Airlines are always in the news for one reason or another. Recently, we’ve been witness to several airlines declaring bankruptcy, including Aloha Air and the local Skybus service out of Portsmouth who stranded thousands with their last-minute announcement. We’ve also heard about more thousands of travelers who were left in the lurch because American Airlines canceled over 2,500 flights in order to conform to FAA inspection guidelines. Not long ago, Southwest Airlines was fined huge sums of money for failing to properly inspect their own planes for structural deficiencies. So, it begs the question, “Why would anyone in their right mind fly anywhere right now?”
Many folks have no choice and depend on these services like you and I depend on our cars. The cost of flying today is relatively inexpensive when compared to the cost of plane tickets just fifteen years ago. By utilizing the Internet, you can find round-trip tickets to nearly anywhere in the U.S. for under $200, so flying has become a possibility for many people who otherwise wouldn’t consider it. Even with the flight industry in it’s current turbulent state, low airfares and tempting destinations are enough to make most people forget the trouble in the air and pack their bags for paradise.
Last month, my wife decided she needed a vacation from the weather, her work, her horrid husband, and equally horrid son. Her choice of destination was sunny Florida and five days at the home of her mother-in-law (yes, they get along splendidly - nothing like the stereotypical wife/mother-in-law relationship). Since I myself haven’t seen my own mother in three years, Sandy offered me the chance to visit her first, an opportunity I couldn’t refuse. With only two weeks notice, I bought a round-trip flight, non-stop each way, for only $179. My airline of choice was Southwest - proper inspections be damned.
I’m not a fan of flying - I am not blind to the fact that as soon as I step foot on the plane, my fate is completely out of my control and in the hands of strangers. I understand that they’re all professionals and they know their jobs, but there are too many variables involved for me to feel at ease. Rocketing through the air at over 500 MPH in a thinly-skinned aluminum tube isn’t a prospect I take lightly - especially with all the industry’s “issues” of late. But I do trust them to a degree - I’m pretty sure they all want to reach the ground safely just as much as I do, so I don’t let the dark thoughts overwhelm me.
My flight was due to leave Manchester at 6:25 a.m., so I arrived about an hour early. I parked in the long-term lot and caught a shuttle to the terminal. The shuttle’s driver helped the passengers with their bags and wished everyone a nice flight as he dropped us off. I had only one carryon bag and I had already printed my boarding pass (love that Internet), so I found my way inside and headed to the security checkpoint where I entered a long line of people snaking through queues leading to x-ray machines and metal detectors. Those inspecting and those directing the flow of human cattle all wore smiles and included rarely-used words like “please” and “thank you” in their orders.
Once through the checkpoint, I found my gate and waited for more instructions. Soon, a jovial woman announced that we would now be boarding and happily went about lining us up by the number on our boarding passes. Again, more smiles, pleases and thank-you’s.
Upon entering the plane itself, the flight attendants greeted every passenger with, “Good morning” or “Welcome aboard”, smiling incessantly. Once we were underway, they were very attentive and light-hearted with us all. When explaining the use of the overhead lights, they joked about the “Request Attendant” button as having no function whatsoever, all in an effort, I assume, to put our minds at ease. It worked.
After landing, we approached the gate to disembark and the attendants wished us all a wonderful stay in the Sunshine State and apologized for the captain’s inability to take us all to Hawaii instead. When we entered the terminal itself, we were met by Orlando International Airport employees who asked if anyone needed assistance, directions, or anything else. I declined and passing their smiling and well-wishing faces, I proceeded to meet up with my mother and spend three lovely days in the warm air and sunshine of Port Orange, Florida, and in the fine company of my mother, her husband and their slightly oversized cat.
Coming back to Orlando International for my departing flight, I was again greeted by the smiling faces and helpful demeanor of the airport personnel. Crawling with security, both visible and not, the atmosphere there was surprisingly light and cheerful with passengers from all corners of the globe, chatting happily with each other to pass the time. My return flight was on Friday evening and the plane was full to capacity, but I was fortunate enough to have the only empty seat between a fellow traveler and myself. The crew was almost as friendly as the other had been and the captain seemed happy to report back to us several times throughout the flight.
Our landing was a bit rough, something that both the attendants and the captain himself apologized for, but considering we had descended through a rainstorm and landed at night, it wasn’t all that bad - but their apparent regret was warming, nonetheless. An airport employee was waiting at the gate to direct us (smiling, of course) to the baggage claim and main exits. I found a shuttle waiting to bring me (yes, just me, no one else but the driver was in it) to the lot I had parked my car in. On the way, the driver asked me about my flight, my stay in Florida, and my experience overall. He informed me that in the off-chance my car’s battery had died while I was gone, I should just tell the driver of the next shuttle and they will send someone out, free of charge, for a jump start. He directed me to the exit as I left and wished me a wonderful weekend.
Now what are the odds that all these people are just super-friendly? Pretty slim. Have all airline employees been instructed to be more than just cordial to their customers? With the overall business in such turmoil, this wouldn’t surprise me, but does this directive trickle down to the lowly shuttle driver? Evidently it does. My experience was a pleasant one and I have few bad things to report. A little more leg room would have been nice and I wasn’t too impressed with the free apple-fig bar and watered-down cola, but as far as the people go, “they love to fly - and it shows.”
The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and in no way reflects the opinions of this publication.
(Editor's Note: Ash Lee is a contributing columnist for the Carriage Towne News. Feedback can be sent directly to Ash
by e-mailing him at: Ash@IsItJustAsh.com, or by visiting www.IsItJustAsh.com )
