Monday Meanderings - 06.16.2014

A few random thoughts about travel - which we have done a lot of lately.

Sitting, waiting on a flight to be called, we repeatedly heard a PA announcement asking "Would the person who left a large, red suitcase at the security check point, please return for your bag." One has several responses to an announcement of this nature. The first is:

• Oh great! We are going to have to evacuate the airport because of this unaccompanied bag!  
• But, it is at the security check point. They can scan the bag to check for bad things. 
• But the overriding thought is, Who walks off and forgets a large, red suitcase that you brought to the airport?

Later started to walk off and forget a small, black bag. Not once, but twice. Oh. That's how.

My seat-mate on one leg of the journey was a large person of apparent Polynesian decent. He was heavily tattooed with various tribal symbols, and had what appeared to be a silver spear, about six inches long, piercing his ear. I confess being somewhat nervous about the spear. I mean, one quick turn of the head and it's in his jugular! Even worse, a little turbulence and it's in mine!

Flying has become an exercise in incivility. Since airlines started charging for bags, passengers responded by hauling aboard enormous carry-ons. The airlines responded with ever-more strictly enforced restrictions on carry-on items and enforced gate-check items. Now some airlines charge for carry-ons as well.

The overhead bins go to the first aboard, so flyers crowd the boarding line. Airlines respond with pre-boarding select customers and those who pay extra for the advantage. Once seating was divided into First Class and steerage. Now the cabin is further divided into front of plane and rear, premium aisle seats and not-so-premium middle seats.While trying to work out seat assignments for this trip an agent informed me that there were "no more complimentary seats" on the flight. I explained that I had already paid dearly for the seats. so there was no problem.

And here's how you get the airline to take that extra bag, for free! Simply show up at the gate with an over-large carry-on (or even a small carry-on). The gate attendant will take one look at the bag and offer to check it to your final destination at no charge! You are welcome.

And don't get me started about the TSA and security screening. However, on this trip this wonderful little symbol showed up on our boarding passes.

With the TSA Pre check, you get to skip the long line, you don't have to take off your shoes, you don't have to take out your little bag of liquids. You just sail right on through security! Wonderful! So how do you get this little symbol? Apparently it is random, somewhat based on frequent flyer memberships. Or, you can make an appointment for a background check, finger printing, third degree grilling, etc., and get a Known Traveler Number which entitles you to the little pre check symbol all the time. The bad news? It costs $85 per traveler. The really bad news? The only places where you can apply - in person - in Texas are Dallas, Victoria, Port Lavaca, Houston, La Porte, and Freeport. Go figure.

We got pre-checked on all of our boarding passes (5 different legs on this journey), except for my boarding pass on the last leg of our journey. I got the long line, shoes off, liquids, etc., while Barb watched smugly from the other side of the line. But there was payback; I got bumped to first class on the last plane. I felt really bad about leaving Barb back in steerage - for a minute or two.