Pining for more civilized skies

[Corolla]

Interesting topic... and from my previous experiences with Air Canada and United Express, I agree.

Air travel has changed so much, it's hard to remember how "civilized" it once was.

Back in 1974, I walked off a plane in Saint John and was greeted by my horrified grandfather. He wasted no time telling me that faded jeans were NOT appropriate for air travel — and that he would NEVER consider even walking into an airport unless he was wearing a tie and jacket.

Today's flip-flopped travellers may not remember the days when air travel was the luxurious way to get where you were going. What they probably do know is that flying today is more about sweating through the security line and less about sipping champagne in the stratosphere.

Am I the only one who remembers the days when air travel was the elegant way to get from here to there?

On most flights, you were served a meal on a china plate with actual metal cutlery. Yes, some people still complained about the food — but it was hot and edible. A movie released in 1970 reminded me that wasn't a dream. In The Out of Towners, Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis are on a plane to New York City when the flight attendant comes along with steaks and glasses of wine.

With each passing month, some new development reminds you a plane is really just a bus with wings.

Mind you, the film also features flight delays and lost baggage, proving some things never change. But even in movies filmed just a few decades ago, travellers wore stylish clothes and looked, well, relaxed.

Contrast that with today, when you see red-faced passengers struggling down too-narrow aisles, loaded up with carry-on baggage. Why are they hauling all that stuff? They're terrified the airline will lose their belongings. Just the thought of walking over to baggage claim to announce your bag is lost is enough to raise the heart rate of even the fittest road warrior to dangerous levels.

The charm has gone out of flying. With each passing month, some new development reminds you a plane is really just a bus with wings.

Staff is being replaced by faceless self-serve kiosks that stand like rows of ATMs. Staff is being replaced by faceless self-serve kiosks that stand like rows of ATMs. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)It starts from the moment you arrive in the check-in area. It used to be common to see airline ads featuring eager, smiling staff welcoming passengers to the baggage-check desk. The reason you seldom see commercials like that any more is that the staff is being replaced by faceless self-serve kiosks that stand like rows of ATMs. They can be a convenience if they work — if not, or if you're concerned about how they work, good luck trying to track down a person who can help.

A kiosk spits out a boarding pass, and not long ago, the next step was to get in line with the bags you wanted to check in. But wait! What is that long piece of paper coming out of the kiosk? Oh, that's your baggage tag. That's right — you can now know the joy of tagging your own bag and dropping it off at another area (which, of course, will also be unstaffed).

As two travellers behind me argued about how to attach the baggage tag, it occurred to me that some day, the only human contact travellers may have during check-in will be with the security folks who ask if you put all your liquids into the correct tiny plastic bag.

While some airlines debate new ways to trim costs to counter factors such as soaring fuel prices, you have to wonder what's left to cut.

While some airlines debate new ways to trim costs to counter factors such as soaring fuel prices, you have to wonder what's left to cut. If you do not board a plane today with your own water bottle — purchased on the correct side of the security gate — you can go an entire seven-hour flight being offered only a few sips of water or pop. If someone does offer you free food, it is apt to be a bag of pretzels so small you would be ashamed to give it to a toddler for Halloween. The tiny snacks match the tiny plastic cups, which make you feel like the biggest kid at a Teddy Bear picnic.

In another painful reminder of how much things have changed, an elderly passenger who sat beside me a few months ago rang for a flight attendant. He asked if she had a deck of playing cards. It is terrible, but frequent flyers around him actually laughed. When he went on to ask for a pillow and found that for a few dollars he could get a plastic blow-up one, he looked truly shocked.

It was my job to explain that gone were the posh days when wine or beer, food, pillows, blankets, magazines and yes, playing cards, were simple travel comforts routinely included as part of the price of your ticket.

While whining to a friend about the good old days when air travel was fashionable and fun, I was reminded of things such as all the great movies now available to passengers. And it would be easy to see this as a perk, except for the fact that last week when my personal in-flight TV monitor was activated, it asked for a credit card number.

When a flight attendant went by, I showed her the screen and she frowned but announced she would reset the system. My question was, "Is there a plan to charge for the movies?" She went all official, saying she could not comment, and left.

US Airways announced recently that it is removing the movie screens from its domestic flights to save fuel and related expenses, and plans to look for entertainment alternatives that weigh less.

Despite the cutbacks and vanishing perks, if you need to get across an ocean then air travel is still the fastest and safest way to get there. Just try to block the memory of the grand old days of air travel when the flight itself was a big part of the excitement of a trip, and it will make buckling up a whole lot easier.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/200...airtravel.html

[Hollow]

Staff is being replaced by faceless self-serve kiosks that stand like rows of ATMs. Staff is being replaced by faceless self-serve kiosks that stand like rows of ATMs.

[OH Nuts!]

Well, I think part of the reason is that when other goods and services have kept pace with inflation, air fares, economy ones at least, have not. The much lower inflation adjusted fares mean the airlines have to scramble not to lose money, hence all the crappy cut backs. What really scares me about air travel is that with all of this, somehow, I don't feel its anywhere's near as safe. One more reason I HATE FLYING. I will only fly if I really have too. Not being served food & drik wouldn't be so bad if you could bring on your own...but my understanding is you can't even do that now...or you have to buy it way overpriced in the airline terminal. Thank good I don't anticipa te haveing to fly anywhere in the near future. The idea of having to get on a plane these days literally makes me sick to my stomach. (The last time I was on one was in Nov '04)