand it. . .

Posted by: Lizzy at April 07, 2025 11:06 AM (Cki93)

10 Right on! Them airlines and airports are the absolute worst when it comes to premier air travel customer service!

Posted by: TSA at April 07, 2025 11:06 AM (a3Q+t)

11 One solution is to literally open the gates at airports.

Airlines maintain their monopoly by having exclusionary leases on gates that they do not use most of the time to fend out competition.

Southwest, itself, was an upstart that started on abandoned by major carrier airports until it became larger and that is in part due to having airline gates at those abandoned airports to actually operate.

Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:06 AM (ctrM5)

12 If you ever see me on an airplane again it’s because I’m hand cuffed and being escorted by a US Marshal

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 11:07 AM (VofaG)

13 And now Southwest has decided to change their business model to match bankrupt Spirit Air. Those activist investor groups sure know how to improve service.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at April 07, 2025 11:07 AM (lTGtQ)

14 I fly fairly often, and I hate flying. Mostly I hate airports, to be fully transparent. Security sucks rotten eggs and terminals are a mess. But I have to say, once I'm on the plane my experience has been pretty good. Few serious delays. No mid-air collisions with DEI-pilots of army helos.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 07, 2025 11:07 AM (fQarn)

15 Great post to read while my wife is in the other side of the house planning a trip to fiji.
Logistically, it's already shaping up to be a nightmare, and that's if everything goes well.
In my experience, every touch that an airline or airport employee gets on your property is another chance for things to go south.
Oh well. As long as I don't get DVT on the long leg of the flight or we're sucked into a black hole somewhere over the south pacific, I guess it'll all turn out okay.
Do I need the sarc tag?

Posted by: OneEyedJack at April 07, 2025 11:08 AM (FCbAQ)

16 Righteous rant, Buck. Things won't improve, though, until all planes are electric.

Posted by: Fly Eastern-Number One To The Sun at April 07, 2025 11:08 AM (G5+As)

17 Sadly i will, sometime in the next 48 hours, have.to layout a couple.grand to.fly back east. I am not looking forward to it. Either the flight, or paying for it.

Posted by: Diogenes at April 07, 2025 11:08 AM (W/lyH)

18 Is that the kind of thing they do in France?
Posted by: fd at April 07, 2025 11:05 AM

It's helpful to remember that France is basically penguin-lite when it comes to both smell and perversities.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at April 07, 2025 11:08 AM (a3Q+t)

19 Simple solution: allow foreign airlines to fly domestic routes, or merely threaten to have foreign airlines fly domestic routes.

The prospect of having to compete against Singapore Air on the NY-LA run would concentrate the minds of domestic airline management wonderfully.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at April 07, 2025 11:08 AM (xTIDn)

20 The main issue I have with air travel (For now) is security. Beyond that, I've been relatively lucky with my flights.

Posted by: NR Pax at April 07, 2025 11:09 AM (+4yJ5)

21 18 It's helpful to remember that France is basically penguin-lite when it comes to both smell and perversities.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at April 07, 2025 11:08 AM (a3Q+t)

======

Penguin is not to be trusted!

Shat all over my movie thread this weekend.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:09 AM (GBKbO)

22 Not flying anytime soon.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 07, 2025 11:03 AM (kxUKc)

Two reasons I would consider flying:

- I have to cross an ocean.
- I have a short travel deadline and had no opportunity to pre-plan.

Reason 2 would only happen for an illness to one of my children and, with luck, they'll both be living within driving distance within the next year.

Reason 1 would only happen if wife desperately wanted to go somewhere. She wanted to see Ireland before but not so sure about that now.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 07, 2025 11:09 AM (ExV1e)

23 >>And now Southwest has decided to change their business model to match bankrupt Spirit Air. Those activist investor groups sure know how to improve service.

Yes. I really liked Southwest. You knew exactly what the rules were and was worth the trade-offs in exchange for low fares and flexibility in changing flights.

Posted by: Lizzy at April 07, 2025 11:09 AM (Cki93)

24 And we are treated like cattle, both in the airport, and within the more crowded planes thangs to continual fun-sizing of the seats. I am a short person and even I feel like my legs have no space. I have no idea how a tall or plump person can stand it. . .

IMHO, this is a deliberate strategy to get people to pony up for more expensive Economy+ and Business seats. They're betting they can get you to throw in the towel before you say screw it, and stop flying.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 07, 2025 11:10 AM (xCA6C)

25 And what's the deal with airline peanuts?

Posted by: Jerry Seinfeld at April 07, 2025 11:10 AM (AUVNP)

26 Also: it's an incestuous industry that is bound tightly to government, which makes everything even worse. Even if airlines *want* to do a good job - and they don't, and there's no incentive for it - there is only so much they *can* do because so much is handled by the airport, and the airport answers to the feds for most things.

Missing wheelchairs at the exit? That's requested by the airline but often handled by the airport and if the airport can't be bothered, it isn't going ti happen. Security? Airport. Gate assignments shifting all the time? Airport. Bad layover timing? Airline, airport and ticketing agency in combination.

A 30-minute connection through O'Hare shouldn't even be offered, but nobody cares enough to do a logic check on airport and layover time needed when issuing an itinerary.

Everything about air travel is awful, from the airlines themselves to the airports to the travel agencies.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:10 AM (WkNQM)

27 Maybe we're lucky but my family averages a flight a month between So. Florida and DC. Never really had a problem.

Posted by: mr tmz at April 07, 2025 11:10 AM (rJ48h)

28 Remember Pan Am? I do. My father flew them often during his tour at the Pentagon in the sixties. They would load their passengers with perks and swag as gifts. I think we had place settings for four with Pan Am cutlery. Let's not talk about their gift bags. Now its like riding a smelly bus with people that smell of cabbage who check in wearing pajamas.

Posted by: Pudinhead at April 07, 2025 11:10 AM (pZ64F)

29 Airlines got inexpensive so you got a different category of customers that the airlines don’t think require service.

It’s no different than riding a Greyhound today. Just quicker.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 11:10 AM (VofaG)

30 The prospect of having to compete against Singapore Air on the NY-LA run would concentrate the minds of domestic airline management wonderfully.

I like that idea. Having flown Qatar Airways and seen the difference in service, it would bring a lot of changes.

Posted by: NR Pax at April 07, 2025 11:10 AM (+4yJ5)

31 9 I also blame covid.

Something broke - both the flight crew and the passengers became shrill and inflexible.

On flights post-covid, the takeoff instructions about emergency procedures have become more of a scolding, with warnings of great consequences should you slip your mask blah blah blah.

And we are treated like cattle, both in the airport, and within the more crowded planes thangs to continual fun-sizing of the seats. I am a short person and even I feel like my legs have no space. I have no idea how a tall or plump person can stand it. . .
Posted by: Lizzy
========
Patient suffering. I haven't flown on planes in years and have no plans to do so in the immediate future. Even Greyhound bus service back in my youth was a better experience than post covid flying and the TSA with its security theater has made time wasting a primary function of travel worsened by airline incompetence at service and timeliness.

Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:10 AM (ctrM5)

32 Airlines don't run themselves, investment firms run them.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:10 AM (9pHx8)

33 I fly routinely, and I usually have no issues other than going through TSA. I hate those cfuknuckles with the heat of a thousand suns. Overall, I'd drive anything 8 hours or less.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead...Wearing Pants and Working at April 07, 2025 11:11 AM (luW68)

34 26 Everything about air travel is awful, from the airlines themselves to the airports to the travel agencies.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:10 AM (WkNQM)

=======

The solution:

Live near a hub and never transfer.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:11 AM (GBKbO)

35 I'm taking what I hope is my last domestic flight ever in about a month. After that, I'll gladly drive for a day or two than spend a half day (minimum) at an airport facing no better than 50% odds of reaching my scheduled destination..

Posted by: Joe Kidd at April 07, 2025 11:11 AM (IY+he)

36 Thanks, Buck, for your analysis

BULGAR-in case you haven't seen it, but might have an interest, the "Legal Insurrection" website has a notice in their right sidebar about a job done remotely as a research assistant. Didn't know if that might be of interest to you butvitvwouidcalign with your politics, of course . Just wanted to let you know, but I'm off now. Am praying for you.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 07, 2025 11:12 AM (42Vb+)

37 The contempt that airlines have for salary expense and for any expenses related to customer service is manifested in front-line employees no longer caring. Why should they? Since airline executives have made it abundantly clear that they have a spitting contempt for providing customer service and for paying employees to service those customers, why should airline employees care about the customer experience?
++++
And they see it simply as an opportunity to take more abuse. It's a "vicious circle." Customers are also on hair triggers, having been burned countless times. The level of patience is zero, and abuse airline employees take has skyrocketed, especially since COVID when they let their hair down and took glee in abusing customers. Well, now they get it back in turn.

Everything about the experience sucks, from arriving at the airport through leaving on the other end. Everyone is miserable, everyone is short-tempered, and everyone hurls abuse in every directions. It's almost a perfect system to maximize misery for everyone involved.

The first airline to attempt a T-Moblie-style disruption will probably bankrupt its competitors.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:12 AM (WkNQM)

38 Post 36

Meant "but it would align..."

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 07, 2025 11:12 AM (42Vb+)

39 I've only ever had problems flying with one airline. United.

I've had to spend several unscheduled nights in Chicago... one time my planned departure of 8:30PM to go home got pushed to 10:30PM and then got canceled. By the time I rolled into my free hotel, it was 2AM and my flight out was at 5:30AM.

After that trip I resolved to never fly United again. Which is hilarious because my cousin is a 737 pilot for United. He used to be chief aide to a very high ranking Republican Senator and then decided "DC sucks I want to be a pilot" and so he did.

Posted by: Defenestratus at April 07, 2025 11:12 AM (WYStd)

40 Haven't flown since Patty Hearst was a fugitive.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at April 07, 2025 11:13 AM (Qk3HE)

41 Penguin is not to be trusted!

Shat all over my movie thread this weekend.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:09 AM

Nothing is sacred anymore.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at April 07, 2025 11:13 AM (a3Q+t)

42 I also blame covid.

Something broke - both the flight crew and the passengers became shrill and inflexible.

On flights post-covid, the takeoff instructions about emergency procedures have become more of a scolding, with warnings of great consequences should you slip your mask blah blah blah.

And we are treated like cattle, both in the airport, and within the more crowded planes thangs to continual fun-sizing of the seats. I am a short person and even I feel like my legs have no space. I have no idea how a tall or plump person can stand it. . .
Posted by: Lizzy at April 07, 2025 11:06 AM (Cki93)

That and a bunch of experienced pilots (and other crew) quit rather than taking the fake jab.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 07, 2025 11:13 AM (dGCAG)

43 Degradation of standards, can’t fire “protected classes”, all of this is contagious across the board. Slowly at first, then all at once. Everything is fvcked. If the CEO doesn’t GAF, why should anyone else? S&it rolls downhill, all the way to the guy pushing the broom. They don’t pay people enough to GAF either, and they won’t get fired for being an incompetent cock, and a kind of Gresham’s Law prevails.

Bad employees drive out good ones. The only wonder is why anyone thought it would turn out differently.

Posted by: Common Tater at April 07, 2025 11:14 AM (SH3As)

44 Airlines should be required to provide compensation when flights are delayed beyond a certain amount of time. This is already the case in the European Union.

Posted by: My Ridiculously Circuitous Plan at April 07, 2025 11:14 AM (6ZmT6)

45 One perplexing aspect of air travel is that my son, who lives in Delray Beach, can fly from Fort Lauderdale to Cleveland for about $50 on Spirit or Frontier. Sometimes the invoice makes it look like all the passengers are paying are the taxes and fees. My son can come home for the weekend as often as he wants at that fare point, but I don't understand what's going on.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 07, 2025 11:14 AM (2ap+5)

46 The only thing that makes flying tolerable for me is being able to look out the window and see what you're flying over. I've seen my old hometown in Michigan several times from the air.

Posted by: Bulg at April 07, 2025 11:15 AM (77rzZ)

47 Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 07, 2025 11:07 AM (fQarn)

That is essentially how I see air travel. Airports are vile, but my experience onboard has been mediocre to superb, and for the most part my flights take off and land on time. But a lot of it is international, and the airlines take those flights much more seriously.

I think I am lucky that I mostly fly out of a major airport with pretty good weather, and into other major airports. My experience with regional airports is sketchy.

But I do agree completely with Buck about the overall decay of the industry. It used to be great, and has been on a steady down path for a very long while.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (with a beret and a Gauloises) at April 07, 2025 11:15 AM (L5An7)

48 I avoid flying unless necessary.

It really is just a luxury for most folks, where they weigh the time saved in transit versus the added cost of this efficiency.

When traveling for entertainment, I prefer the road trip, stopping along the way to check out other locales and attractions and living out the "getting there is half the fun" portion of the adventure.

I suppose if I had to travel for business, it would be more of an existential problem, but as is, it seems to be more of a first world problem if the planes don't run on time.

Posted by: One Man's Opinion at April 07, 2025 11:15 AM (b34po)

49 14 But I have to say, once I'm on the plane my experience has been pretty good. Few serious delays. No mid-air collisions with DEI-pilots of army helos.

yet

Posted by: anachronda at April 07, 2025 11:15 AM (oY6Yp)

50 Couple of decades ago I did get upgraded once to First Class when I came to the assistance of an agent at the gate who was being hassled by a ticket holder.

First Class is like air travel heaven.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 11:16 AM (VofaG)

51 When it was relatively benign things, inconsequential backwaters like liberal arts, people grumble. But the rot has metastasized into hard sciences, medicine, and Stuff That Gets People Killed. Like Aviation.

Does NORAD or SAC have a “Didn’t Earn It” push to put sex deviants, incompetents, and mentally deranged into positions of high authority? Probably. What could go wrong?

Posted by: Common Tater at April 07, 2025 11:17 AM (SH3As)

52 >>>Yes. I really liked Southwest. You knew exactly what the rules were and was worth the trade-offs in exchange for low fares and flexibility in changing flights.
Posted by: Lizzy
---

Herb is dead.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:17 AM (9pHx8)

53 spirit is actually ok? stick with direct flights and pay for the higher tier seat.

Posted by: Black Orchid at April 07, 2025 11:18 AM (Pv3Rg)

54 Some of it is regulatory. Look at the ones that you can repeal since a lot of American regulation is in place so there is no risk and no failure. It's impossible to start a new airline and get gates etc. Very very capital intensive business.

Second, if a "high service" airline existed, how many people would take it if the price was higher? What's the true elasticity of demand among consumers for it?

Posted by: Jeff Carter (@pointsnfigures1) at April 07, 2025 11:19 AM (ZiwLX)

55 And for me, the worst part of the air travel experience is TSA. The airlines suck and the airports suck, but so long as TSA is there, nothing can improve because the ability to differentiate on customer service approaches zero so long as the pall of TSA remains hanging over everything.

Where TSA is not both rude *and* vindictive, it is either vindictive *or* rude. There is no such thing as a "good" TSA experience. And they keep making it worse, with crap like facial recognition that they punish you for opting out of.

TSA is both ineffective and entrenched. It is theater, and an exercise in compliance for its own sake. It has nothing to do with security, and it is bad at its job. Yet it gets worse every year. More rules, more hoops to jump through, more compliance for compliance's sake, more time, more rudness, more malice, less efficacy.

George W. Bush should *never* have nationalized airport security.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:19 AM (WkNQM)

56 29 It’s no different than riding a Greyhound today. Just quicker.

hmmm.... *scribbles note* nuclear powered bus. nonstop chicago to denver. bowling alleys. swimming pools. stockard channing.

Posted by: anachronda at April 07, 2025 11:19 AM (oY6Yp)

57 the airports are the biggest problem

horrible

of course mine is PHL and it is dogsh*t so that probably colors my response

Posted by: Black Orchid at April 07, 2025 11:20 AM (Pv3Rg)

58 I experienced a 3 hour departure delay on Thursday afternoon flying to southwest Florida. Mechanical problems.

Something about a fetzer valve and ball bearings

Posted by: Doof at April 07, 2025 11:20 AM (vf0Y9)

59 I lost my enjoyment of the air travel experience way back when Patriot Act was established. Say what??

I now have to disrobe in front of strangers and can't bring a bottle of stinking water on the plane? You can all eff right the eff off.

I've only flown a few times since 2001, domestic air travel was still convenient and reliable (except for the TSA shakedown upon boarding) but still I gave air travel the moniker "Sky SEPTA"

If I do fly again it will be to go overseas, I guess I'll book a flight on an airline run by foreigners.

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 11:20 AM (dCxaZ)

60 Penguins are extinct apparently.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 07, 2025 11:20 AM (njoQb)

61 and yes, TSA is the absolute worst

I can't believe we're still suffering with that mess

TSA plus airports sucking ... ugh

Posted by: Black Orchid at April 07, 2025 11:20 AM (Pv3Rg)

62 The prospect of having to compete against Singapore Air on the NY-LA run would concentrate the minds of domestic airline management wonderfully.

I'd guess that, unless they were permitted to hire foreign staff, things would not improve.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 07, 2025 11:21 AM (ExV1e)

63 And we are treated like cattle, both in the airport, and within the more crowded planes thangs to continual fun-sizing of the seats.

It's all a test to see how miserable they can make us. I've been driving a lot these lot few years. First it was on trips of 500 miles or less, now I'm up to 1200. Coast-to-coast, I'll still fly when that comes up.

Posted by: t-bird at April 07, 2025 11:21 AM (KtPtl)

64 Airlines say that consumers have demonstrated that while they say service matters, when it comes down to brass tacks they choose a carrier solely on the basis of price and schedule, therefore it's a race to the bottom and an airline would go broke if they spent money on differentiating through superior service.

Maybe things are now finally getting bad enough for consumers to actually start paying for better service.

Posted by: Bigsmith at April 07, 2025 11:21 AM (1Au9i)

65 The elite business school concept of increasing profit through cost cutting has virtually eliminated customer service in this service-intense industry.

------------------

* Las Vegas hotels & casinos have entered the post *

Posted by: ShainS -- If Elon Bought Planned Parenthood, The Left Would Hate Abortion at April 07, 2025 11:21 AM (u5dQW)

66 I know a guy who works baggage handling for American Airlines.

horror stories about the staff who are borderline illiterate and of course they are in supervisory positions due to DEI

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 11:22 AM (dCxaZ)

67 I really liked Southwest. You knew exactly what the rules were and was worth the trade-offs in exchange for low fares and flexibility in changing flights.

Yes. The sheer simplicity of using Southwest was worth a lot. I used them almost exclusively. Especially when I was traveling back and forth between San Diego and Austin often and unpredictably, the full-worth refund without any human involvement was nice.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at April 07, 2025 11:22 AM (ZF4lN)

68 Airlines got inexpensive so you got a different category of customers that the airlines don’t think require service.

It’s no different than riding a Greyhound today. Just quicker.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth

You can take a slow ride on the dog, or the fast way on the cockroach.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at April 07, 2025 11:22 AM (lTGtQ)

69 The first airline to attempt a T-Moblie-style disruption will probably bankrupt its competitors.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:12 AM (WkNQ

Wasn't the CEO of T Mobile the same guy who did the same thing at Southwest? I forget which came first.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 07, 2025 11:22 AM (VoAdT)

70 26
‘ A 30-minute connection through O'Hare shouldn't even be offered’

I actually had that. I made it but it was stressful.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at April 07, 2025 11:22 AM (jbnUc)

71 George W. Bush should *never* have nationalized airport security.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)
==========
There are a lot of things GWB should have never done that have made us poorer, less secure, and less able to defend ourselves.

Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:23 AM (ctrM5)

72 I've seen my old hometown in Michigan several times from the air.

Posted by: Bulg

That is probably the safest way to do so.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at April 07, 2025 11:23 AM (lTGtQ)

73 If I do fly again it will be to go overseas, I guess I'll book a flight on an airline run by foreigners.

Lufthansa to Europe - Cathay to Asia. Night and day difference from our shit.

Posted by: Taking Notes at April 07, 2025 11:23 AM (Sb7UZ)

74 I’ve probably flown 40 times in my life. Of those 40 flights 4 of them were what I term close calls. 10% ain’t a comforting percentage.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 11:23 AM (VofaG)

75 of course mine is PHL and it is dogsh*t so that probably colors my response

Posted by: Black Orchid at April 07, 2025 11:20 AM (Pv3Rg)

Not just the airport.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (with a beret and a Gauloises) at April 07, 2025 11:23 AM (L5An7)

76 I have no idea how a tall or plump person can stand it. . .
Posted by: Lizzy at April 07, 2025 11:06 AM (Cki93)

I'm 6'6" about 255 (and shrinking, width wise anyways) and yes... airplane seats are not made for people my size. I try to be considerate of people around me but there is little I can do. And sorry, but if you're sitting in front of me, that seat back is NOT reclining. My knees are already jammed in the spaces between seats and the laws of physics dictate that your seat back and my knees cannot occupy the same area.

Posted by: Defenestratus at April 07, 2025 11:24 AM (WYStd)

77 Squirelly guy, punk Aesthetic, always on the business news channels, you know... that guy

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 07, 2025 11:24 AM (VoAdT)

78 Something about a fetzer valve and ball bearings

Posted by: Doof

=====

"He's 6'-5". . . 6-9 with the afro"

Posted by: 2009Refugee at April 07, 2025 11:24 AM (u5fr9)

79 Buck, something to know: the government cannot fix this, it can only make it worse. The best thing the feds can do is to stop protecting airline mini monopolies and big airports. Stop subsidizing airport construction etc. In other words, get out of the transportation business.

Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at April 07, 2025 11:24 AM (P7Iz+)

80 If I do fly again it will be to go overseas, I guess I'll book a flight on an airline run by foreigners.

Yes. Driving up to JFK may be a chore, but taking national carriers over the pond is a dream.

Posted by: t-bird at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (Hgnyx)

81 George W. Bush should *never* have nationalized airport security.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:19 AM (WkNQM)

In retrospect, George W. Bush was asshoe.
Can't believe I felt it necessary to defend the guy.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (FCbAQ)

82 Lufthansa to Europe - Cathay to Asia. Night and day difference from our shit.
Posted by: Taking Notes at April 07, 2025 11:23 AM (Sb7UZ)

Whens the last time you flew Lufthansa?

It's gone way downhill in my experience. My wife just got back from an EU professional trip and said that she'll never step foot on a Lufthansa flight ever again.

Posted by: Defenestratus at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (WYStd)

83 I'm so glad my days of constant international air travel are over. Don't miss it at all.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (LkLld)

84 carried over from the last thread because, well...

and just because they're now desiccated and decrepit shouldn't give them any cover.
Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at April 07, 2025 10:52 AM (qwx/I)

I always had respect for my elders but when I started working at a job that put me in touch with a lot of seniors, whether boomer or silents, or whatever...boy did I get a rude awakening!
These people were nothing like my grandparents whom I revered!
Of course this does not apply to all the superannuated, but whatever fantasy I had about age making a person mellow was shot right to h3ll.

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (dCxaZ)

85 The Greenville airport is a throwback to the golden age of flight. The parking garage is right across the street from the single terminal, the terminal is small and the cuisine is the finest offered by Dunkin and Chick Fil A. They have been doing a lot of construction and construction has never made an airport cozier or more convenient, but it was great while it lasted.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (2ap+5)

86 IcelandAir is my new favorite airline

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (VoAdT)

87 The first airline to attempt a T-Mobile-style disruption will probably bankrupt its competitors.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:12 AM (WkNQ)

Yes. But what form the disruption will take is an interesting question.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (with a beret and a Gauloises) at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (L5An7)

88 George W. Bush should *never* have nationalized airport security.
———

“We Fucked Up. Therefore, You Must Be Punished”

Posted by: Common Tater at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (pV4LT)

89 and yes, TSA is the absolute worst

I can't believe we're still suffering with that mess

TSA plus airports sucking ... ugh

Posted by: Black Orchid

Hey, in 22 years, TSA has stopped almost one terrorist.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (lTGtQ)

90 TSA is both ineffective and entrenched. It is theater, and an exercise in compliance for its own sake. It has nothing to do with security, and it is bad at its job. Yet it gets worse every year. More rules, more hoops to jump through, more compliance for compliance's sake, more time, more rudness, more malice, less efficacy.

George W. Bush should *never* have nationalized airport security.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)
--------------------------

Michael Chertoff, Bush's, Sec of Homeland Security, won (fancy that) the first contract for the walk through x-ray machines.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (9pHx8)

91 It's all a test to see how miserable they can make us. I've been driving a lot these lot few years. First it was on trips of 500 miles or less, now I'm up to 1200. Coast-to-coast, I'll still fly when that comes up.
Posted by: t-bird
===
Pretty much my stance. On trips of 500 miles or so, by the time you build in TSA, parking, etc. you don't save much if any time. On trips longer than 500, then you get into the travel experience intangibles. Overseas, you really do not have much of a choice.

Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:26 AM (ctrM5)

92 There’s some crazy shit happening in the markets. But looks like the kind of day where a bottom is found. Wild swings both ways numerous times a day.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:26 AM (MmH/W)

93 It’s no different than riding a Greyhound today. Just quicker.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth

Yep, that's why I named it Sky SEPTA

except that was about ten years ago when the clientele wasn't even as putrid as it is now

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 11:26 AM (dCxaZ)

94 I always enjoyed Austrian Air. Chicks were very nice and meals tasty. British Airlines were heavy drinkers but that was because most of the passengers were Brit oil workers. They were entertaining.

Posted by: Pudinhead at April 07, 2025 11:26 AM (pZ64F)

95 Whens the last time you flew Lufthansa?

Couple years ago - Munich to Chicago.

Posted by: Taking Notes at April 07, 2025 11:27 AM (Sb7UZ)

96 Hey, in 22 years, TSA has stopped almost one terrorist.
Posted by: Thomas Paine
---

You should see the pocket knife and clipper collection.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:27 AM (9pHx8)

97 Michael Chertoff, Bush's, Sec of Homeland Security, won (fancy that) the first contract for the walk through x-ray machines.
Posted by: Braenyard
------
He is and was to me Michael Jerkoff for his awful comments over the years about nat sec. He never saw anything wrong with Deep State frolics in oppressing the plebes and acts as an apologist for it.

Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:27 AM (ctrM5)

98 Posted by: Oglebay at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (2ap+5)

My favorite airport was the Key West airport. It was so rustic and basic!

It's probably all embiggened and modernized now though

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 11:28 AM (dCxaZ)

99 TSA: Thieves Standing Around
TSA: They Steal Anything
TSA: The Sexual Assault

Any others?

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:28 AM (WkNQM)

100 If you are flying domestically try always for a non-stop. That's my rule anyway, as there are fewer potential problems. If you must fly a connection, never, ever, fly through Atlanta or Chicago. Kiss of death to your mental well-being, and your schedule.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 07, 2025 11:28 AM (mmvPs)

101 Your monkey is AWOL, Buck.

A "cheap" airline flight isn't so cheap anymore, when you factor in all the bullshit you have to endure to use it.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 07, 2025 11:28 AM (8zz6B)

102 Unless it is more than a full day's drive it is not worth even considering flying... and two hard days driving it is probably better to drive.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 07, 2025 11:29 AM (/lPRQ)

103 If you are flying domestically try always for a non-stop. That's my rule anyway, as there are fewer potential problems. If you must fly a connection, never, ever, fly through Atlanta or Chicago. Kiss of death to your mental well-being, and your schedule.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 07, 2025 11:28 AM (mmvPs)
++++
Connections through Atlanta, LAX and Philadelphia are fine (no experience with O'Hare), so long as your layover is 90 minutes minimum.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:29 AM (WkNQM)

104 Good rant, thanks

Hate flying in country anymore. I'm out unless there's an emergency somewhere far that makes driving almost impossible.

>Senior List, Senior Travel Statistics in 2025
Around 37% of all travelers were seniors in 2024, making them a large contributor to the travel industry, Feb. 18, 2025

In part, "Over the last year, interest in travel has decreased among all age groups, but the 50+ age group has been particularly affected. According to a study conducted by the AARP, 80 percent of seniors wanted to travel abroad in 2022, but only 40 percent expressed the same interest in 2023."

Reading all suggested.

Posted by: L - No nic, adores both Musk and Miller. at April 07, 2025 11:29 AM (NFX2v)

105 >>My favorite airport was the Key West airport. It was so rustic and basic!

>>It's probably all embiggened and modernized now though

In process as we speak. Flew in and out of Key West a few months ago and they are making it significantly larger just like the city.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 07, 2025 11:29 AM (LkLld)

106 98 Posted by: Oglebay at April 07, 2025 11:25 AM (2ap+5)

My favorite airport was the Key West airport. It was so rustic and basic!

It's probably all embiggened and modernized now though
Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 11:28 AM (dCxaZ)

Yes! And Palm Springs is nice too.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 07, 2025 11:29 AM (2ap+5)

107 I dinno man, is it really that bad? I don’t travel as much as I used to. Maybe 3 time a year on average. But I can’t remember the last time I had anything like a 3 hr delay.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:30 AM (MmH/W)

108 100 If you are flying domestically try always for a non-stop. That's my rule anyway, as there are fewer potential problems. If you must fly a connection, never, ever, fly through Atlanta or Chicago. Kiss of death to your mental well-being, and your schedule.
--------------
Totally agree. I would add Denver to the list, too.

Posted by: Pudinhead at April 07, 2025 11:30 AM (pZ64F)

109 Small correlation. Food safety and quality assurance has been an interesting topic in food manufacturing over the years. On the surface, who doesn't want a "safer" food supply, right? Unfortunately, the FSQA departments of the larger corporations are starting to evolve into the CYA department for operations.

For example:
- Large multinational company enters into an agreement for smaller processor/manufacturer to provide ingredients or finished goods.
- Agreement is for 5 million pounds. Sales don't meet projections and large multinational only sells 3 million pounds.
- Instead of following through with remaining 2 million pounds under contract, the FSQA department from large company magically starts rejecting lots/loads from smaller producer due to quality "issues."

I mean... you can't debate the safety of the consumer, right? That is the food manufacturing equivalent of "mechanical delay" in the airline industry. You don't want us to fly this plane if there's a mechanical issue, right? Every industry has them. It's a crutch for poorly managed (and unethical) operations.

Posted by: Mulerider at April 07, 2025 11:30 AM (9SNXU)

110 Not sure how many of you that complain about TSA are Pre-Check but if not, it's worth going through the process if for no other reason than it makes the security lines bearable.

Up here at Portland (ME) ... I've had to wait in line one time in 10 years of flying... and the line was only about 5 minutes long. Going through the security point is relatively painless ... no need to take off the shoes, empty the laptop out of the bag or go through the nekkid scanner. The only time is sucks is when you get "singled out" for additional security (SSSS printed on your boarding pass if you're a troglodyte and still use paper boarding passes).
There ARE some airports where it stinks no matter what. MCO is one of those - but thats due to just the pure volume of travelers. Boston can be bad but it can be painless as well.

Posted by: Defenestratus at April 07, 2025 11:30 AM (WYStd)

111 Trannies Scoping Ass

Posted by: Common Tater at April 07, 2025 11:30 AM (C8TKZ)

112 Do you like gladiator movies, Jimmy?

Posted by: Archer at April 07, 2025 11:31 AM (IDphi)

113 TSA: Thieves Standing Around
TSA: They Steal Anything
TSA: The Sexual Assault

Any others?
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:28 AM (WkNQM)

Terminally Stupid Assholes

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 07, 2025 11:31 AM (kxUKc)

114 Former Congresswoman Mía Love, who spoke at the 2012 RNC convention, passed away recently from brain cancer.

I'm in a choir singing at her funeral this morning. Live-streaming at this URl, starting in about 30 minutes:

https://tinyurl.com/5a25wdv7

Posted by: Half Dozen at April 07, 2025 11:31 AM (RWh30)

115 Maybe things are now finally getting bad enough for consumers to actually start paying for better service.

Sure, I would pay some (say 10 - 20%) more for better service but who's offering it?

Posted by: Oddbob at April 07, 2025 11:31 AM (/y8xj)

116 I like small airports when I am renting a car. Savannah? Walk 25 yards to the rental car parking lot! Bozeman? Almost as close. Even Ft. Lauderdale is walkable.

Those airport shuttles to the car rental sites are f*cking awful. Absolutely the worst part of most of my trips.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (with a beret and a Gauloises) at April 07, 2025 11:32 AM (L5An7)

117 I fly quite frequently, every other week for the most part.

United and American Airlines are pretty good and don’t give me many issues.

Delta is pretty crappy. Lots of delays, coach seating has less leg room, and not much in the way of snacks. Also their members point system is very stingy.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 07, 2025 11:32 AM (xyt0z)

118 I always had respect for my elders but when I started working at a job that put me in touch with a lot of seniors, whether boomer or silents, or whatever...boy did I get a rude awakening!
These people were nothing like my grandparents whom I revered!
Of course this does not apply to all the superannuated, but whatever fantasy I had about age making a person mellow was shot right to h3ll.
Posted by: kallisto
========
People remain more or less the same as they grow older at a certain point. Most socialization becomes semi permanent programming by the thirties.

So greedheads gonna greed, sex nuts gonna sex, and abusers gonna abuse, and dopers/alkies gonna dope up/drink up.

Takes a tough person to change their outlook absent taking Christianity serious (not churchian bullshit). What man cannot accomplish, the Lord can and does when it fits his purpose.

Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:32 AM (ctrM5)

119 Clear or pre check is an absolute must. If you don’t have it and complain about TSA lines, that’s on you.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:32 AM (MmH/W)

120 110 Not sure how many of you that complain about TSA are Pre-Check but if not, it's worth going through the process if for no other reason than it makes the security lines bearable.

Up here at Portland (ME) ... I've had to wait in line one time in 10 years of flying... and the line was only about 5 minutes long. Going through the security point is relatively painless ... no need to take off the shoes, empty the laptop out of the bag or go through the nekkid scanner. The only time is sucks is when you get "singled out" for additional security (SSSS printed on your boarding pass if you're a troglodyte and still use paper boarding passes).
There ARE some airports where it stinks no matter what. MCO is one of those - but thats due to just the pure volume of travelers. Boston can be bad but it can be painless as well.
Posted by: Defenestratus at April 07, 2025 11:30 AM (WYStd)

========

I have my Global Entry interview scheduled for about 3 weeks from now. The two boys are getting it as well. Dolley already has it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:32 AM (GBKbO)

121 >>There ARE some airports where it stinks no matter what. MCO is one of those - but thats due to just the pure volume of travelers. Boston can be bad but it can be painless as well.

I spent years flying in and out of Boston multiple times per month. I consider Logan one of the outer circles of hell and only go there now as a last resort.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 07, 2025 11:33 AM (LkLld)

122 You should see the pocket knife and clipper collection.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:27 AM (9pHx

==================
London to New York, three weeks ago, the security people opened my carry on and rooted through my toilet kit until they found my clippers and then they opened up the file. There were two security people involved. Then they measured my clippers with a ruler. It failed the measurement test and they reluctantly seized my toe-nail clippers. Joke is on them though; I have another.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 07, 2025 11:33 AM (mmvPs)

123 Your complaints and railings against the Big Air are nothing compared to Joe Scarborough's rant this morning on Morning Joe.

Joe slammed his fist in rage as he railed against 'billionaire' Trump officials for duping 'working Americans' into blindly accepting tariffs.

He also called out "millionaire talking heads"* on other networks during his impassioned rant, claiming they were taking the country's current economic situation too lightly by pedaling Trump propaganda - and exploiting everyday Americans.

* Joe makes $8,000,000 a year on MSNBC.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at April 07, 2025 11:33 AM (a3Q+t)

124 I dinno man, is it really that bad? I don’t travel as much as I used to. Maybe 3 time a year on average. But I can’t remember the last time I had anything like a 3 hr delay.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:30 AM (MmH/W)

These days the delays are often because they have to fly in crews to fly your plane, and if your lucky, the crew they fly in isn't some DEI hire, post Covid.

People seem to underestimate how shitty SO many industries have gotten, precisely because they fired people who wouldn't taking their goddam jab.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 07, 2025 11:33 AM (dGCAG)

125 I try to book non-stop flights whenever possible.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at April 07, 2025 11:33 AM (ZmEVT)

126 My flying destinations are pretty much West Palm Beach, FL to see my dad, or Detroit to see spawn of OCiS. Flying Jet Blue I can get direct flights flying from Boston Logan. Haven't really had any issues, thankfully.

Highly recommend getting the "known traveller" ID number. Greatly reduces the amount of b.s. that TSA can do to you.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at April 07, 2025 11:34 AM (N39Ws)

127 Not sure how many of you that complain about TSA are Pre-Check but if not, it's worth going through the process if for no other reason than it makes the security lines bearable.

———-

Every now and then TSA Pre is more backed up than the regular security.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 07, 2025 11:34 AM (xyt0z)

128 I always had respect for my elders but when I started working at a job that put me in touch with a lot of seniors, whether boomer or silents, or whatever...boy did I get a rude awakening!
These people were nothing like my grandparents whom I revered!

—

My wife works at Mickey Ds in HS and college. She told me the most annoying customers were the olds. This was 20ish years ago, meaning Silents and greatest generations.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:34 AM (MmH/W)

129
Business schools had always bordered on teaching Machiavellianism.

Somewhere around the turn of the century they pulled out all the stops and went in for the entire dark triad with zero shame or caveats.

This worked because--at least since the USSR's collapse--our economy has been a closed system focused on squandering American wealth to give cover to self-styled elites focused on embezzling what they can. Evil pricks belong at the top of such a bogus system of nothing but scams.

I am not saying that they are churning out MBAs with personality orders. I am saying that they are destigmatizing behaviors that healthy people should classify as disordered.

It goes a long ways toward explaining this piece by Christopher Rufo from 2023: https://rb.gy/hsvm5l

Posted by: biteme at April 07, 2025 11:34 AM (xWS9V)

130 Just remember the fundamental business model engaged in by all large corporations and many a smaller one too...

Posted by: Shit products + poor wages = C suite bonus! at April 07, 2025 11:34 AM (TbWk/)

131 * Joe makes $8,000,000 a year on MSNBC.
Posted by: Duncanthrax
-------
Joe is reacting due to his portfolio shrinking. Rich men north of Richmond indeed.

Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:35 AM (ctrM5)

132 Flying into Logan is nuts. You think you're going in the drink.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 07, 2025 11:35 AM (kxUKc)

133 London to New York, three weeks ago, the security people opened my carry on and rooted through my toilet kit until they found my clippers and then they opened up the file. There were two security people involved. Then they measured my clippers with a ruler. It failed the measurement test and they reluctantly seized my toe-nail clippers. Joke is on them though; I have another.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 07, 2025 11:33 AM (mmvPs)

The TSA grabbed a tiny multi-tool because it had a blade in it. Now, the blade was about the size of the fingernail on your pinky but the TSA agent wanted it more than I did.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at April 07, 2025 11:35 AM (N39Ws)

134 131 * Joe makes $8,000,000 a year on MSNBC.
Posted by: Duncanthrax
-------
Joe is reacting due to his portfolio shrinking. Rich men north of Richmond indeed.
Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:35 AM (ctrM5)

=======

And when his portfolio is back to where it was in a month, he'll complain that Trump tricked the people into voting for him based on some other criteria.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:35 AM (GBKbO)

135 Most people flying are doing so for silly reasons and have no business clogging up the airports and airplanes in their jammies and crocs. Have "business" only flights and charge more and watch the customers flock to get away from the Monster Children flying for fun.

Posted by: Kampala Uganda Hartsfiel-Jackson International Airport at April 07, 2025 11:36 AM (ekEaX)

136 MBA:
More
Bullshit
Administrators

Posted by: Speaking of rent-seeking and collusion at April 07, 2025 11:36 AM (TbWk/)

137 The only thing that makes flying tolerable for me is being able to look out the window and see what you're flying over. I've seen my old hometown in Michigan several times from the air.
Posted by: Bulg at April 07, 2025 11:15 AM (77rzZ)

I remember stewardesses nagging me to close the window blind because "people are trying to watch the movie".

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 07, 2025 11:36 AM (8zz6B)

138 My wife works at Mickey Ds in HS and college. She told me the most annoying customers were the olds. This was 20ish years ago, meaning Silents and greatest generations.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald
===========
You get the cheapskates of those generations overrepresented at McDonalds is my guess.

Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:36 AM (ctrM5)

139 >>Flying into Logan is nuts. You think you're going in the drink.

One of the classics was the old airport in Hong Kong. That would give you some pucker on a stormy day.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 07, 2025 11:36 AM (LkLld)

140 But we now have a Republican Transportation Secretary and a Republican Congress. Air travel is deeply broken as the oligopoly of non-competitive carriers continues to cut service in pursuit of profit growth in the way our elite MBAs are taught – expense reduction.

Boy, this is optimistic.

I think those in charge are probably just fine with the immiseration of air travel. There's a concerted effort to make most people less mobile.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 07, 2025 11:37 AM (mFz+I)

141 Not sure how many of you that complain about TSA are Pre-Check but if not, it's worth going through the process if for no other reason than it makes the security lines bearable. ...
Posted by: Defenestratus at April 07, 2025 11:30 AM (WYStd)
++++
This may be a controversial take, but so be it.

Pre-Check is a terrible solution for three reasons:
1. It masks the problem. The problem is that TSA is malicious and incompetent. Pre-Check is a way - with more money out of your pocket - to essentially revert to the pre-TSA security standard. Pre-Check itself is a perfect demonstration of why TSA is worse than worthless.
2. The government - an entity with which you have no choice when it comes to dealing - giving a "solution" of "pay me more so dealing with us is less awful" is offensive
3. TSA is - misnomer or not - a government service. Government services are supposed to be equal to all citizens. "Pay for play" in government services is philosophically repugnant. Why not have similar "express lanes" through the courts? Through traffic stops? Through anything? I mean, buying better service is cool, right? Why not?

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:37 AM (WkNQM)

142 134 131 * Joe makes $8,000,000 a year on MSNBC.
Posted by: Duncanthrax
-------
Joe is reacting due to his portfolio shrinking. Rich men north of Richmond indeed.
Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:35 AM (ctrM5)

=======

And when his portfolio is back to where it was in a month, he'll complain that Trump tricked the people into voting for him based on some other criteria.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:35 AM (GBKbO)

Here's hoping he sells at the bottom.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at April 07, 2025 11:37 AM (okun6)

143 > There's a concerted effort to make most people less mobile.
-----------
This ^

A mobile society is difficult to subjugate.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 07, 2025 11:38 AM (Q4IgG)

144 I was a road warrior for many years. 100k miles a year and more. One year I got 150k. When you travel that much you take a Zen approach to delays and cancellations. It happens nothing you can do about it. There’s always another flight, you’ll get there eventually.

Always cracked me up seeing people go apehsit screaming at gate agents. Yeah buddy youre a real tough guy. Guess who always ended up at the back of the list for reassigned flights?

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:38 AM (MmH/W)

145 Then there was the time the Canadian version of the TSA confiscated the innards of my Zippo lighter.

I called Zippo and they sent me a new innard no charge.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at April 07, 2025 11:38 AM (ZmEVT)

146 128 I always had respect for my elders but when I started working at a job that put me in touch with a lot of seniors, whether boomer or silents, or whatever...boy did I get a rude awakening!
These people were nothing like my grandparents whom I revered!

—

My wife works at Mickey Ds in HS and college. She told me the most annoying customers were the olds. This was 20ish years ago, meaning Silents and greatest generations.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:34 AM (MmH/W)
=======

*Fingers crossed* but my heart trouble has forced me to be more chill.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 07, 2025 11:39 AM (2ap+5)

147 In early March Trump ended TSA's collective bargaining agreement.

TSA is going to get a big dose of reality.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 07, 2025 11:39 AM (LkLld)

148 China added a 34% tariff on US goods in response to Trump's tariffs. Trump now says he'll add another 50% tariff on China if they don't withdraw their tariff by 4/9.

https://tinyurl.com/4wbs278v

Posted by: Meade Lux Lewis, Domestic Terrorist at April 07, 2025 11:40 AM (paSBy)

149 Yeah, the line for TSA pre-chek was a lot longer last time I flew out of Charlotte.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at April 07, 2025 11:40 AM (ZmEVT)

150 I've heard that Sedona is as close as a civilian can get to landing on an aircraft carrier.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 07, 2025 11:40 AM (2ap+5)

151 Takes a tough person to change their outlook absent taking Christianity serious (not churchian bullshit). What man cannot accomplish, the Lord can and does when it fits his purpose.

Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:32 AM (ctrM5)

very true

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 11:41 AM (dCxaZ)

152 On a recent trip I requested wheelchair service and the young men were not only there, they were enthusiastic and capable.

I believe it's sub-contracted at the airport level, so they ARENT airline employees.

Posted by: Aunt Ralph at April 07, 2025 11:42 AM (271YG)

153 And what about the flight attendants? Used to be a stereotype of attractive stewardesses, but now all we get are the worst dressed gay men you're ever going to meet.

Posted by: Josephistan at April 07, 2025 11:42 AM (y9ksN)

154 TSA is going to get a big dose of reality.
Posted by: JackStraw at April 07, 2025 11:39 AM (LkLld)
++++
Not big enough.

What TSA deserves is the same thing its parent agency deserves: dissolution. They're going to rearrange the deck chairs, make an incremental improvement somewhere, and things will still be meaningfully worse than they were pre-TSA. TSA is unreformable. It's entire operating basis is untenable. Airport security needs to not be nationalized anymore, without a single chokepoint of inflexible federal policy meted out by entrenched bureaucrats.

The incremental improvements that may result will be, of course, an improvement. But not a solution. The only solution is dissolution.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:42 AM (WkNQM)

155 For me this a general collapse of a competence society. Whether the cause is DEI or whatever complex systems require competence to maintain.

Posted by: blaster at April 07, 2025 11:42 AM (QfvaV)

156 I've had Global Entry/Pre check for a long time, it's still worth getting but not always as much of an advantage over the regular security lines as it used to be. The word has gotten out and the fraction of passengers using Pre check has increased to where they don't always have enough Precheck lanes open to handle it.

Posted by: Bigsmith at April 07, 2025 11:43 AM (1Au9i)

157 Clear or pre check is an absolute must. If you don’t have it and complain about TSA lines, that’s on you.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:32 AM (MmH/W)
===============
I do have pre-check, but the lines for pre-check are often just as long as regular lines at airports I frequent.

Global Entry is great for getting back into the country quickly.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 07, 2025 11:44 AM (NTLQ3)

158 TSA is mis-oriented as an organization. You might think they are there to keep terrorists from flying planes into skyscrapers but that is not their mission. Their mission is to keep contraband off of planes. And so many things are contraband.

Posted by: blaster at April 07, 2025 11:44 AM (QfvaV)

159 All of this will be fixed by High Speed Trains.

Posted by: Pudinhead at April 07, 2025 11:44 AM (pZ64F)

160 156 I've had Global Entry/Pre check for a long time, it's still worth getting but not always as much of an advantage over the regular security lines as it used to be. The word has gotten out and the fraction of passengers using Pre check has increased to where they don't always have enough Precheck lanes open to handle it.
Posted by: Bigsmith at April 07, 2025 11:43 AM (1Au9i)

=======

A lot of travel-focused credit cards will include the fee for Global Entry/Pre-check as a perk.

I mean, if you're paying $300 yearly for a card, that $110 perk is a return of a third of the investment up front. Might as well use it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:44 AM (GBKbO)

161 And what about the flight attendants? Used to be a stereotype of attractive stewardesses, but now all we get are the worst dressed gay men you're ever going to meet.
Posted by: Josephistan at April 07, 2025 11:42 AM (y9ksN)

Yeah...how did that happen? How did all the fags all want to become stews? One fag got hired then worked in his husband and before you know it your flying the Homo Skys with plane after plane full of fag stews. I don't remember seeing a fag stew in The Village People.

Posted by: Never Hire The Gay at April 07, 2025 11:45 AM (ekEaX)

162 And when his portfolio is back to where it was in a month, he'll complain that Trump tricked the people into voting for him based on some other criteria.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
----------
Yeah but wealthy lefties, having no actual moral values, take a loss in their portfolio like a punch in the nuts.

MSNBC is on a road to nowhere as their audience dies off.

Posted by: whig at April 07, 2025 11:45 AM (ctrM5)

163 Just keep in mind even with a delay and shit you’re still getting from LA to Miami in a few hours. Something that took weeks of travel not that long ago.

It’s like getting annoyed when your internet speed slows down. Or the internet goes out for 5 minutes. Step back a second and realize where we are on the timeline of technology.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:46 AM (MmH/W)

164 Old people are assholes. Self indulgent, bigoted, narcissistic assholes. The women are snotty and foul mouthed and the men are handsy and obnoxious.

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 07, 2025 11:46 AM (Eb/+M)

165 And what about the flight attendants? Used to be a stereotype of attractive stewardesses, but now all we get are the worst dressed gay men you're ever going to meet.
Posted by: Josephistan at April 07, 2025 11:42 AM (y9ksN)
++++
Eh, this was inevitable as soon as "stewardess" became a career rather than a job and they unionized to make sure it happened.

"Cute young stewardesses" can only happen if you hire for cuteness and youth, and cashier them when either stops being true. But that makes it a job, not a career.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:46 AM (WkNQM)

166 123
‘Joe Scarborough's rant this morning on Morning Joe.

Joe slammed his fist in rage as he railed against 'billionaire' Trump officials ‘

It doesn’t matter what he does now.To his leftist friends, Joe will always be the guy that flew to Mara Lago and sucked Trump’s dick after the election.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at April 07, 2025 11:47 AM (jbnUc)

167 And what about the flight attendants? Used to be a stereotype of attractive stewardesses, but now all we get are the worst dressed gay men you're ever going to meet.
Posted by: Josephistan at April 07, 2025 11:42 AM (y9ksN)

Gone are the days of "Coffee? Tea? Me?". The beginning of the end was when TWA went under so you know longer could get their branded tea.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at April 07, 2025 11:47 AM (N39Ws)

168 Just keep in mind even with a delay and shit you’re still getting from LA to Miami in a few hours. Something that took weeks of travel not that long ago.

It’s like getting annoyed when your internet speed slows down. Or the internet goes out for 5 minutes. Step back a second and realize where we are on the timeline of technology.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald

Those of us who cut our eye teeth on 1200 baud modems KNOW when to go make a sammich while the bewbs download.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 07, 2025 11:47 AM (FWMqC)

169 Xi's historical forcing US companies to be part of China is now a double edged sword. When he raises tariffs on us he's raising them on himself.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:48 AM (9pHx8)

170 No flying for old Eromero

Posted by: Eromero at April 07, 2025 11:48 AM (9RiiM)

171 Flying into Logan is nuts. You think you're going in the drink.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 07, 2025 11:35 AM

Well, since the runways end about 50 feet from the hahbah...yeah.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 07, 2025 11:48 AM (bFu5X)

172 169 Xi's historical forcing US companies to be part of China is now a double edged sword. When he raises tariffs on us he's raising them on himself.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:48 AM (9pHx

======

Their stock market closed -14.5% this morning.

Trump's making China take it in the nuts.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:48 AM (GBKbO)

173 Remember that old guy who wanted the flight attendant to help clean him up after an in flight bowel movement? The reason I remember it is the @dri tweet lamenting his passing.l

Posted by: Oglebay at April 07, 2025 11:49 AM (2ap+5)

174 I came here to complain about the lack of leg room for non-midgits in economy seats but it looks like y'all have covered that ground pretty well.

Posted by: Texas Zombie at April 07, 2025 11:49 AM (naaqi)

175 Just keep in mind even with a delay and shit you’re still getting from LA to Miami in a few hours. Something that took weeks of travel not that long ago. ...
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:46 AM (MmH/W)
+++++
It was pretty long ago. People have been getting from LA to Miami in a few hours for many decades now, and it was true before TSA and the airline bailouts ruined air travel post-9/11. Service was well in its decline by then - price mattered more, to most people - but it was not the nightmare it is today.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:49 AM (WkNQM)

176 After the "real ID" fiasco and the fact air travel SUCKS now I don't fly. period.

Posted by: Esperman at April 07, 2025 11:49 AM (UZ7aH)

177 Their stock market closed -14.5% this morning.

Trump's making China take it in the nuts.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

Bing Dang Ow lost his shit.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 07, 2025 11:49 AM (FWMqC)

178 I've traveled all over the world for many years, but not in the last five. I can't imagine it could get any worse than it was then. I have so many airline horror stories, I could make a TV series. I will never fly again, if I can help it.

Posted by: Angel at April 07, 2025 11:49 AM (oiJGz)

179 Aldous Huxley laid it all out. Orwell didn’t write a “how to” manual perhaps, but Huxley did.

Posted by: Common Tater at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (C8TKZ)

180 I don't count a bad mood until it lasts for two days, so this is the first bad mood I've been in for the last eighteen months.

My peach & cherry trees dropped their blossoms and leafed out last week, and the gaillardia and day lilies came up hard. The peach also immediately popped fruit. "Good times. Gonna be a nice year," I thought.

Then on Saturday, they abruptly revised the weather forecast from "one night of mild frost on Wednesday" to " a freak cold snap with three days of hard frost ending on Wednesday."

While I have a shipment of annuals coming in, that will almost certainly be frozen and dead when I take delivery.

I've been frantically doing whatever I can to save my perennials in the meantime. My fruit trees are definitely fucked.

I'm so pissed off.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (BI5O2)

181 164 Old people are assholes. Self indulgent, bigoted, narcissistic assholes. The women are snotty and foul mouthed and the men are handsy and obnoxious.
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 07, 2025 11:46 AM (Eb/+M)

Don’t hold back tell us how you really feel. 😁

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (MmH/W)

182 This busty brunette in a one-piece hates everything about the grim fandango of malice and contempt that is contemporary air travel:
http://tiny.cc/kfpf001

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (WkNQM)

183 Old people are assholes. Self indulgent, bigoted, narcissistic assholes. The women are snotty and foul mouthed and the men are handsy and obnoxious.
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 07, 2025 11:46 AM

I won't tell the RMBS Mom* you said that.

*who would probably agree with you

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (bFu5X)

184 174 I came here to complain about the lack of leg room for non-midgits in economy seats but it looks like y'all have covered that ground pretty well.
------------------
Always sign up for the seats beside the exit doors. Lots of legroom and you're the first to escape the burning inferno, should that happen.

Posted by: Pudinhead at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (pZ64F)

185
It goes a long ways toward explaining this piece by Christopher Rufo from 2023: https://rb.gy/hsvm5l
Posted by: biteme at April 07, 2025 11:34 AM (xWS9V)

The notion of "pathocracy" caught my interest as it neatly summed up a lifetime of my personal observations about the sorts of people who seek out positions of authority - from parents to teachers to pastors to executives to politicians to cops - and the attraction of disordered and even psychopathic people to positions of power. It's also pervaded our culture in general. Narcissism and histrionic behavior are rewarded with likes and "clout." It's a sickness in the body politic but as long as it keeps getting rewarded we'll never be rid of the rot it's causing.

Posted by: Need more purges at April 07, 2025 11:51 AM (TbWk/)

186 I have never had pre-check or anything like it.

Every time I fly with wifey, who has it, I get through first.

I really don't understand how pre-check is a thing.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 07, 2025 11:51 AM (VoAdT)

187 164 Old people are assholes. Self indulgent, bigoted, narcissistic assholes. The women are snotty and foul mouthed and the men are handsy and obnoxious.
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 07, 2025 11:46 AM (Eb/+M)
I suppose that’s good know.

Posted by: Eromero at April 07, 2025 11:51 AM (9RiiM)

188 Aldous Huxley laid it all out. Orwell didn’t write a “how to” manual perhaps, but Huxley did.
Posted by: Common Tater at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (C8TKZ)
++++
Every college dorm room bull session asking whether the future was to be more like Orwell or more like Huxley missed the point entirely.

The answer was "yes."

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:51 AM (WkNQM)

189 Anyone for the just release Mission Impossible trailer?

https://youtu.be/fsQgc9pCyDU

I wanna watch this on the big screen!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 11:51 AM (2lp6s)

190 I fly about 4 times a year and have Pre-check. I fly out of Portland, OR, and see which line has the least number of cattle in the shutes and choose that line. PDX did a refurbishing of the terminal and added two different TSA areas which has cut down the wait time.

A couple of other nice small/regional airports for easy access are Wilmington, NC and Billings.

Posted by: Beartooth at April 07, 2025 11:52 AM (dJimA)

191 Airlines got inexpensive so you got a different category of customers that the airlines don’t think require service.

It’s no different than riding a Greyhound today. Just quicker.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth

I think that right there nails it. I have been flying for business a long time, and the service can wildly vary depending on the airlines.
I have had kind of lousy experiences, and also pretty nice experiences. There's no way to predict what could happen next.
And most people dress and act like slobs on flights. Walking out through business class after a flight, it looks like a bunch of petulant day-care kids were in there rather than grown adults.
The airlines are likely deferring Preventive Maintenance to increase earnings, which results in planes being broken when it's time for your flight. People were mocking Boeing for all the plan incidents last year, but those planes had mostly been in airline hands for YEARS, and they are the ones responsible for Maintenance, which apparently they are not doing.

Posted by: A face in the crowd.... at April 07, 2025 11:52 AM (vcOmj)

192 >>>Old people are assholes. Self indulgent, bigoted, narcissistic assholes. The women are snotty and foul mouthed and the men are handsy and obnoxious.

Calm down, Margaret

Posted by: one hour sober at April 07, 2025 11:52 AM (Y1sOo)

193 Texas Zombie? Are you of the .first TXMOME, Zombie?

Posted by: Ben Had at April 07, 2025 11:53 AM (XNkRi)

194 Wait. Are ciggies and a lighter contraband now? Can’t have a lighter? How about a book of matches?

Posted by: Common Tater at April 07, 2025 11:53 AM (C8TKZ)

195 Just like the railroads in Atlas Shrugged.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 11:53 AM (2lp6s)

196 164
‘ and the men are handsy and obnoxious.’

I think there’s a story here.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at April 07, 2025 11:53 AM (jbnUc)

197 A couple of other nice small/regional airports for easy access are Wilmington, NC and Billings.
Posted by: Beartooth at April 07, 2025 11:52 AM (dJimA)

=======

Billings makes me sad. It used to matter.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 07, 2025 11:53 AM (2ap+5)

198 lot of travel-focused credit cards will include the fee for Global Entry/Pre-check as a perk.

I mean, if you're paying $300 yearly for a card, that $110 perk is a return of a third of the investment up front. Might as well use it.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:44 AM

----------------

Yes there are lots of ways to get Precheck for free or close to it now, hence a lot more people have it and it isn't the big advantage it used to be. TSA in accordance with their overall incompetence often doesn't flex agents over to open more precheck lanes and sometimes the regular lines actually move faster. You have to scope out the situation before deciding whether to get into a Precheck lane or not. Didn't used to have to do that.

Posted by: Bigsmith at April 07, 2025 11:54 AM (1Au9i)

199 Billings makes me sad. It used to matter.
Posted by: Oglebay at April 07, 2025 11:53 AM (2ap+5)
++++
Billings matter, we assure you.

Posted by: Accounts Receivable at April 07, 2025 11:54 AM (WkNQM)

200 Remember that old guy who wanted the flight attendant to help clean him up after an in flight bowel movement? The reason I remember it is the @dri tweet lamenting his passing.l
Posted by: Oglebay

Coffee or tea?

Nah. I'm going to need some help after I pinch one off.

Wow.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 07, 2025 11:55 AM (kxUKc)

201 Why would one pay for a credit card?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:55 AM (9pHx8)

202 People like to talk about the good old days of flying in the 50s-70s era. What they forget - or never knew - is the cost to fly was ridiculously expensive relative to today. Pre deregulation, prices were set by the govt more or less. So the only way airlines could compete was on service.

Now there is no service. It’s all price competition. Consumers spoke loud and clear they want cheap flights. But they still complain about lack of services.

Good cheap fast.
Pick two,

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:55 AM (MmH/W)

203 Xi's historical forcing US companies to be part of China is now a double edged sword. When he raises tariffs on us he's raising them on himself.

We're decoupling our economies. This may be part of Xi's plan, too.

Posted by: t-bird at April 07, 2025 11:55 AM (RwzGD)

204 201 Why would one pay for a credit card?
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:55 AM (9pHx

========

If you use the card correctly, you end up getting more than what you pay for the yearly fee.

It can be a lot more.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:55 AM (GBKbO)

205 ‘ and the men are handsy and obnoxious.’

I think there’s a story here.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at April 07, 2025 11:53 AM

Old bastard probably never knew what hit him.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 07, 2025 11:56 AM (bFu5X)

206 Buck, something to know: the government cannot fix this, it can only make it worse. The best thing the feds can do is to stop protecting airline mini monopolies and big airports. Stop subsidizing airport construction etc. In other words, get out of the transportation business.
Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at April 07, 2025 11:24 AM (P7Iz+)

One thing they could do is regulatory: start fining airlines for all delays not caused by forces beyond the airlines' control. Mechanical delays, crew-related delays? Fine their asses. And by fining, I mean force them to refund passengers. One percent per minute that scheduled departure time is delayed. Delay over 2 hours? Require them to place pax on a competitor's flight at the airline's expense, or to issue a voucher good for any flight on their schedule at a future date within one calendar year.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 07, 2025 11:56 AM (8zz6B)

207 Capt Sherry Walker in an interview two weeks ago by Tucker. Sherry talks about air travel today, dei hires, trans pilots, and covid- she and her hubs both are pilots and refused the jab mandated by their airline. She's been a pilot for 35 years. Very fascinating.

https://youtu.be/0M5cEOIKfoY

Posted by: Rex B at April 07, 2025 11:56 AM (bhV/D)

208 Now there is no service. It’s all price competition. Consumers spoke loud and clear they want cheap flights. But they still complain about lack of services.

Good cheap fast.
Pick two,

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald

Cheap & fast. Quicker I can get off your bucket of bolts, the better.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 07, 2025 11:56 AM (FWMqC)

209 The thing about the pre-check lines being longer is true - however due to the fact that you don't have to go through the nekkid scanner or take off your shoes or any of that nonsense makes the processing rate on the pre-check lines faster (unless oldie McOldiepants or Super Uterus gets in line with her 7 screaming offspring) than the normal lines that have to go through that pantomime.

And I get it. Its all a facade - but when it boils down to it, I'll play their silly game if it means that I don't have to show up another hour ahead of time for my flight.

Also the foreign security checkpoints I've experienced have all been much more invasive than TSA. In the Bahamas, my wife was quite literally shouted at and groped by three men - and it took every ounce of my willpower to not cause an international incident while I had to stand there and watch. In Frankfurt, I witnessed the complete unbagging of some poor old lady's luggage - which included several pieces of stained undergarments. I felt horrible for her personal life to be put on display like that.

Posted by: Defenestratus at April 07, 2025 11:56 AM (WYStd)

210 201 Why would one pay for a credit card?
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:55 AM (9pHx

Perks and really good miles earning potential. Some amex cards cost a few hundred dollars a year but if used properly more than make that back.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:57 AM (MmH/W)

211 For me this a general collapse of a competence society. Whether the cause is DEI or whatever complex systems require competence to maintain.

Posted by: blaster at April 07, 2025 11:42 AM (QfvaV)

It's a good question of when did we transform from a competence-based/meritocratic system to the bullshit-based society that currently predominates. Of course, this also raises the question of just how real was the competence-based/meritocratic system or are we romanticizing a past era in history that may not quite be what we think it was, or wish it was? Is it some kind of backdated wish casting on our part? I am not entirely sure myself.

Posted by: I think it's a worthwhile discussion though at April 07, 2025 11:57 AM (TbWk/)

212 nurse. That's me on a good day!

Posted by: Ben Had at April 07, 2025 11:57 AM (XNkRi)

213 Why would one pay for a credit card?
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:55 AM (9pHx

++++
If you come out ahead. Most people won't (if most people did, the product wouldn't exist) - but if you will, it makes sense.

If you're a frequent flier, the airline-affiliated cards can make sense. You get more benefits than the cost of the annual fee. If you spend a lot, a cashback card can make sense if you don't run balances but your reward balance exceeds the fee and so you come out ahead.

But it requires accurate assessment and discipline (no balances!) to make it pay. Most people don't do that, so it pays for the card issuer but not the customer.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:57 AM (WkNQM)

214 Why would one pay for a credit card?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:55 AM (9pHx

-

Membership has its privileges.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 11:57 AM (2lp6s)

215 193 Texas Zombie? Are you of the .first TXMOME, Zombie?
Posted by: Ben Had at April 07, 2025 11:53 AM (XNkRi)

That's me! I've wanted to attend subsequent MOMEs but things always seem to get in the way.

Posted by: Texas Zombie at April 07, 2025 11:57 AM (naaqi)

216 On Monday, European Union leader Ursula von der Leyen has said that the European Union is ready to offer "zero-for-zero" tariffs in trade negotiations with the United States for industrial goods.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 07, 2025 11:57 AM (D7oie)

217 Every now and then a feller might not pinch off a clean loaf. It’s understandable he wanted some assistance.

Posted by: Common Tater at April 07, 2025 11:58 AM (C8TKZ)

218 205
‘ Old bastard probably never knew what hit him.’

Nurse probably scheduled him for an enema.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at April 07, 2025 11:58 AM (jbnUc)

219 Something about a fetzer valve and ball bearings

Posted by: Doof

=====

"He's 6'-5". . . 6-9 with the afro"
Posted by: 2009Refugee at April 07, 2025 11:24 AM (u5fr9)

LOL! My GF's sister rents a condo in a country club community in Naples, which is who we were visiting. We were hanging out at the pool a few times and ordered drinks from the roving waitress. I of course said "put it on Underhill". Nobody got it. I had the sadz.

Posted by: Doof at April 07, 2025 11:58 AM (vf0Y9)

220 I'm so pissed off.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (BI5O2)

yes this is a very tricky time of year for the plant mommies and daddies

I brought some of my indoor plant collection out to the deck and then forgot to bring them in...
we didn't get a frost, but the temp did dip below their tolerance

just waiting to see if any damage...

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 11:58 AM (dCxaZ)

221 The competition issue is relatively easily fixed. The really problem is nothing to do with the Federal Department of Transportation or the FAA. It is about airports, and gating.

Airlines have carved up market share and effectively do not compete, and the is facilitated by gating. The easy reform would be to require that any airport receiving Federal funds (i.e., all of them) must allocate gate space on the basis of the number of flights an airline is prepared to offer. Eliminate the auctions, and the opaque political processes by which airlines are awarded gates. If JetBlue is willing to run 10 flights where American is only willing to run 5, JetBlue gets the gates to do so.

Posted by: RichieC at April 07, 2025 11:58 AM (n4Uod)

222 Pay for a credit card. Pay them to lend you money? Bizarre.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 11:59 AM (9pHx8)

223 213 But it requires accurate assessment and discipline (no balances!) to make it pay. Most people don't do that, so it pays for the card issuer but not the customer.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:57 AM (WkNQM)

=======

Dolley works in the financial industry.

Apparently, the banks make almost nothing on those cards. They go to higher-earners who are higher-earners because they're actually good with money.

It's the shit cards, the ones with no fees, that subsidize the nicer cards. It's there where people don't pay on time and pay interest and penalties.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:59 AM (GBKbO)

224 Remember what credit card companies call people who maximize benefits (if any) and never run a balance and thus never accrue interest charges or other fees.

In the real world, those people are called "responsible" or "savvy."
In credit card world, those people are called "deadbeats."

I am proud - in this particular context - to be a deadbeat.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:59 AM (WkNQM)

225 Texas Zombie? Are you of the .first TXMOME, Zombie?
Posted by: Ben Had at April 07, 2025 11:53 AM (XNkRi)

That's me! I've wanted to attend subsequent MOMEs but things always seem to get in the way.
Posted by: Texas Zombie at April 07, 2025 11:57 AM (naaqi)

Nobody goes to those anymore - they're too crowded

Posted by: Doof at April 07, 2025 11:59 AM (vf0Y9)

226 If I remember the story correctly, the old guy continually encouraged the flight attendant assisting him in his post-bowel movement clean-up to go deeper.

Posted by: Oglebay at April 07, 2025 12:00 PM (2ap+5)

227 Something about a fetzer valve and ball bearings

Posted by: Doof

=====

"He's 6'-5". . . 6-9 with the afro"
Posted by: 2009Refugee at April 07, 2025 11:24 AM (u5fr9)

LOL! My GF's sister rents a condo in a country club community in Naples, which is who we were visiting. We were hanging out at the pool a few times and ordered drinks from the roving waitress. I of course said "put it on Underhill". Nobody got it. I had the sadz.
Posted by: Doof at April 07, 2025 11:58 AM

Moooon River!!!

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 07, 2025 12:00 PM (bFu5X)

228 Just keep in mind even with a delay and shit you’re still getting from LA to Miami in a few hours. Something that took weeks of travel not that long ago.

It’s like getting annoyed when your internet speed slows down. Or the internet goes out for 5 minutes. Step back a second and realize where we are on the timeline of technology.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 11:46 AM (MmH/W)

The stress level may be very dependent on the reason for the travel.
Business related, where you have a presentation or a deal signing and your plane will not get you there in time?
Dial it to 11.
First domestic leg of an international trip where you miss the flight due to a stuck tray? Dial it to 11.
Dad's on his last leg and mom said get here quick? 11

Most of the rest you could just chill out, but people aren't wired up to be chill anymore.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at April 07, 2025 12:00 PM (FCbAQ)

229 Nobody got it. I had the sadz.
Posted by: Doof

Where's Ben R. when you need him?

Oh, and hey, Food.

Posted by: Bulg at April 07, 2025 12:00 PM (77rzZ)

230 Texas Zombie. email.me. My address is the same or in the left side bar under the MoMe notice.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 07, 2025 12:00 PM (XNkRi)

231 I've only flown once in the past 7 years -- from Phoenix to Billings and back on one of those small airlines as part of American.

Decided to treat myself to First Class. Had a great stewardess (older gal, originally from Germany) who took very good care of me -- had her on both flights.

Even though she demurred, she received a very good tip both ways.

Posted by: ShainS -- If Elon Bought Planned Parenthood, The Left Would Hate Abortion at April 07, 2025 12:00 PM (WIbTz)

232 Just flew back from the west coast this weekend. connection in Phoenix was delayed by a late-arriving flight attendant. As I waited, there was a flight to Raleigh that sounded completely screwed up, and another to Dallas that was equally buggered. This was all American Airlines. And we were treated to constant harrumphing from the gate attendant who repeatedly sighed that she was the only one there -- presumably there are supposed to be two?

Both sides of the transaction are a mess. Airlines that are there to nickel-and-dime you to death and passengers who are all convinced they're the most important people getting on/off that big, metal tube.

Posted by: red speck at April 07, 2025 12:00 PM (0Id0S)

233 Sure, drive up the operating costs even more, which means you'll be paying more to go see grandma at Christmas with the same shitty service.

Great idea!

Posted by: one hour sober at April 07, 2025 12:01 PM (Y1sOo)

234 Air travel has devolved into flying bus service. With shittier seats, personnel and customers.

At least the buses run on something approaching a schedule and consistency.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 07, 2025 12:01 PM (Q4IgG)

235 I brought some of my indoor plant collection out to the deck and then forgot to bring them in...
we didn't get a frost, but the temp did dip below their tolerance

just waiting to see if any damage...
Posted by: kallisto
---

Made a bet that the temp on the porch wouldn't drop as much 5 yds further out.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 12:01 PM (9pHx8)

236 And what about the flight attendants? Used to be a stereotype of attractive stewardesses, but now all we get are the worst dressed gay men you're ever going to meet.
Posted by: Josephistan

Homosexuals like the idea of a new city every day. It increases their 'dating' pool'

Posted by: Thomas Paine at April 07, 2025 12:01 PM (lTGtQ)

237 Whenever possible, I support my Islamic friends by flying Emirates.

Posted by: GOV. SHAPIRO at April 07, 2025 12:01 PM (GhFyc)

238 ... Apparently, the banks make almost nothing on those cards. They go to higher-earners who are higher-earners because they're actually good with money. ...
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 11:59 AM (GBKbO)
++++
I strongly suspect they're profitable - if only barely - on their own terms even if most of the customers are "deadbeats." The average ticket (purchase) is probably fairly large, and the card network and issuing bank get their cut. It probably at least breaks even, but isn't very profitable if the average customer is responsible. But businesses - and especially banks - really like doing business with rich people because rich people pay their bills and consume more of their services. It would probably be worth loss-leading on it, but I doubt they are in that position.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 12:02 PM (WkNQM)

239 And most people dress and act like slobs on flights. Walking out through business class after a flight, it looks like a bunch of petulant day-care kids were in there rather than grown adults.

—

Of man you’re one of those? Lol. Dude, chill.

When I was a yuuute I flew a ton for work and due to my status was upgraded all the time. I was 23,24,25 and have no fucks about a fake forst class dress code. I’d roll up in shorts and flip flops. And there’d be the glares from people like you. On more than one occasion I was asked if I was in the right cabin.

It’s like look man you have a wider seat for this flight. That’s all. You’re nothing special. So kindly fuck off and let me be. I never said it like that but I kinda did.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 07, 2025 12:02 PM (MmH/W)

240 Air travel has devolved into flying bus service. With shittier seats, personnel and customers.

At least the buses run on something approaching a schedule and consistency.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 07, 2025 12:01 PM

This guy gets it!

- Airbus

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 07, 2025 12:02 PM (bFu5X)

241 Made a bet that the temp on the porch wouldn't drop as much 5 yds further out.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 12:01 PM (9pHx

because of heat from the house, or protected location?

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 12:02 PM (dCxaZ)

242 One thing I've noticed in the last 5 years is anything related to customer service is an abomination. This goes for everything from drive-thru to restaurant services hospital services taxi services. Absolutely anything service related is a fucking nightmare to deal with.

But you will get looked at and stared down if you dare not tip these lazy bastards

Posted by: melodicmetal1 at April 07, 2025 12:02 PM (xtTZz)

243 Oh, and hey, Food.
Posted by: Bulg at April 07, 2025 12:00 PM (77rzZ)

Howdy Glub

Posted by: Doof at April 07, 2025 12:02 PM (vf0Y9)

244 Which of you morons started this?

https://tinyurl.com/3hhxr59w

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 12:03 PM (2lp6s)

245 It's almost as if we fermented a generation of lazy piles of shit. But that couldn't possibly be it.... So I'm told

Posted by: melodicmetal1 at April 07, 2025 12:03 PM (xtTZz)

246 Moooon River!!!
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 07, 2025 12:00 PM (bFu5X)

Using the whole fist, Doc?

Posted by: Doof at April 07, 2025 12:03 PM (vf0Y9)

247 But you will get looked at and stared down if you dare not tip these lazy bastards
Posted by: melodicmetal1 at April 07, 2025 12:02 PM (xtTZz)
++++
I am not one of those people who hates to tip, but it's gotten out of control.

A tip jar at a convenience store? No.
Claiming that tips should *start* at 30%? No.

Screw that.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 12:03 PM (WkNQM)

248 While I have a shipment of annuals coming in, that will almost certainly be frozen and dead when I take delivery.

I've been frantically doing whatever I can to save my perennials in the meantime. My fruit trees are definitely fucked.

I'm so pissed off.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (BI5O2)

God apparently hates you. Or at least your trees.

Posted by: He hates these trees! at April 07, 2025 12:04 PM (TbWk/)

249 We're supposed to get wind chills in the 20s later this week.

In April. In Northern Virginia.

Posted by: Bulg at April 07, 2025 12:04 PM (77rzZ)

250 One thing they could do is regulatory: start fining airlines for all delays not caused by forces beyond the airlines' control.

Would there be a kickback system, where the airlines cause enough delays to keep funding and rewarding the regulators?

Posted by: t-bird at April 07, 2025 12:04 PM (Hgnyx)

251 Two ways an Airline can get a monopoly - between Airports. A single route monopoly and/or a "gate" monopoly. Your competition can't compete - if they have no gate to pull into at the Airport. I'll suggest it is easier for the Airlines to work to get a monopoly...than it is - to try and improve customer service...then there's the issue of the Airlines "overbooking" seats on their flights...More competition is needed.

Posted by: PETE at April 07, 2025 12:04 PM (0Ctrb)

252 yes the weather is not being nice, sorry YD, hoping your fruit trees hang in there

I have a small greenhouse which helps. my fig tree is still in the garage safe and sound

learned to keep him in there too long is better than too short

Posted by: Black Orchid at April 07, 2025 12:04 PM (Pv3Rg)

253 I am not one of those people who hates to tip, but it's gotten out of control.

A tip jar at a convenience store? No.
Claiming that tips should *start* at 30%? No.

Screw that.
Posted by: Joe Mannix

30% should come with a happy ending.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (FWMqC)

254 Which of you morons started this?

https://tinyurl.com/3hhxr59w
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 12:03 PM

*whistles innocently*

Posted by: Dr. Nefario at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (bFu5X)

255 I've been frantically doing whatever I can to save my perennials in the meantime. My fruit trees are definitely fucked.

I'm so pissed off.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (BI5O2)
----
We're supposed to get wind chills in the 20s later this week.

In April. In Northern Virginia.
Posted by: Bulg at April 07, 2025 12:04 PM (77rzZ)
++++
Maybe NOW you people will take climate change seriously.

Posted by: Climatologist at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (WkNQM)

256 This busty brunette in a one-piece hates everything about the grim fandango of malice and contempt that is contemporary air travel:
http://tiny.cc/kfpf001
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (WkNQM)

Oooooh, I like her!

Posted by: Cupid has been holding it in for 5 hours at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (FCbAQ)

257 I don't understand Credit Ratings that screw you if you avoid debt.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (VofaG)

258 30% should come with a happy ending.
Posted by: rickb223 at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (FWMqC)
++++
Yet it never does.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (WkNQM)

259 30% should come with a happy ending.
Posted by: rickb223 at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (FWMqC)

Yes, but just the tip

Posted by: Doof at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (vf0Y9)

260 London to New York, three weeks ago, the security people opened my carry on and rooted through my toilet kit until they found my clippers and then they opened up the file. There were two security people involved. Then they measured my clippers with a ruler. It failed the measurement test and they reluctantly seized my toe-nail clippers. Joke is on them though; I have another.
Posted by: Huck Follywood

Clever guy!

Some years ago (2004), my ex-wife (she was my wife then) and I were flying out of Columbus to Reno via DFW. It was a Saturday, the people passing through the TSA line was light. She had some cheap nail clippers in her purse. The TSA guys took it, but were really nice about it, willing to give it back to her and let her mail it home. They were actually funny, making fun of the idea that my wife, with her tiny nail clippers, could force her way into the cockpit. They realized how ridiculous it all was.

Posted by: A face in the crowd.... at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (vcOmj)

261 Good to see Montec/Joe Xiden is back.

Entitled asshat.

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 07, 2025 12:06 PM (Vrdez)

262 "Is this fixable"

--

Spoiler alert:

It's the government involvement

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Women only need 1200 calories per day at April 07, 2025 12:06 PM (zJgD/)

263 257 I don't understand Credit Ratings that screw you if you avoid debt.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (VofaG)

=====

I do.

Credit is about how you handle debt. If you don't have history, then no one knows how you handle debt.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:06 PM (GBKbO)

264 257 I don't understand Credit Ratings that screw you if you avoid debt.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (VofaG)

It isn't meant to rate your ability to pay them back.

It's meant to rate their ability to make a buck off you.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 07, 2025 12:06 PM (VoAdT)

265 One thing they could do is regulatory: start fining airlines for all delays not caused by forces beyond the airlines' control.

Would there be a kickback system, where the airlines cause enough delays to keep funding and rewarding the regulators?
Posted by: t-bird

Not if the fine was truly punitive.

Say? $250,000 first event.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 07, 2025 12:06 PM (FWMqC)

266 It used to be about booking the cheapest flights. Now it's about maximizing the chances of getting where you're going, when you're supposed to get there.

Direct flights, if at all possible. If you have to connect, leave enough time during layovers so you are not doing the OJ Simpson run from gate to gate, but not so much time that more things can go wrong.

Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder at April 07, 2025 12:06 PM (MZ+PY)

267 learned to keep him in there too long is better than too short

Posted by: Black Orchid at April 07, 2025 12:04 PM (Pv3Rg)

"Don't plant the tomatoes before Mother's Day!!"

*smile*

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 12:07 PM (dCxaZ)

268 I finally convinced my husband I am not crazy about the stuff they're putting up in our skies

just the past two years it's gotten crazy - once I went out to the garden and everything was coated with some salty substance?!? I tasted it lol. then went around the grounds and it was EVERYWHERE. it had to come from the skies.

the reasoning behind what they're doing I don't know. but I do know last year's growing season was very odd. production lower than normal.

anyway yesterday we had a light rain and again, the white stuff everywhere. he saw it with his own eyes! stripes thru the skies all Saturday, then weird white crap all over eyerything yesterday. (this time we didn't taste it)

Posted by: Black Orchid at April 07, 2025 12:07 PM (Pv3Rg)

269 One thing I've noticed in the last 5 years is anything related to customer service is an abomination. This goes for everything from drive-thru to restaurant services hospital services taxi services. Absolutely anything service related is a fucking nightmare to deal with.

But you will get looked at and stared down if you dare not tip these lazy bastards
Posted by: melodicmetal1 at April 07, 2025 12:02 PM (xtTZz)

Customer service and customer experience oriented parts of businesses are the first to suffer under dead-weight loss.
A business has to keep operating, and customer service is not as essential as things like getting product on the shelves and keeping the fridges working, so they get cheapened first.

Inflation, regulation, foreign competition, theft, riots and bank rates are stifling everything.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 07, 2025 12:07 PM (D7oie)

270 I am not one of those people who hates to tip, but it's gotten out of control.

A tip jar at a convenience store? No.
Claiming that tips should *start* at 30%? No.

-

Like the gays, they don't realize what they're going to make normal people begin doing in response.

Enjoy the coming minimum wage and legislative tip bans.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Women only need 1200 calories per day at April 07, 2025 12:07 PM (zJgD/)

271 30% should come with a happy ending.
Posted by: rickb223 at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (FWMqC)
++++
Yet it never does.
Posted by: Joe Mannix

When you tell them it should, suddenly, 30% is no longer on the table.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 07, 2025 12:08 PM (FWMqC)

272 >>>I am proud - in this particular context - to be a deadbeat.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)
---

That's the way to do it. They get their 3%, that's plenty.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 12:08 PM (9pHx8)

273 123 Your complaints and railings against the Big Air are nothing compared to Joe Scarborough's rant this morning on Morning Joe.

Joe slammed his fist in rage as he railed against 'billionaire' Trump officials for duping 'working Americans' into blindly accepting tariffs.
Posted by: Duncanthrax
---
Joe knows what side his bread is buttered on, via wife or work:

MSNBC Author Norman Eisen
Norman Eisen
co-founder and a board member of State Democracy Defenders Action
Norman Eisen is a co-founder and board member of State Democracy Defenders Action, a nonpartisan group dedicated to free, fair, secure elections. Eisen previously served as a U.S. ambassador and in senior White House and congressional staff roles.

Posted by: L - No nic, adores both Musk and Miller. at April 07, 2025 12:08 PM (NFX2v)

274 239
‘ Of man you’re one of those? Lol. Dude, chill.

When I was a yuuute I flew a ton for work and due to my status was upgraded all the time.’

You’re just the kind of guy that fucks up the 1st Class experience. I hope you’re happy.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at April 07, 2025 12:08 PM (jbnUc)

275 "Don't plant the tomatoes before Mother's Day!!"

lol my tomatoes! I started too early - they're in the greenhouse, basically taking over the place

I need a bigger greenhouse lol

next year I'll hold off on the seeds oops

Posted by: Black Orchid at April 07, 2025 12:08 PM (Pv3Rg)

276 Trump!!!!!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://tinyurl.com/yc5hb7f6

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 12:08 PM (2lp6s)

277 I'm so pissed off.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at April 07, 2025 11:50 AM (BI5O2)

yes this is a very tricky time of year for the plant mommies and daddies

I brought some of my indoor plant collection out to the deck and then forgot to bring them in...
we didn't get a frost, but the temp did dip below their tolerance

just waiting to see if any damage...
Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 11:58 AM (dCxaZ)

-----------------

The rule here in Northern Arizona is wait until after Mother's Day (after which the overnight freezing temperatures are certain to end).

Posted by: ShainS -- If Elon Bought Planned Parenthood, The Left Would Hate Abortion at April 07, 2025 12:08 PM (WIbTz)

278 I don't understand Credit Ratings that screw you if you avoid debt.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (VofaG)
++++
That one makes some sense, albeit in a bizarre way.

Credit ratings are there to do two things:
1. Determine whether your debt loads are manageable
2. Determine whether you pay your debts

If you don't have debt, they have to guess at #2. #1 can be inferred, to a point, by determining how much you earn and where you live (and, to a lesser degree, how much you have) - but #2 is a mystery.

The point of the credit system is to keep you in the credit system, and credit issuers rarely know their customers. To solve both problems requires a history - the longer and bigger, the better - to assess. If you don't have that history, you get a black mark because being unknown is bad by definition.

I have good credit, but it moves a staggering amount from month to month because I have a very thin credit history for the past many years. I have seen 25% swings in my credit score from month to month, because there are few data points.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 12:09 PM (WkNQM)

279 Elon Musk is sorely needed in the domestic airlines industry. Either he buys an airline, makes his own, or starts deploying different ways to move people over long distances.

We need capitalists and disruptors to shake this industry up and return it to its former glory.

Posted by: Diabeetus at April 07, 2025 12:09 PM (ASvvW)

280 once I went out to the garden and everything was coated with some salty substance?!?

Yeah, sorry about that...

Posted by: Harvey Weinstein at April 07, 2025 12:09 PM (LbnIB)

281 Back in the late '70s and early 80's I really liked to fly. It was fun. It didn't cost much and the airlines were nice and appreciated your business. Even got free drinks and snacks. They asked where you would like to be seated. You didn't have to be at the airport 2 or 3 hours early. Even the other passengers were nice and in a good mood. But it didn't last very long. Seems like everything changed. Now they have so many rules and are so rude,charge you for everything they can think of and act like they really don't give a crap if you fly with them or not. I don't fly anymore. I had rather dive or just not go. To hell with them.

Posted by: Case at April 07, 2025 12:09 PM (OrSPY)

282 I don't understand Credit Ratings that screw you if you avoid debt.

-

The trick is to understand that they're punishing you for not playing their game, not rewarding you for YOUR good management of your finances.

See also: Internet browsers that are no longer designed for users to use the internet but for collecting data for companies

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Women only need 1200 calories per day at April 07, 2025 12:09 PM (zJgD/)

283 I also blame covid.

Something broke - both the flight crew and the passengers became shrill and inflexible.

I haven't flown post-Covid yet, but 9/11 was a *major* inflection point in air travel quality. For whatever reason, airlines used it as cover to severely degrade quality. Pre-9/11 it was fairly standard to get actual meals even in economy. Post-9/11 you were lucky if you got one in first class.

Also, I've never had a problem with TSA. It's bad that it exists, but as a personal thing it never hurt me.

Posted by: Ian S. at April 07, 2025 12:09 PM (2ocoG)

284

Hubby and I are old and we're not assholes.

Posted by: four seasons at April 07, 2025 12:09 PM (3ek7K)

285 247
‘ A tip jar at a convenience store? No.’

Sorry. Tipping isn’t convenient to me.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at April 07, 2025 12:10 PM (jbnUc)

286 Having a big hairy guy sit next to you in shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops is disgusting.

I don't want to touch your arm for 6 hours. And your feet are gross.

You people who don't mind looking like a slob in an airport disgust me.

Posted by: Seems Legit at April 07, 2025 12:10 PM (PMtkd)

287 Fermented equals fomented
Gay phone

Posted by: melodicmetal1 at April 07, 2025 12:10 PM (xtTZz)

288 Good to see Montec/Joe Xiden is back.

Entitled asshat.
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 07, 2025 12:06 PM (Vrdez)

Well, he is better than we are, and more urbane and cosmopolitan. Which is why he talks like an old school union goon, and flaps his privilege in our faces ever chance he gets.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 07, 2025 12:10 PM (D7oie)

289 I don't understand Credit Ratings that screw you if you avoid debt.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 12:05 PM (VofaG)

=====

I do.

Credit is about how you handle debt. If you don't have history, then no one knows how you handle debt.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:06 PM (GBKbO)

I'm not talking about no history. I'm talking about a responsible history.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 12:10 PM (VofaG)

290 Trump!!!!!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://tinyurl.com/yc5hb7f6

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 12:08 PM (2lp6s)
-

The Senators:

https://tinyurl.com/2p92jk3r

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 12:11 PM (2lp6s)

291 278 I have good credit, but it moves a staggering amount from month to month because I have a very thin credit history for the past many years. I have seen 25% swings in my credit score from month to month, because there are few data points.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 12:09 PM (WkNQM)

=======

Paying for standard purchases with a credit card and paying off that card every month does wonders for maintaining one's credit history long after the mortgage is paid off.

Going without debt is a choice. It's not an invalid choice, but if you have no debts at all for 10 years and then are surprised when banks are reticent to hand over $100,000 based on nothing other than the fact that you stopped paying any debts at all a decade prior...well, you shouldn't be surprised.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:11 PM (GBKbO)

292 I don't think there is a way to fix it anytime soon.

Because the era of air travel as a pleasant experience was also an era of a high-trust society.

Where adults could be counted on to be adults.

Now, Mommy Government must guard the gate, literally and figuratively.
And Mommy Government has one and only one tool: Group punishment.

My solution?
Make individual airlines responsible for safety and screening with complete immunity for discrimination or any other refusal of service.

So, say, I'm a top-rated customer of Awesome Air?
I walk in 30 minutes before takeoff, no security check, right to the gate, hand my bags over there, walk onto the flight and take my seat.
No stress. No fuss. Free drink.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at April 07, 2025 12:11 PM (xFA3k)

293 Anyone for the just release Mission Impossible trailer?

https://youtu.be/fsQgc9pCyDU

I wanna watch this on the big screen!
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 11:51 AM (2lp6s)

--

I like that Agent Tench from Mindhunter and Mr. Milchek from Severance are in it.

Posted by: SloPitch Whiffer at April 07, 2025 12:11 PM (wzAuc)

294 People's Hippo - you are exactly right

Posted by: Black Orchid at April 07, 2025 12:11 PM (Pv3Rg)

295 Glad I'll never have a reason to fly again.

Posted by: Lithiated gp For Refreshment at April 07, 2025 12:12 PM (JI10i)

296 >>>the reasoning behind what they're doing I don't know. but I do know last year's growing season was very odd. production lower than normal.

anyway yesterday we had a light rain and again, the white stuff everywhere....
Posted by: Black Orchid
----

Are you in CA? Nicole Shanahan is a solid believer that the USG is salting the skies.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 12:12 PM (9pHx8)

297 I finally convinced my husband I am not crazy about the stuff they're putting up in our skies

just the past two years it's gotten crazy - once I went out to the garden and everything was coated with some salty substance?!? I tasted it lol. then went around the grounds and it was EVERYWHERE. it had to come from the skies.

the reasoning behind what they're doing I don't know. but I do know last year's growing season was very odd. production lower than normal.

anyway yesterday we had a light rain and again, the white stuff everywhere. he saw it with his own eyes! stripes thru the skies all Saturday, then weird white crap all over eyerything yesterday. (this time we didn't taste it)
Posted by: Black Orchid

Chemtrails! - Ron Paul

Yeah, is this real or some crazy conspiracy? There are more believers ALL THE TIME!

Posted by: A face in the crowd.... at April 07, 2025 12:12 PM (vcOmj)

298 How in the hell are you gonna injure anyone with naild clippers? A file, maybe, but clippers?

Posted by: Bulg at April 07, 2025 12:13 PM (77rzZ)

299 279 Elon Musk is sorely needed in the domestic airlines industry. Either he buys an airline, makes his own, or starts deploying different ways to move people over long distances.

We need capitalists and disruptors to shake this industry up and return it to its former glory.
Posted by: Diabeetus at April 07, 2025 12:09 PM (ASvvW)

Warren Buffett famously lost money when he invested in US Air. He said afterwards that from an investment standpoint, it would have been better for history if someone shot down the Wright Brothers plane at Kitty Hawk.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at April 07, 2025 12:13 PM (nK8pW)

300 Say? $250,000 first event.

With, say, $2000 going to each customer? I'm ok with that.

Lemme guess, "that's not how this works"...

Posted by: t-bird at April 07, 2025 12:13 PM (7a3bZ)

301 If someone is able to buy their vehicle without financing or puts a large down payment to have a lower mortgage or has only one credit card that is paid off monthly, one shouldn't be penalized .

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 12:13 PM (VofaG)

302 Maybe some brave economist can explore how the airline industry didn't die after The Scamdemic. Perhaps this brave person could look into the instances of PPP fraud and how they intersect with an increase in filmed fights at airports along with an explosion of Bearcat purchases.

But that would be putting two and two together, and as a society, we just can't have that!

Posted by: pookysgirl doesn't have enough time on her hands to pursue this at April 07, 2025 12:13 PM (Wt5PA)

303 289 I'm not talking about no history. I'm talking about a responsible history.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 12:10 PM (VofaG)

=======

Since credit is about handling debt, not responsible finances, it makes perfect sense.

Credit isn't a measure of your financial acumen. Some people think of it that way, but that's not what it is.

If you want good credit, then you have to do things that create good credit history. Living without debt is not that. It's not a bad thing to live without debt, but it's not something that a bank can look at and say, "This guy will definitely pay us back in regular payments over an extended period of time."

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:13 PM (GBKbO)

304 297 Maybe it's tree pollen. Tis the season.

Posted by: Lithiated gp For Refreshment at April 07, 2025 12:13 PM (JI10i)

305 293 I like that Agent Tench from Mindhunter and Mr. Milchek from Severance are in it.
Posted by: SloPitch Whiffer at April 07, 2025 12:11 PM (wzAuc)

=======

And Rebecca from Ted Lasso!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:13 PM (GBKbO)

306 Hubby and I are old and we're not assholes.

Posted by: four seasons at April 07, 2025 12:09 PM (3ek7K)

How do you know?

Posted by: OneEyedJack at April 07, 2025 12:13 PM (FCbAQ)

307 Paying for standard purchases with a credit card and paying off that card every month does wonders for maintaining one's credit history long after the mortgage is paid off. ...
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:11 PM (GBKbO)
++++
This is what I do and again, my credit is good. Just highly volatile. If I have an expensive month, my utilization ratio goes up and my score tanks for a bit. Then it bounces back. The lack of fixed-term loans (mortgage, car payment, etc.) counts against you in all cases. If you rent your home and your landlord doesn't report, that counts against you, too, even if you pay on time (not in the history).

Credit scoring is a very imperfect system, and is rooted in lenders not knowing or trusting their customers. Credit isn't extended by local banks who know you anymore. An upside to that is the variety and availability of credit products. A downside is the corner-case brain damage of credit scoring.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 12:13 PM (WkNQM)

308 Are you in CA? Nicole Shanahan is a solid believer that the USG is salting the skies.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 12:12 PM

They could be peppering them.

Or that might just be pollen.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 07, 2025 12:14 PM (bFu5X)

309 280 once I went out to the garden and everything was coated with some salty substance?!?
---------
Yeah, sorry about that...
Posted by: Harvey Weinstein

i have an alibi

Posted by: cupid from the art thread at April 07, 2025 12:14 PM (oY6Yp)

310 Highly recommend getting the "known traveller" ID number. Greatly reduces the amount of b.s. that TSA can do to you.
Posted by: Our Country is Screwed

Had that apparently since before they issued numbers. But since you have choke up your 'number' when making reservations to use it now they no longer recognize me... I try to sign up it tells me I m lredy signed up, but no number anowhere.

Doesn't matter, I try not fly anywhere ever anymore. Use to fly ll the fricken time for job, now at full benefit retirement and everyone else at spring chicken they cannot afford to lose me so, "no thanks, not flying anywhere anymore'

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 07, 2025 12:15 PM (/lPRQ)

311 If you park your car at O'Hare for a week, it gets covered with oily crap. Residue from incompletely combusted jet fuel I assume.

Posted by: Lithiated gp For Refreshment at April 07, 2025 12:15 PM (JI10i)

312 If someone is able to buy their vehicle without financing or puts a large down payment to have a lower mortgage or has only one credit card that is paid off monthly, one shouldn't be penalized .

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth

I think it depends more on the volume. I have a very high rating, and always pay off the full balances. I do put a lot on credit each month, though.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at April 07, 2025 12:15 PM (lTGtQ)

313 ...Going without debt is a choice. It's not an invalid choice, but if you have no debts at all for 10 years and then are surprised when banks are reticent to hand over $100,000 based on nothing other than the fact that you stopped paying any debts at all a decade prior...well, you shouldn't be surprised.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:11 PM (GBKbO)
---

It's illogical reasoning. One who does that pays off debt dependably. They don't like it because there is a high probability that person will pay off the debt early therefore denying them their full cut. They don't like that.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 12:15 PM (9pHx8)

314 Black Pepper has no taste anymore.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 07, 2025 12:16 PM (njoQb)

315 If you're dressed up and acting like an asshole, you're almost certainly an asshole. If you're slumming it but acting alright, you're almost certainly alright.

First class, no class, down with the pets and the luggage, it don't matter. Buy your ticket, get in your seat, buckle it up, shut your yapper, and wait until they get you to where you're going. Why is this so hard for people to do? Why does everyone need to be the center of the world's attention?

And take a damn shower and brush your teeth for once for pity's sake. Who are these people walking around making a performance art out of smelling bad? How do you even get through the non-airplane-related parts of your life? Don't you have a husband or wife or a boss or something to maybe subtly hint you smell like a possum and a skunk just got their bone on in a sack of rotten onions?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 07, 2025 12:16 PM (VoAdT)

316 Anyone for the just release Mission Impossible trailer?

https://youtu.be/fsQgc9pCyDU

I wanna watch this on the big screen!

I appreciate that Cruise wants to entertain me instead of "enlightening" me. That was enough to gain him my $ for his last two movies and probably will for this one too.

Posted by: Oddbob at April 07, 2025 12:16 PM (/y8xj)

317 the reasoning behind what they're doing I don't know. but I do know last year's growing season was very odd. production lower than normal.

anyway yesterday we had a light rain and again, the white stuff everywhere....
Posted by: Black Orchid
----

Are you in CA? Nicole Shanahan is a solid believer that the USG is salting the skies.

Posted by: Braenyard

-

Speaking of, the microplastics scare is looking like it will be the next big thing. You know. The microplastics that were caused by all-items recycling. The pointless shredding of countless millions of tons of plastic.

Well, they've decided that's how they're going to remove vehicles from the road. Because microplastics are coming from the rubber, so shut up and comply. And continue recycling those water bottles.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Women only need 1200 calories per day at April 07, 2025 12:16 PM (zJgD/)

318 So, say, I'm a top-rated customer of Awesome Air?
I walk in 30 minutes before takeoff, no security check, right to the gate, hand my bags over there, walk onto the flight and take my seat.
No stress. No fuss. Free drink.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at April 07, 2025 12:11 PM (xFA3k)

Correct. Let the 8 year olds travel like the cattle they are, they don't mind. Spirit can accommodate them.

Posted by: Awesome Air at April 07, 2025 12:16 PM (ekEaX)

319
Well, he is better than we are, and more urbane and cosmopolitan. Which is why he talks like an old school union goon, and flaps his privilege in our faces ever chance he gets.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 07, 2025 12:10 PM (D7oie)

*looks around*

huh?

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 12:16 PM (dCxaZ)

320 Noticed above even in a post about airlines a couple ne'er-do-wells on the site libeling our flightless aquatic avian friends. This hate must be stopped! We will see them in court.

Posted by: Penguin Promotion Board at April 07, 2025 12:16 PM (G5+As)

321 If someone is able to buy their vehicle without financing or puts a large down payment to have a lower mortgage or has only one credit card that is paid off monthly, one shouldn't be penalized .

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 12:13 PM (VofaG)

But if you do in cash then the mortgage company won't take it, and if the cops stop and frisk you they will take it all because having that much cash on you is evidence that you are committing a crime which they don't know but they take your money anyways

Posted by: Kindltot at April 07, 2025 12:17 PM (D7oie)

322 Are you in CA? Nicole Shanahan is a solid believer that the USG is salting the skies.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 12:12 PM

The Interwebz reinforces the crazy. See, e.g., sovereign citizens.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 07, 2025 12:17 PM (bFu5X)

323 So, say, I'm a top-rated customer of Awesome Air?
I walk in 30 minutes before takeoff, no security check, right to the gate, hand my bags over there, walk onto the flight and take my seat.
No stress. No fuss. Free drink.

Southwest, 1980's, out of San Jose. Cheap, too.

Posted by: t-bird at April 07, 2025 12:17 PM (7a3bZ)

324 Good afternoon all. I missed the Art Thread but this comment needs to be put out there:

"I gotcher laural wreath rite'cheer!!"

Posted by: Tonypete at April 07, 2025 12:17 PM (cYBz/)

325 313 It's illogical reasoning. One who does that pays off debt dependably. They don't like it because there is a high probability that person will pay off the debt early therefore denying them their full cut. They don't like that.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 12:15 PM (9pHx

========

Well, part of the credit score is information for creditors about how much they can make off of you.

Yes, paying off early will negatively affect your credit score, because it's not about financial acumen but about how you handle debt.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:17 PM (GBKbO)

326 "Don't you have a husband or wife or a boss or something to maybe subtly hint you smell"

No, and it is glorious!

Posted by: Lithiated gp For Refreshment at April 07, 2025 12:18 PM (JI10i)

327 Yes, paying off early will negatively affect your credit score, because it's not about financial acumen but about how you handle debt.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:17 PM (GBKbO)
++++
And a history of minimizing finance charges makes them hate you.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 12:18 PM (WkNQM)

328 >>>It’s no secret that air travel is completely broken, and the complaints I see online are growing in anger and desperation, including from many conservatives.

I made this observation recently. To maximize profit, airlines have added long layovers as well as cramming people into flying cattle cars after being physically molested by subliterate mouthbreathers with attitudes and emotionally accosted about the size of your bags and where to place them.

They need to make air travel great again. Until then, I could be done with all that.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at April 07, 2025 12:18 PM (peRTn)

329 Chemtrails! - Ron Paul

Yeah, is this real or some crazy conspiracy? There are more believers ALL THE TIME!
Posted by: A face in the crowd....

-

Convincing the public that it's some COnSpIRaCY THEoRY!!! was the funniest part.

The feds admitted they were doing it. Lithium IIRC, and some sort of antibiotic or vaccines. Interviews and documents exist.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Women only need 1200 calories per day at April 07, 2025 12:18 PM (zJgD/)

330 Strike my last comment. Cut/past fail.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 07, 2025 12:18 PM (bFu5X)

331 327 Yes, paying off early will negatively affect your credit score, because it's not about financial acumen but about how you handle debt.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:17 PM (GBKbO)
++++
And a history of minimizing finance charges makes them hate you.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 12:18 PM (WkNQM)

=======

Credit is a tool, not a moral judgment.

Act appropriately.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:19 PM (GBKbO)

332 Airlines-
We live in a second tier city so we have to fly elsewhere to continue on for the most part.
The size of our airport while growing makes the experience bearable.
However a big bugaboo is when I look for flights and they show 30 min to make a connection at say DFW or AtL which is impossible unless the other flight is parked next door or it’s a continuation.

Can lump into this the car rental experience.
When a rental costs as much as flights…well I better be getting the most amazing service and clean car and then some. We’ve had of late great service via Enterprise and Avis has been hit or miss depending.

Posted by: Paisley at April 07, 2025 12:19 PM (vvKmX)

333 Would there be a kickback system, where the airlines cause enough delays to keep funding and rewarding the regulators?
Posted by: t-bird at April 07, 2025 12:04 PM (Hgnyx)

I wasn't proposing the regulators get the fines. The "fines" would be refunds or service perks given to the passengers.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 07, 2025 12:19 PM (8zz6B)

334 But if you do in cash then the mortgage company won't take it, and if the cops stop and frisk you they will take it all because having that much cash on you is evidence that you are committing a crime which they don't know but they take your money anyways
Posted by: Kindltot at April 07, 2025 12:17 PM (D7oie)

But it's part of the War on Drugs and thus for the greater good. What's financially ruining innocent people compared to keeping us safe?

Posted by: Eggs and omelettes at April 07, 2025 12:19 PM (TbWk/)

335 Why not have similar "express lanes" through the courts? Through traffic stops? Through anything? I mean, buying better service is cool, right? Why not?
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)

Fvcken Eh Bro!
It's not 'graft' to charge an expedite fee if the end result is the same.
And our civil servents' sure could use a little bit more pocket change.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 07, 2025 12:20 PM (/lPRQ)

336 RMBS 's comments will be stricken from the record.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 07, 2025 12:20 PM (XNkRi)

337 Credit score uses % of existing credit utilized as a factor. It's a not an insignificant factor.

Posted by: WitchDoktor at April 07, 2025 12:20 PM (EABvN)

338 lol we have plenty of pollen this is not pollen

anyway we're in PA

they're spraying shit every sunny day (rare that they are)

Posted by: Black Orchid at April 07, 2025 12:21 PM (Pv3Rg)

339 Credit is a tool, not a moral judgment.

Act appropriately.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:19 PM (GBKbO)
++++
I have, mostly by not using it. If it is good for me, I will.

Like when I bought my car. I saved for it. I had cash. To get the price I wanted required financing. I read the contract very carefully. To get the $750 rebate from the manufacturer, I had to carry the note for at least three months. I took the deal. As soon as the account became active, I paid off all but 2.5 months' worth of balance, set it to auto-pay, and it rolled off in month three. I paid $72 in interest to get the $750 discount. Easy money.

But yes, my credit took a big hit when the loan rolled off.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 12:21 PM (WkNQM)

340 I have a theory about airport "security". Passengers are treated like potential terrorists and they watch each other be treated like potential terrorists. Even though we know better, it adds mutual suspicion and detracts from mutual trust. If there were an actual incident that required cooperative action in response, we are hampered by this doubt in each other. It's much easier for a bad actor to succeed in this situation, and I think some people in power are okay with that.

Posted by: Emmie celebrates the Audacity of Trump! at April 07, 2025 12:21 PM (oZ3Fs)

341 299 279 Elon Musk is sorely needed in the domestic airlines industry. Either he buys an airline, makes his own, or starts deploying different ways to move people over long distances.
----

We don't need Musk to fix every little thing. People/businesses need to wake the fuck up. Every one of these pos services will reach a snap some entrapment will snap them.
We are in the process of leaving comrade territory and entering the Republic.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 12:21 PM (9pHx8)

342 RMBS 's comments will be stricken from the record.
Posted by: Ben Had at April 07, 2025 12:20 PM

Just that one!

Actually, come to think of it, I haven't posted anything meaningful today.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 07, 2025 12:21 PM (bFu5X)

343 RMBS 's comments will be stricken from the record.
Posted by: Ben Had at April 07, 2025 12:20 PM (XNkRi)

From every pylon and obelisk, scroll and tablet.

Posted by: So shall it be written so shall it be done at April 07, 2025 12:22 PM (TbWk/)

344 Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:11 PM (GBKbO)

Pay off everything and use a credit card to pay the monthly bills, and the bar tab. Pay it off every month.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead...Wearing Pants and Working at April 07, 2025 12:22 PM (luW68)

345 nood

Posted by: Lithiated gp For Refreshment at April 07, 2025 12:22 PM (JI10i)

346 I think I'll Amtrak it down to FL next time

or maybe Uber

lol

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 12:22 PM (dCxaZ)

347 339 But yes, my credit took a big hit when the loan rolled off.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 07, 2025 12:21 PM (WkNQM)

========

We're talking about extra payments to get the house paid off in about 10 years.

I can't imagine how far our credit will fall after that. We're both right at 850 and have been for a while.

We'll probably fall into the 700s, pretty far into the 700s.

But we won't have a mortgage. I think we'll be fine.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:22 PM (GBKbO)

348 Black Pepper has no taste anymore.
Posted by: Boss Moss

Please!! It's "Pepper of Color" these days.

Posted by: Tonypete at April 07, 2025 12:23 PM (cYBz/)

349 AI Overview, accurate

"While credit scores are a tool for assessing creditworthiness, they can disproportionately impact older, middle-class individuals with little debt, potentially limiting their access to loans and other financial products, even if they have a strong repayment history."

It's hell to be in the middle at times.

Posted by: L - No nic, adores both Musk and Miller. at April 07, 2025 12:23 PM (NFX2v)

350 It's a sickness in the body politic but as long as it keeps getting rewarded we'll never be rid of the rot it's causing.
Posted by: Need more purges at April 07, 2025 11:51 AM (TbWk/)

I always say, "I'm not asking that we start with punishing these assholes. How about we stop rewarding them, first, to see what happens?"

On the bright side, I had an epiphany last week. The economy is about to take off into the stratosphere in the next few months as we start getting back into building tangible stuff onshore.

I was worrying over how long it would take to overcome the inertia because of the time it would take to replace all these disordered pieces of shit who have taken charge, and then I suddenly realized that these companies and institutions will not be able to get out of their own way. Steamroll them or bypass them. No quarter.

Posted by: biteme at April 07, 2025 12:23 PM (xWS9V)

351 And my house has a nice design where most of the rooms, including the master bedroom, living room and office look out on the (SOON TO BE DEAD) garden.

So now I get to feel an uncontrollable surge of anger and anguish every time I pass a window.

*spits*

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at April 07, 2025 12:23 PM (BI5O2)

352 When I was flying home for work, my company put us in Business Class in Qatar Airways. Quick check in, security was easy enough.

"Sir, you can use the Business Lounge before your flight."

I take the escalator thinking that it's basically light snacks and comfortable seats.

Full meal, good coffee and friendly staff. We could learn a lot from them.

Posted by: NR Pax at April 07, 2025 12:24 PM (+4yJ5)

353 new thread up about all the libtards who want to off our POTUS

Posted by: kallisto at April 07, 2025 12:24 PM (dCxaZ)

354 Credit score uses % of existing credit utilized as a factor. It's a not an insignificant factor.
Posted by: WitchDoktor at April 07, 2025 12:20 PM (EABvN)

Credit Karma assures me my score would go up if only I would get one or two more credit cards.
My % of utilization would be lower.
I have a few cards I use maybe once a year just to keep them active. I don't need more.
But...but....credit score. Don't you care?
btw, we'll give you that 800 in March but take it away in April for no reason whatsoever. Get another card.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at April 07, 2025 12:25 PM (FCbAQ)

355 We’ve had of late great service via Enterprise and Avis has been hit or miss depending.

Posted by: Paisley at April 07, 2025 12:19 PM

I've been continuously hosed by all of them except Sixt, which has been exceptional, e.g. having to walk up to the counter because whoever I made a reservation with had no cars available and Sixt gives me a BMW at compact rate. Budget is on my "never use again" list, along with Hertz.

Posted by: Bert G at April 07, 2025 12:25 PM (VARTN)

356 Nood.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 07, 2025 12:26 PM (PiwSw)

357 Stopped flying in '09.

Posted by: UnkleSteve at April 07, 2025 12:26 PM (f/KOq)

358 One of the classics was the old airport in Hong Kong. That would give you some pucker on a stormy day.

The first time I flew into the old Hong Kong airport, I couldn't believe it. You flew in between buildings. People on their balconies were waving at the passengers on the planes. Scary on a clear day.

Posted by: Mike B at April 07, 2025 12:27 PM (pwkbO)

359 credit Rating importance is setting up for another crash . no one saves anymore and the debt rate in America is scary.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at April 07, 2025 12:27 PM (VofaG)

360 entrepreneur will snap them

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 12:29 PM (9pHx8)

361 We need Blue Star airlines more than ever

Posted by: Lex at April 07, 2025 12:38 PM (l5xX+)

362 I don't know squat about the airline industry. Is it profitable at all? Are foreign airlines government owned or subsidized?

Posted by: Grump928(c) at April 07, 2025 12:40 PM (bdhKV)

363 https://dawlish.com/thread/details/61558

Posted by: rfrdsgds at April 07, 2025 12:40 PM (HeJOx)

364 dferbfdjnhbfsdxgvdxzvz

Posted by: rfrdsgcszxgvdsvds at April 07, 2025 12:41 PM (05nK9)

365 Back in the old days of Eastern Airlines and the Bos-NY-DC shuttle era, a buddy and I were returning from leave in Boston, headed to DC. The shuttles departed every hour on the hour. And if you were in line, you were getting to your destination. Shuttle (727) was over booked, every seat taken with maybe 10 overflow. Eastern said, if you can wait 20 minutes, we will have another aircraft ready and get you to DC. We flew (10 of us) in a 727 to DC. Most laid back flight I have ever been on. Think that would happen today?

Posted by: Gdub at April 07, 2025 12:48 PM (4Corw)

366 My brother-in-law flys all the time all over the country, for work. He's learned to handle it with patience and acceptance and often gets work done in the airline club lounges. For people who fly uncommonly or rarely it's a very frustrating thing as they are not as used to it or expect better.

Posted by: SamIam at April 07, 2025 12:50 PM (oasF3)

367 Going without debt is a choice. It's not an invalid choice, but if you have no debts at all for 10 years and then are surprised when banks are reticent to hand over $100,000 based on nothing other than the fact that you stopped paying any debts at all a decade prior...well, you shouldn't be surprised.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, looking for laughs with Ivan Reitman at April 07, 2025 12:11 PM (GBKbO)
________________

Yep. For all they know, you were in prison for 10 years.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at April 07, 2025 01:07 PM (YqDXo)

368 Orlando has a highly vested reason to be smooth operation in and out and their security is not TSA as it is a privately ran contrat and thereby is smooth as silk for both international and national travellers

Posted by: paulnjax at April 07, 2025 01:07 PM (j5/wM)

369 Wonderful article! That is the kind of info that should be shared around the web.

Shame on the seek engines for no longer positioning this post upper!
Come on over and consult with my web site . Thanks =)

Posted by: CINAKAR at April 07, 2025 01:11 PM (1x8xP)

370 While weather delays may be more "acceptable" than mechanical (or any airline issue) delays, I've taken several flights in which mechanical delays lasted so long that they turned into weather delays. You have to wonder if airlines are holding the planes longer because they're waiting for the weather to turn bad, so they can claim it's not their fault. At that point, they just say, "It's the weather -- there's nothing we can do about it."

Posted by: TD at April 07, 2025 01:29 PM (hazdd)

371 .
Carry the one, and about two-thirds of the respondents for the murder questions identified as 'left of center.' Given that about one-third should be 'center' and about one-third should be 'right of center,' one wonders; did they poll one skinny conservative and one fat-fatty libTard, or did they conduct the survey in a shitHole like California or Massachusetts?

Posted by: Marooned at April 07, 2025 01:37 PM (kt8QE)

372 The main problem causing airline delays is they have built a gigantic line of dominoes with planes and aircrew.

A pilot and plane are supposed to take off from City A and go to City B.

Then at City B, the pilot is supposed to get on a different plane and fly it to City D, and the plane itself is getting a DIFFERENT pilot and flying to City E, and then this continues and continues.

A single city with weather delays results in a giant cascade of cancelled flights in other cities that were scheduled to use those pilots and planes, and the airlines simply don't want to shoulder the cost of having backup pilots and planes to cover it.

Posted by: DudeAbiding at April 07, 2025 01:52 PM (setIA)

373 Great topic, Buckster!

The Airlines operate like most globalist corporations and their government masters indeed: cut costs and do not grow.

The FAA - government - was given the orders after 9/11 to never have another 9/11 no matter the costs.

Here we are.

Posted by: Danimal28 at April 07, 2025 02:18 PM (1E4GV)

374 I fly intentionally a bit. I have delays and bad expereicne flying US airlines but flying Copa, Korean and some others seem to be a more "traditional" experience.

Posted by: Haavamaal at April 07, 2025 02:19 PM (qhIwd)

375 I retired five years ago from one of the US majors. 30 good years, only one divert for smoke/fumes in the cockpit and cabin (first class oven cooked itself instead of the food). Especially since COVID, there is more I don’t miss than I miss.

Posted by: FINGERS at April 07, 2025 03:40 PM (/l9qm)

376 After years of chasing around the world for free you couldn't pay me enough to get on a commercial airline.

Posted by: creeper at April 07, 2025 03:41 PM (M6moH)

377 Excellent post. My wife and I were watching a YT video about the evolution of airline food. I'm old enough to remember when it was half-decent, especially on transoceanic flights. And the lounge on 747s...

Some foreign carriers still provide service. Our trip to France last year was on Icelandair; their premium class was excellent, and a relative bargain to boot. But the "mechanical issues" thing is too frequent, and should raise some fundamental questions. Then again, a lot of the same criticisms can be leveled at the healthcare sector, and I think for the same reason: MBAs concerned about the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

Have B-schools been a net positive or negative? Discuss.

Posted by: Dr. Mabuse at April 07, 2025 03:55 PM (uY1j2)

378 I drive anything under 500 miles, and take the train whenever I can over that distance. Flying is my absolute last choice.

I’m flying from NY to TX later this year. Can’t wait (gag).

Posted by: GregMan at April 07, 2025 03:59 PM (S0FVw)

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