Thoughts on Returning to NYC

[brigdh]

1. Spirit Airlines charges you for water. Seriously. I was pretty much expecting them to offer no food or snacks without charging, I was aware of the fact that they charged you extra to check luggage, I was surprised that they charged you to choose a seat (not to get a nicer seat, not to get a bigger seat or a first class seat, but simply to make any choice other than the one randomly assigned to you by the computer), I was annoyed when they took away my carry-on bag that was smaller than regulations and the flight was not even half-full, but it was really the fact that they do not even give you a glass of water on a three hour flight that pushed it over the top for me.

I do not recommend them, in case you could not guess.

2. Related to this, Emirates Airlines (which I flew to Oman) gives you warm towels when you get on board! And after each meal! And they have pretty little stars on the ceiling when they turn down the lights so people can sleep! And they give you menus, so when the attendants come by and say "chicken or fish", you actually know the details of what you're choosing! And they give you little gift bags (which, okay, seems to be standard practice on cross-Atlantic flights anymore, but I still find it wonderfully enchanting)! And their entertainment system has an enormous selection, including a ton of games I had previously addicted myself to via the internet (Oh, Zuma, you are such a timesuck. British Airlines, by the way, restricts games from coach class, which I feel is way petty)!

I chose both Spirit and Emirates because they were offering the respective cheapest flights for where I was going at the time. And on both flights, the practice that made the biggest impression on me was something which cost the company an almost imperceptible amount per customer (offering a glass of water versus reheating and handing out some small towels). And yet, the communication of "We appreciate you as a customer! Please come back!" versus "We feel we can treat you like shit without consequences!": huge.

3. Okay, now on a different topic: Atlanta is seriously sketchy. I apologize to people who live there, because I hear other parts of the city are nicer, but the downtown? Wow. It is quite special to be in some place for only four nights and have two encounters with prostitutes. And I am not guessing that these women were prostitutes because of how they dressed- I enjoy quite revealing clothes myself, so I am unmoved even by shiny silver hotpants- but by actual offers to perform sex acts for money. This is in addition to cab drivers adding sketchy charges to the fare, the only people on the street at any time of day being beggars, and the ads in the subway system for "Georgia Felon Search".

4. Other than that, the conference was quite nice! And unlike Vancouver last year, Georgia did not treat us to inexplicable hail/snow/rain/sleet all-at-the-same-time storms. And I got to see the King Tut exhibit!

5. Uncomfortable Plot Summaries:
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Woman with gold-digging mother nags wealthy man into marriage.
PYGMALION: Urchin cured by social betters.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK: American yahoo murders soldiers and desecrates religious artifacts for money.

Comments

[rm.livejournal.com]

*pets you*

[kessie.livejournal.com]

Ryanair is hoping to get people to pay to use the bathroom. Including short haul flights. And refusing to allow cash as payment, only cards.

Bless Michael O'Leary's rotten capitalist soul.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I heard about that; it's completely awful. Spirit did the only-cards thing too, which seems strange to me- surely it's easier to deal with cash when one is on an airplane? Maybe they're afraid of the attendants taking some of it.

[kessie.livejournal.com]

Maybe they're afraid of the attendants taking some of it.

That makes me wonder what kind of company they're to work for...

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Yeah, seriously. I suspect not good, though perhaps I could be reading too much into it.

[cozzene.livejournal.com]

Somewhere in my little trap of a mind I seem to remember being told that no business (mostly referring to restaurants) can refuse anyone, even if they walked in off the street, water if it is to take medication. I wonder if this applies to airlines?

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Yeah, someone else told me that if you say you have diabetes, they are also required to give you water. But I feel like this is besides the point- it should be standard that airlines give their passengers water, even if it is not medically necessary.

[cozzene.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree, but I just think it would be funny if all the passengers claimed to need to take a pill.

[petronia.livejournal.com]

When I was in Toronto for my case competition last autumn we flew Porter, because it turned out the CEO was one of the judges. If I could, I would fly them everywhere. I haven't had complimentary wine on a flight since... since I was underage for complimentary wine on a flight. HMM.

Thx for the tips re: Spirit and Emirates. Next up: Swissair! I will report back. XD

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, Porter, never heard of them. I will keep that it mind next time I am looking for a flight! Thanks.

[petronia.livejournal.com]

http://www.flyporter.com/

They're more expensive, but you bypass Pearson entirely.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thanks!