My trip and an air travel rant
Apr. 1st, 2003 12:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sierciaSo far the trip has gone reasonably well. I got to the airport FAR too early, having somehow missed that the first half of my flight was a DC shuttle, which the airlines guarentee you'll make it onto a plane so long as you get there 20 minutes before departure. Since I got to the airport (like a good little do-bee) at about 2:15 for a 4:00 pm flight, I got to watch all the 3:00 pm people board their shuttle, and look at me like I was a weirdo. Because I was switching from a shuttle to a regular flight in DC, I had to go through security there too. Whee
For once, I managed not to set off the metal detector, but still managed to get tagged for a search. I've decided that the best revenge against the airline's stupid fascinatioon with shoes is to always wear my rankest, smelliest sneakers so that if I get tagged, they have to handle those instead of nice clean dress shoes. It may be petty, but at least it's something, right?
I think I've come to the conclusion that all of these ridiculously stupid airline regulations are a way of testing just how sheep herd-ish we've become as a people - to see how far we can be pushed in the name of "security" without a single complaining bleat. So far, it doesn't look good, people. The latest dumb one I got today was that "as an additional security precaution" on all flights into and out of DC (or at least National) no one is allowed out of their seats for the first or last 30 minutes of the flight. Because if I'm a terrorist, and I've managed to get my bomb/weapons/shoes onto the flight, I'm going to be deterred by a rule that says I need to stay in my seat? What the fuck is that? BAA, I say.
Alright, we're close to landing, so I'll finish this from the hotel when I make it.
Woo. I'm back. After landing, and getting my car, and finding my hotel, all is well. Had myself some yummy mexican food for dinner, and now I'm vegging out, playing catch up with e-mail and such. My only complaint is that this desk is a wee bit too high. I remember now, too, why I hate the Emb regional jets with a passion - their seats aren't designed for someone my height, and their headrests hit me in just the wrong spot, forcing my neck forward at a most horribly uncomfortable angle. *sigh* I continue to be thankful for my weight loss when I fly though, since I can fit more easily in the seats.
Well, it's getting late, and I have to be up early tomorrow. Night all!
For once, I managed not to set off the metal detector, but still managed to get tagged for a search. I've decided that the best revenge against the airline's stupid fascinatioon with shoes is to always wear my rankest, smelliest sneakers so that if I get tagged, they have to handle those instead of nice clean dress shoes. It may be petty, but at least it's something, right?
I think I've come to the conclusion that all of these ridiculously stupid airline regulations are a way of testing just how sheep herd-ish we've become as a people - to see how far we can be pushed in the name of "security" without a single complaining bleat. So far, it doesn't look good, people. The latest dumb one I got today was that "as an additional security precaution" on all flights into and out of DC (or at least National) no one is allowed out of their seats for the first or last 30 minutes of the flight. Because if I'm a terrorist, and I've managed to get my bomb/weapons/shoes onto the flight, I'm going to be deterred by a rule that says I need to stay in my seat? What the fuck is that? BAA, I say.
Alright, we're close to landing, so I'll finish this from the hotel when I make it.
Woo. I'm back. After landing, and getting my car, and finding my hotel, all is well. Had myself some yummy mexican food for dinner, and now I'm vegging out, playing catch up with e-mail and such. My only complaint is that this desk is a wee bit too high. I remember now, too, why I hate the Emb regional jets with a passion - their seats aren't designed for someone my height, and their headrests hit me in just the wrong spot, forcing my neck forward at a most horribly uncomfortable angle. *sigh* I continue to be thankful for my weight loss when I fly though, since I can fit more easily in the seats.
Well, it's getting late, and I have to be up early tomorrow. Night all!
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Date: 2003-04-02 10:53 am (UTC)But noooo, in Honolulu, when I was jet lagged, and not appreciating the humidity, whilst lugging about my winter coat from Melbourne, we had to walk to the exact opposite end of the terminal, to clear immigration and customs. Then we had to walk straight back, just in time to get on the flight before it left. Plus I got hassled because I had a US visa even though I was going to Canada.
Honestly, what is the point of that??