I Hate Airports

[CAP1]

Anyone else ever make it to their seat from the ticket counter in less than 23-minutes in the last ten-years?...

at philly.......i don't get my tickets at the counter. i get them online, and print them. i get to the airport generally 1.5 hours early(the rapid rover service insists on this).
 it takes me about 15 minutes from getting out of the rapid rover to clear security, and walk to the gate...then i nap for about 45 minutes.

[RealDeal]

Anyone else ever make it to their seat from the ticket counter in less than 23-minutes in the last ten-years?...

Sure but I usually side step the lines after flashing my airport badge when at one of the public aviation terminals at KSLC. But usually I stay over on the general aviation side.

[Tupac]

Sure but I usually side step the lines after flashing my airport badge when at one of the public aviation terminals at KSLC. But usually I stay over on the general aviation side.

So if someone was to get an airport badge, I could get through security, and not get groped?

[AWwrgwy]

i guess what i been trying to get at is, we pay a lot of money to fly, maybe it could have been handled a little different.

i mean if i was to treat my customers like that i would be out of a business. just a frustrating morning is all <S> my banter is done no i didn't expect the AH Community to agree but i knew i would get different in-sites on it tho

Flying is not a right, it is a privilege.

Back in olden times, before I can almost remember, people dressed up to fly. No flip flops. No sweat pants.

No wonder things have changed.



wrongway

[Puma44]

Maybe at a GA terminal....at the commercial airliner terminal, the airport badge might get you a discount at Starbucks.  Avoid security and the groping?  That ain't gonna happen.

[usvi]

Flying is not a right, it is a privilege.

Back in olden times, before I can almost remember, people dressed up to fly. No flip flops. No sweat pants.

No wonder things have changed.



wrongway

They aren't called Airbuses nowadays for without good reason.Flying used to be an adventure,today it's more like a nightmare.Rod Serling himself couldn't have envisioned the current air travel system.The horrifying gremlin that William Shatner witnessed in the "Twilight Zone" pales in comparison to the monsters seated next to you today.

[canacka]

Which airline was it?  And if not one of these, which one would you rather fly? 

[EskimoJoe]

Kils,

Explain something to me. How can you be in Alaska and still not be a GA pilot? How do you function?

Flying costs money, and lots of it.
Alaskans, for the most part, do not have these sums of money to own (or rent)
a bush plane, not to mention the training costs involved with flying. <-- one
Alaskan's opinion, at least.

This is why we ride polar bears. Cheap, easy to maintain, and relatively warm.

[expat]

Along time ago a very young airman (17 years old ) was on the check in desk at RAF Bize norton , this was back when any batteries were not allowed on the aircraft ,up steps a very butch USAF Captain , she looked like a pissed of Arny , i asked her if she had any equipment that had batteries and if so could she remove them , without blikning she pulled out the biggest love torpedo  ( can u say dildo ???? ) i have ever seen(havent seen many since i might add !!!!) , you couldve sunk the Bismark with the thing , twisted the cap dropped the batteries on the counter got her boarding card and left ......  beetroot  was the best way to describe my colour .....

Passengers are a complete nightmare  

[Tupac]

They aren't called Airbuses nowadays for without good reason.Flying used to be an adventure,today it's more like a nightmare.Rod Serling himself couldn't have envisioned the current air travel system.The horrifying gremlin that William Shatner witnessed in the "Twilight Zone" pales in comparison to the monsters seated next to you today.

I had this guy sitting next to me last time. You'd think he never heard of deoderant

[dedalos]

airlines website stated 30 minutes before departure.

i was at ticket counter 30 minutes before departure

i did not get anything confused

boarding was at 730 depart was 745

plane left the ground at 730

plane left 15 minutes early

i dont fly much but i do know to check in online. I did and my seat was still given away. did not know you can pay for bags online.

came to my office and check the flight finder thing and it showed the plane leaving the airport at 730.

the time on my ticket still says flight leaves at 745 boards at 730

yes i know not to piss of the counter lady but i aint had no coffee yet

My guess is this a case of confusion (there is no way the plane left 15 minutes early just because) or another  one of those "Toyota is out to screw people by repo-ing their cars for no reason BS"

[kilz]

My guess is this a case of confusion (there is no way the plane left 15 minutes early just because) or another  one of those "Toyota is out to screw people by repo-ing their cars for no reason BS"

no bro it left 15 minutes early the answer i got to that is all planes can leave up to 30 minutes early.



but its all good


and yes most dont understand our airports

TSA takes a whole 5 minutes to get thru

once thru that 3-4 gates and they are right there in front of you so it takes 30 seconds to walk to a gate. sorry folks we dont have big airports in Alaska

my state capital has a smaller airport than me

[EskimoJoe]

once thru that 3-4 gates and they are right there in front of you so it takes 30 seconds to walk to a gate. sorry folks we dont have big airports in Alaska

my state capital has a smaller airport than me

Ever been to Ted Stevens International?

Just saying, it's not necessarily 'big', but it's certainly bigger than most small airports here.

[Tigger29]

My guess is that when you didn't check in 30 minutes before departure they gave your seats away to standby passengers (or last minute purchasers).  By the time you finally moseyed on up to the counter, there were simply no seats to give you.  Since the plane was full and if everyone was on board and accounted for, then they could leave as early as they want.  Maybe some bad weather was rolling in and they wanted to beat it?  Also the time printed on your ticket is not guaranteed.  Planes can sometimes leave early and many times leave late which is another big reason to get there extra early.

I just got back from a Florida/Bahamas vacation yesterday.  Last week we arrived at our tornado damaged St. Louis airport 90 minutes early, and had no issues checking our bags (I *LOVE* Southwest and their free bag checking.. so nice not to keep a carry-on with you everywhere), getting through security, getting a quick snack and hanging out at the gate for a bit before having to board.  Then again, St. Louis is one of the better airports to deal with.

As for Fort Lauderdale, by the time we turned in our rental car and got to the terminal yesterday it was only 60 minutes early and they seemed really busy.  I was a bit worried but then I noticed that the flight had been pushed back (delayed) for 20 minutes so then we were all good.  Actually sailed through TSA both times without a hitch, even after forgetting to take off my watch and setting off the metal detector!

Security on the ship was much more lax, although I did get felt up by a Bahamian Security agent but he was all cool about it, even (jokingly) telling my GF not to be jealous about the physical contact!    Coming back I thought it was funny that Customs let me sail right through while a middle-eastern looking family of nine (with four small children and three young teens) was being whisked away to their examination room, although their ignorance of the English language might have had something to do with that.

While I'm on the subject, I though it was funny that while taxiing for takeoff in FL a small child was just SCREAMING his face off.  I thought it was an infant until I head "I don't like airplanes, I don't like airplanes" and he jumped up.  The kid must have been about four years old.  Anyway, thankfully shortly after takeoff he finally quieted down and it ended up being a pleasant flight.  After getting off the plane and going towards the baggage claim, I heard a man say "Say bye-bye to the airplanes!" and I looked back to see that same exact kid start screaming once again and crying "I don't wanna leave!  I don't wanna leave!"    Kids crack me up!! (although my GF wasn't pleased)

[Babalonian]

Not flaming you Killz, it's a thorn in all our paws, flying is a serious commitment and chore these days that we all have to adhere to if we want to get on our flight.