Another voice about connections...

Connections -- unfortunately most connection times are set by the airlines' own computers and it can be difficult or impossible to arrange a trip without short connects.  I prefer 60 minutes, too, but it just doesn't always work out that way.

This is true to a point, but depending on the fare rules of the price that you are paying, you do have SOME flexablity for the flights that you are able to take.

What a lot of people don't realize is that a 30 minute connection gives you only 15 minutes to get to the gate.  At any point after 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure standbys can be processed (i.e. your unoccupied seat goes to someone else) and the door is closed (and they are unlikely to reopen it for you!).

This is SOOOOO true.  I have preached about this time and time again.  It is very rare that a flight will be reopened for you if you can't make it to you connecting gate on time!

Sometimes when I'm going to a strange airport I print out maps of the concourses, which often help.  The major airline magazines (which they invite you to take with you) usually have those maps in them somewhere, too.

This is something that I do on a regular basis as well.  I went to Boston a month ago and I was meeting a friend of mine on his layover.  He works for another airline, and I had to find out where is airline was located.  Printing out a map of the entire airport was helpful.  Come to find out, I had to go clear to the other side of the airport.  If you do a google search of the airport name, each airport has their own website with maps, and terminal information.

Thanks for the great tips!!!

Comment from backtonorway - 3/28/05 8:14 PM

A good piece of information...

Most airlines have dropped the free baggage weight limit from 88lbs to 50lbs total.

I don't recall a free 88# limit ever. For the 2 airlines I fly regularly (Northwest and Delta) the checked bag limit for coach passengers is 2 bags up to 50 pounds each on domestic itineraries. International itineraries are controlled by tariffs, e.g. for trips between the U.S. & Europe the limit is 2 bags up to 70 pounds each. I can't find any evidence that any major carriers have recently dropped below these limits. If you fly at least 25K miles/year, chances are that your airline will allow greater limits, e.g. my wife & I both can check 2 bags up to 70 pounds each on Northwest (and a 3rd when we are upgraded to FC). We usually just travel with carryon rollaboards these days. I can't imagine even approaching the limits on checked baggage but some people must do it! Comment from backtonorway - 3/28/05 8:03 PM

This is a good piece of information, thank you for taking the time to inform. 

Though a majority of my readers who asked for my travel advice, never travel 25,000 miles a year, nor do they make trips to Europe in first class.  There are different standards for premium and top tier passengers, that's a given.  I was giving general information for those who may only travel to and from grandma's house every couple of years, that they may need to be aware of.  There are alot of my readers who have small children, so it's pretty much impossible to just carry on.

When I started flying FIVE years ago, the checked baggage limit was 88 pounds total, because I had to make sure that my baggage that I brought to training did not weigh more than 88 pounds.  With belt tightening and increased fuel prices, airlines reduced the check baggage limit.  Before the reduction there was a variance from airline to airline for domestic checked luggage.  From what I observed now, it's pretty much standard.

Doing the Non-rev Gamble.....

I went home to North Carolina to visit my family for Easter weekend.  I don't mind sitting in coach anymore, now that I no longer have to pay a service charge.

 

Spring Break has SPRUNG! (Traveling Tips Part #3)

Spring break is here.  What better time then to pass on more of my traveling tips to make traveling this spring break and on to summer easier for those who do not live in an airport like I do.

In my last traveling tips entry:

Tips part two (dated 1/10/05 in my journal archives)

I focused on getting through security without a hassle.  The Trasportation Security Administration has added some new prohibited items to the already lengthy list that you cannot bring into the airport.  For an up to date list, visit: Transportation Security Administration.  This website has a wealth of information for those of you who travel seasonally.  For example, as of April 15, 2005 lighters will no longer be allowed in carry-ons.

Most airlines have dropped the free baggage weight limit from 88lbs to 50lbs total.  That's not each bag, that's both checked bags.  So to avoid an additional fee for packing too much stuff that you don't need, planning is key.  Also pack important things in your carry-on in the unlikly event that you get stranded in an airport on your way to your dream vacation.

Some smart things to pack in your carry on could be:  Toiletries, asprin, band-aids, bottle of water, snacks (most airlines still do not provide inflight meals), any medication that you need to take, a book, magazines or other things to occupy time, EAR PLUGS, neck pillow, eye mask, lotion (to keep your skin hydrated), spare change of undies, hairbrush, just to name a few.  These are only to give you some ideas to think about.  An hour layover in Chicago, could turn into all day.  Being prepared for the unexpected will reduce stress, and make your life alot easier.

 

Also, if you are traveling with children, elderly, or do not travel enough to be familiar with airports, keep that in mind when you are booking your reservation.  Thirty minutes is not enough time to connect from one plane to another, when you have children and bags to contend with.  If possible, I suggest that a minimum of 60 minutes.  Especially at busy airports like, Chicago, Boston, New York, Atlanta... basically any major hub that you connect thru.  Once again, thinking ahead will save you time, and make your trip alot less stressful.

Now sit back relax and enjoy your trip...  Make sure to bring me back something good!

Question and Answers....

glad you enjoy your work, being a flight attendant, especially for a regional carrier is all about attitude and it looks like you have a good one.   Curious if you want to comment on your page if regional carrier flight attendants are like the regional carrier pilots who all hope to work for a mainline carrier one day.  

Comment from grpg233 - 3/23/05 2:00 PM

 

As I have said in previous entries, my dream was to be an international flight attendant.  I wanted to work trips to Paris desperately. My industry was a lot different, when I started five years ago.  All the airlines were hiring, and I had planned on only staying at my airline for a year, so that I could put my transfer in to be a flight attendant at our mainline carrier.   I had been recuited by a mainline flight service manager, on one of my flights.  I will never forget that day what a dream come true...

Everything seemed to be going according to my plans, when the Twin Towers fell on the morning of September 11, 2001.  My hopes and dreams of being an international flight attendant fell with the World Trade Center.   I knew then, that I would not be going to another airline anytime soon.

I like to count all of my blessings, instead of feeling sorry for myself that I am not flying on bigger planes.  The airline industry is very unstable, and I am lucky enough to be employed at an airline who is growing.  I HAVE a job, that I enjoy doing.  I am in the upper one third as far as senority.  I can hold weekends and holidays off. 

I think you will see the regional airlines taking a more dominant presence in the domestic market over the next ten years.  There has been a huge shift towards low cost carriers, that the heritage airlines are struggling to keep up with.  A name brand isn't enough to sell a ticket anymore.  My prediction for heritage airlines, is smaller aircraft with increased frequency, to compete with low cost carriers.  The 70 seat, 90 seat and 100 seat "regional jet aircrafts" that have begun to hit the market are only the beginning.

Just one easy leg to Atlanta

It was supposed to be an easy flight to Atlanta, but does anything ever go smoothly when you want them to? 




I am keeping this entry brief, do to the nature of the incident... 

We were inroute to Atlanta from Chicago, delayed because of weather in the Atlanta area.  It was already a short overnight to begin with, and rain in Atlanta wasn't making it any easier...

If weather delays weren't enough...  We had a medical emergency inroute, and had to divert to Nashville to have a passenger checked out by paramedics.  Paramedics said that he was ok to continue with us to ATL, so we gassed up, got new paperwork and headed on our merry way...  (I am not at liberty to discuss the details, so don't ask.)

We FINALLY get to ATL at about 1:30Am, ONLY 3 hours late.  We then had to wait about thirty minutes for the hotel van to pick us up from the airport.  Which is funny, because the hotel is only ten minutes away.  Hmmmmm, makes COMPLETE sense to me!!

IF THAT wasn't enough...  When we finally get to the hotel, we find out that the hotel is completely booked for the night, and there are 3 rooms for 4 crew members.  Keep in mind, when our company gets us hotel rooms, they are a set number per month, bought and paid for.  The hotel cannot just give our rooms away, they are already paid for.  So after the front desk girl flittering about for thirty minutes to tell us that there were no more rooms available, our Captain had to then go to another hotel.  Mind you it is now almost three in the morning, and we have to be down in the lobby bright eyed and bushy tailed at 10am.  You can do the math...

So this morning we meet down in the lobby to catch the van to the airport, and low and behold there is our captain...  There WAS a room afterall at our hotel, and he finally got into it at just before 3am...

Today as tired as I was, even with the delays and weather in Chicago, what kept me going was seeing all of these smiley faces from passengers cominginto my plane.  People who were delayed, and missed flights, rerouted, tired, but still gave me a smile and a hello.  I would have to say that about 98% of my passengers today were so delightful, that I enjoyed having them on my plane.  That's what makes it all worth while, folks.  Seeing happy people, and making people happy is the reason I love my job. 

The Opinions are in....

In my last entry I asked everyone their opinion of what they think a flight attendant should be...  I am suprised that most of the comments were about my weight loss and how much they like my pics...

 

This was my favourite comment:

I think a flight attendant should be a well trained professional who can cope with any problems that arise passenger wise in a flight. I don't think that they should be considered flying waitresses though it seems like a good many of the traveling public think they are.

These ladies and gentlemen are doing their jobs and the not so frequent flyers who haven't been on a flight since Coffee, Tea of Me days need to realize this.

A flight with a professional crew is a pleasure to be on, whether it's a 777 or a CRJ.

magickann

That in a nutshell pretty much sums up my feelings as well. I was impressed that MOST people are aware of what a flight attendant's job is...  Though I think that maybe it was just my fellow brothers and sisters who commented correctly!  LOL

Whether or not people understand what my job is really like, it won't change the fact that I really enjoy what I do, even though I do not make alot of money doing it.  Long days, weather, and crabby passengers can be trying on one's patients.  In spite of that, I couldn't imagine doing anything else.