A recent health scare on a Chicago airport tarmac last month has heighten awareness about a daily occurrence that typically goes by unnoticed and ignored: the spread of infectious disease by airline travelers.

Last month, a female passenger who had just returned from a visit to Africa had broken out in hives and the condition had gotten progressively worse since leaving the nation of Ghana.  By the time the regional jet had arrived at Midway airport, the local airport fire department had surrounded the plane and the Centers for Disease Control had been notified of the possible contagion situation.  The plane was placed in quarantine as a result, forcing everyone on board to remain until the passenger’s condition had been monitored by medical experts.  There were unconfirmed reports that the affected passenger might have contracted Monkey Pox.

After being observed by the crew and photos of the skin rash reviewed by CDC officials, the crew and passengers were allowed to deplane.  Passengers who experienced the quarantine reported high levels of stress, worry and anxiety about their personal health and safety, but were relieved that the passenger had been cleared and that the authorities had taken the situation serious enough to verify that every person involved were safe.  It appeared that the passenger was reacting to exposure to bed bugs while in Africa.

This entire incident brings up a very interesting topic…one that is rarely discussed: contagion by airline traveler.

Watching movies like “Contagion” or “Outbreak” tend to add to the anxiety one feels when informed that exposure to a possible bacteria or virus.  While there are strains of these diseases that are extremely dangerous and virulent, luckily they are rare and authorities are usually on top of these strains with advisories and advice to protect oneself from contamination.

Still, it gives one pause to be extra vigilant when it comes to one’s personal health, especially when traveling.  There are resources available for any traveler to take advantage of, especially when traveling abroad.

The CDC has an excellent traveler’s advisory website for almost every country you might want to inquire about.  This resource can be found at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.htm.

It’s also a good idea to schedule a visit to your personal physician to get needed or recommended vaccinations/boosters when traveling abroad, particularly to third world countries, where infection and disease control is minimal or non-existent.  Be mindful that some of these vaccines have short shelf lives and many clinics and medical offices must special order them in advance and may not be readily available on demand.  Check with your state’s health department for further information.

There are other things one can do to reduce your exposure on an airplane.  The most important (and sadly one that is continuously omitted by airline passengers) is washing your hands, especially after using the lavatory facilities.   I don’t recommend using hand sanitizer all the time, but having some with you while traveling has many benefits, especially when access to soap and water is not immediately available.

Another easily available resource is saline mist.  This offers two things to airline travelers.  First, airplane cabins are extremely dry as the air is processed and filtered in the ventilation systems.  Using this product will keep your nasal passages moist and allow your body’s own natural defenses to work more efficiently.  Second, saline solutions allow you to rinse your nasal passages from allergens and other nasty “bugs” that you may have inhaled.  It may sound overly simple, but studies have shown that they are quite beneficial, even on a daily basis.

As a travel professional, I never recommend airline travel if you are under-the-weather.  Airlines do reserve the right to determine whether travelers are “fit-to-fly” and if you are exhibiting signs of illness, they have the right to refuse you access to the cabin.  This policy is not often executed, but be aware that it does exist.  If you must travel and are ill, please do your fellow travelers a huge favor and take along a “surgical mask” – they are easy to obtain at most drug stores.  This will help keep your illness contained and will help lessen others’ anxiety about germs spreading to them.

Before leaving on your next journey beyond the borders of the U.S., check out these other online resources for other information regarding current outbreaks, tracking of infections, and preventative measures:

• Flu Trackers: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/
• AirCrewHealth.com: http://aircrewhealth.com/Topics/topics.htm
• MedicineNet.com: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=47044
• The Harvard Medical School: Family Health Guide: http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0604c.shtml

Safe (and healthy) travels!

==============================

The Savvy Passenger would love to answer your questions about airline travel, from the vantage point of an airline insider! Send your questions, queries and comments directly to TheSavvyPassenger@gmail.com

He’ll do his best to answer you in an upcoming column. All personal information is strictly private and will not be shared with the general public, unless requested. Feel free to comment on specific articles right here at the bottom of the page! Safe travels, everyone…

**Just a quick shout out to my loyal readers — I am so glad to be back writing about the airline industry again…sometimes life throws you curve balls. You just need to learn how to hit them! After moving with my transfer and finally settling in to my new base, things have finally fallen into place for me to get back to the business-at-hand: the airline business. Thank you for your patience.
==============================

Wow! What on earth is going on in the airlines and the traveling public these days!?

It seems that frustrations and anger are hitting the boiling point in the industry today…almost daily now, I am getting reports of incidents between passengers and crew members. Flight attendants and pilots are losing their minds (literally) and more and more passengers are accosting crew members, with serious consequences.

Those of you who read this column regularly know that I have addressed this issue before. It is a federal offense to interfere with a crew member at any phase of your travels, including boarding and disembarking the aircraft. Those close to me who are not airline personnel have asked if there are any consequences for crew who behave badly…and the answer is a resounding YES!

In fact, recent events involving a pilot who seemed to go berserk on the flight he was working resulted in his being charged with a felony, and the courts applied the same federal law regarding interference of a flight crew to dole out the punishment.[1] That pilot is currently on suspension and will probably lose his license to fly and his job at the airline.

Other crew members have been slapped with penalties, fines and arrest due to their unacceptable and unprofessional behavior, and many of them have lost their careers at the airlines as well.[2][3]

As serious and as bizarre as these events have been, they still don’t represent the vast majority of airline professionals who come to work every day, and endure a myriad of odd, strange, unruly and uncalled for actions from passenger and co-worker alike. As a seasoned airline employee, it has rarely been an easy job, but those of us who do it know this ahead of time, and we deal with the cards we are dealt every single day, on every single flight. But as proud as we are as a collective of our safety record and our service abilities, we are still human beings, with feelings, frustrations and faults…just like you.

The airlines are a favorite target of ire and disgust among many people, even my own family and friends. Over the years, I have endured the embarrassment and squirmy discomfort when people I know tell me their horror stories. I empathize and I try to put on a good face about it. It is clear that there are many things within the industry that could be better, more efficient and far more traveler-friendly. Sadly, until the day that some board at some airline decides to put me in charge, there is little I can do about those things.

One thing I do give my fellow airline employees credit for is their amazing ability to bend with the wind, and roll with the punches, especially after many carriers have flown through the turbulence of bankruptcy, consolidation, and acts of terrorism. Airline people are some of the most creative and visionary people I know, especially among the huge burden of remaining within the scope of their jobs, and the encumbrance of corporate and government bureaucracy and regulation.  And as the major airlines look for more ways to stretch a dollar and save a penny, it’s usually at the expense of the front-line airline employee…either through a removal of tools or services, or a change in rules that disallows us to fix what once was simple for us to resolve.

I understand that everyone has a bad day…has a problem in their life to solve…has personal tragedies and misfortunes come their way. Some find it hard to filter them out enough to leave them behind. I get that. I admit that it’s hard to come to work sometimes and be cheerful, welcoming and accommodating. I, too, am human. But I make no excuses for myself or others…just a simple and truthful observation about the men and women of the airline profession.

As long as the airlines staff the ticket counters, airplane cabins and cockpits with human beings, there will be shortcomings for the public to endure. But make no mistake:  I am proud to work with these great people every day…even the cranky ones!

==============================

The Savvy Passenger would love to answer your questions about airline travel, from the vantage point of an airline insider! Send your questions, queries and comments directly to TheSavvyPassenger@gmail.com

He’ll do his best to answer you in an upcoming column. All personal information is strictly private and will not be shared with the general public, unless requested. Feel free to comment on specific articles right here at the bottom of the page! Safe travels, everyone…

[1] CBS News, March 28, 2012, “JetBlue pilot charged with interfering with crew,” CBS Interactive Inc., http://cbsn.ws/JRLVJq

[2] FOX News, April 4, 2012, “Delta flight attendant pulled from buffalo to Atlanta flight,” Associated Press, http://fxn.ws/HXAsgf

[3] The Daily Caller, April 12, 2012, “Former flight attendant sued for releasing confidential passenger information,” Alexa Fee, http://thedc.com/HR3zgl

In January, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines launched a new experiment in social networking that has the media all-a-twitter.

Now, when you check-in for your flight and want to choose the seat in which to sit, their self-service kiosks and on-line check-in functions introduce passengers to “Meet & Seat” featuring a map of the entire airplane, available seats to choose from and a little something extra: the seats that are occupied appear with various social networking logos, like Facebook, Linked-In or My Space.  When you select these icons, a small electronic “dossier” appears on the screen, including the passenger’s name and picture, and a description of the individual, including hobbies, likes and dislikes, etc.  The information is farmed from these social networks (at the individual’s authorization, of course) and allows the passenger who is looking to choose a seat to see who’s next to them and decide if they want to sit next to them based on that information.

It’s an interesting social experiment that was implemented by Malaysia Airlines last year with very little fanfare, and now KLM is looking to mimic this method of customer check-ins.  The reaction of people being introduced to this method of choosing a seat on a flight has been mostly positive, although some find the feature a little disturbing. “If I was traveling with my kids/teens or traveling on my own” says  KLM passenger Nora Byrne on the airline’s Facebook page, “all I think of is the creeps that would use this to stalk. I would hope they remind passengers each time to opt out if they don’t want to be stalked on a flight.”[1]

The airline insists that privacy is protected and that passengers must “Opt-In” to participate.  The system is also innovative, allowing passengers to completely control what information gets shared.  Passengers can modify their information between 90 days to 48 hours prior to the flight.  The system will also e-mail participants when new passengers on their flight have also opted-in to the program, and registered users can return to KLM’s website to view these additional passengers via their “Manage My Booking” link.

The “Meet and Seat” service is currently limited to flights between Amsterdam and New York, San Francisco and Sao Paulo, Brazil.  For additional information, refer to KLM’s web page on the service at http://bit.ly/y0WrmK

Happy networking at 30,000 feet…”Like”!

[1] Forbes, Tech Section, “Will KLM’s Plane-Based Social Networking Fly With Travelers?” – Feb. 29, 2012, Kashmir Hill, http://onforb.es/AE8gys

While commuting on an airline other than the one I work for, I had the chance to chat with a very seasoned traveler. He was flying on this airline by chance (not his normal carrier).

When our discussion turned to airline related development, he became animated and quite agitated.

“Today, people are just plain savages!” he exclaimed. “People just don’t know what they are doing anymore and they will step on anyone to get what they want and to hell with all the rest…”

I chuckled to myself because I knew exactly what he meant and how he felt. I truly empathize with the frequent business travelers out there who know how the system works and knows first-hand that most of us front line airline staff are truly powerless to get things to change…at least most of the time.  If I wasn’t an airline employee (but could have the knowledge that I have gained over the years as one) I would never choose a career where I had to fly most of the time, unless I was privy to a private jet.

What seemed to anger this man the most was a serious lack of manners that he perceived had infected the public at large. As the baby boomers age, and the X and Y generations move into young adulthood, many educators have noted a shift in moral standards and values; tied to an ever-increasing exposure to violence, raw language and less exposure to parental authority, this up-and-coming generation has shown a true lack of respect for authority, or for their fellow human beings.

These observations have not gone unnoticed among those of us in the service and hospitality industries. Much of what we witness is frustration over many things that are simply out of the control of the person trying to correct the issue(s) at hand.

It seems clear that the reputation that the airlines have isn’t going to vanish anytime soon.  Of the six major airlines in the USA today, three are still trying to sort things out from recent mergers.  U.S. Airways merged with America West Airlines more than six years ago and they still haven’t worked out all the kinks that are needed in finalizing such a large transaction.

In the interim, how the airline customer perceives the airline employee adds a lot of negativity that passengers have felt about airline travel altogether.   But the most plain of observations is how airline passengers treat each other that have seemingly degraded the quickest.  Tempers are high and an air of “I’m only looking out for myself” tends to win out over helping a complete stranger out when they appear helpless.

Many “important” businessmen and women struggle to be first on-board their flights, jockeying for position of luggage space; some wouldn’t hesitate to run over another just to be first or have the best advantage.  I have seen it happen with my own eyes more than a few times!  Sometimes it’s comical – it reminds me of a “Keystone Cops” episode!  And I have had to act as referee more than a few times when these people start arguing over bin space, or leg room or a seat duplication…it can get pretty involved at times, but it’s certainly not the end of the world either!

In the grand scheme of things, these airline mergers will eventually be ironed out, and employees will once again beam with pride to work for their respective carriers.  Airline travelers will always have high demands and high expectations.  It’s how we choose to treat one another that can make or break a trip altogether.

As an experiment, I recently traveled across country in “civilian” attire; the only people on the plane who knew I was an airline person were the crew.  I did not have my badge draped on my neck nor my “CREW” tags hanging from my luggage.  During the boarding process, I found myself helping other passengers get bags arranged in the overhead bins, said “please” and “thank you” out loud with a smile and generally helped get folks settled in.  I laughed when one elderly person suggested that I should go to work for the airlines, I was so nice.

In general, the experiment showed two things happened.  First, the general attitudes of the people around me tended to lighten.  Second, I noticed that others started getting into the act, helping their fellow passengers get settled, arrange luggage and answer questions.  Before you knew it, a completely full airplane was boarded, settled and for the most part happy to be underway.  The flight was pleasant and concluded without incident.

Now, I’m not suggesting that every single flight would go without a hitch, but the great variable “unknown” was in play here because I never notified anyone of what I was doing and this flight was as random as any flight I might work as a reserve flight attendant.  It could have been any flight to any destination, and I believe that I would have gotten a similar response.

As a professional, I truly believe that, as a society in general, we should all strive to return to the days when we were civil to one another.  Dust off our books of etiquette and treat others with respect, dignity and how we’d want others to treat us…you know, that “Golden Rule” thing.

I challenge you to try this yourself and see what happens.  You may be pleasantly surprised to the outcome, AND enjoy the process itself at the same time!

Tips to Staying Healthy During the Busy Holiday Travel Season

As crazy as the Holiday Travel period can be, one of the common pitfalls of crowded airports and airplanes is the spread of cold and flu viruses.  The fact is that flu season usually peaks in January, just after the Holidays, and many experts believe it’s due to the heightened exposure to fellow travelers in close quarters with one another.

Most airplanes have HEPA filtration units in their air circulation systems on board aircraft, but the way many folks are now packed in like sardines in steel tubes at 30,000 feet for hours at a time, the likelihood that you will pick up an airborne illness or other bug is vastly increased.  So what can you do to lessen your body’s chances of becoming infected?

Stress

One of the biggest contributors to infection and the susceptibility to illness is succumbing to external sources that trigger internal stress.  Scientific studies have consistently proven that allowing stress to internalize actually suppresses the immune system, allowing for increases in infection.[1]

A simple way to help reduce your stress levels during holiday travel is to understand what can go wrong during your travels and accept that you may be faced with that somewhere along your journey.  People forget that, as winter sets in during late November and throughout December in the northern hemisphere, airline travel is severely hampered.  What many travelers tend to forget is that the airlines and their employees have no control over these external forces.  Yet time and again, the public has a tendency to express their increased frustrations on the men and women whose job it is to do their best to accommodate them.

It may sound simplistic, but remembering the words of Reinhold Niebuhr’s ‘Serenity Prayer’ may actually help you to cope: “grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”  I have seen people have a complete meltdown in front of customer service agents simply because their departure gate had changed, let alone the flight being delayed or cancelled.  It is best to practice patience and let go of the internal frustrations.  Expressing them and projecting them on airline personnel tends to exacerbate the situation.  Try taking a step back, take in a deep breath, and relax.  And most importantly, let the airline people do the job they are paid to do.  Adding additional pressure and stress on them will not get you much mileage – both figuratively AND literally.

Hygiene

They say that the best defense is a good offense.  This can also apply to protecting yourself and being proactive in lessening your chances of infection.

There is a delicate balance between exposing yourself to bugs in order to build up ones’ immune system and protecting yourself from incubating it in your body.  Many researchers believe that the recent popularity of anti-bacterial products may be doing more harm than good when it comes to fighting off illnesses.  The risk of “cross-resistance” is making the use of standard antibiotics almost useless.[2]  While the common cold and flu are viruses, researchers believe there may be a connection in the weakening of the human immune system to overuse of these products.

Most physicians believe that the best way to minimize your exposure to these pathogens is simple, everyday hygiene, beginning with frequent hand washing with standard soap and water.[3]  The Mayo Clinic suggests that hand-washing should be done whenever you sneeze or cough into your hands, handle or prepare food, use the toilet or change a diaper, or handling garbage.

On airplanes, it is important to realize that most surfaces on the plane have been exposed to other people, including individuals who may be infected with illnesses.  There is also a good bet that those surfaces have not had a chance to be properly cleaned in-between uses.  I recommend that you bring a small supply of sanitation wipes in your carry-ons in order to wipe down surfaces like try tables, especially if you plan on eating food using that table.  Remember that bacteria and viruses can survive on exposed open surfaces for hours or days after contamination, so being armed with the proper tools can greatly reduce your exposure to these bugs.

Many flight attendants will tell you that one of the more common hygienic mistakes people make aboard an airplane is using the lavatory with stocking or bare feet, especially small children.  Take a few moments and put your shoes on, or get your children’s feet shod with footwear to protect them and you from exposure to pathogens that are bound to be found in abundance on a lavatory floor!

Travelling While Sick

In today’s modern times, it is virtually impossible to avoid travelling on a flight without someone on board who isn’t suffering from an illness.  With the high cost of changing a ticket if your travel plans are interrupted by sickness, most people will choose to fly anyhow—illness be damned.

There are a few things that you can do if you find yourself in this situation to lessen the effect you may have on fellow travelers (and on your wallet).

To begin with, most airlines offer “travel insurance” for just such issues.  The cost of buying this insurance is far less expensive than being charged for change or cancellation fees associated with illness.  Having this insurance will allow you to re-book your travel plans without further cost to you should you need to cancel or re-book your itinerary due to unforeseen illness.  Remember that this insurance is only available at the time of booking, and cannot be purchased after your tickets have been issued.  Check with your specific air carrier for additional information, rules and restrictions.

Try to get a flu shot early in the season.  Most vaccines are available for the current flu season around September, while the height of the flu season generally happens around January.  It is a common misnomer that these vaccines actually cause one to get the flu.  Don’t be misled.  It is highly recommended that children under 5 and adults over 50 get these vaccines every year as the flu can actually complicate other illnesses like asthma and high blood pressure.[4]

If you are caught off-guard and simply must travel while sick, take along a few items that will help you suffer less, and help contain your infection.  If you have a cold, I highly recommend a decongestant (Alka Seltzer™ Plus Cold effervescent tablets are the best) to keep your sinuses and estuation tubes as clear as possible.  I find that a combination of this and a mucus reducer (like Muscinex™) is the best regimen for keeping these pathways open and avoid the discomfort that airplane pressurization can cause.  I want to point out here that I am not a physician, so consult with a trained medical expert before prescribing this method personally.

If you do suffer from a cold or flu, it would be wise to bring along a face mask to wear while onboard the plane.  Not only will this help reduce the spread of your illness, it will give your fellow passengers peace of mind that you thought enough to do so, and will lessen their irritation that they might pick up what you have.  You can get these at any drug store or pharmacy.  It would be wise to bring along a supply of tissue…even though most airplanes are equipped with facial tissue, you may be caught in your seat with the seat belt sign on and unable to get to that supply.  Also, as a flight attendant, on behalf of my fellow attendants, I respectfully request that if you are going to dispose of your used facial tissues, please place them in the air sickness bag first BEFORE handing it to an unsuspecting crew member! They will thank you for that immensely!

Keep in mind that on board the plane, the only thing that flight attendants can provide you is a simple dose of aspirin or acetaminophen.  This may not be enough to cure what ails you so come to the airport prepared.  Also, remember that if you are a true believer in NyQuil™ liquid cold medication or any liquid elixir, you may not be allowed through security with it if the container holds more than 3.2 fluid ounces.

There is no way to avoid the spread of airborne illnesses, but being proactive in your fight against them will help you enjoy your holidays more and allow you to travel more worry-free.

As a seasoned air traveler, if you have any additional tips or suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments section of this entry!

Happy holidays, everyone…and safe, germ-free travels to you all!

[1] Schneiderman N, et al. Stress and Health: Psychological, Behavioral, and Biological Determinants. Annual Reviews in Clinical Psychology. 2005; 1:607.- http://bit.ly/uB9NbD

[2] Discovery Fit & Health: Skin-Care: Cleansing, “Should antibacterial soap be outlawed?,” Josh Clark,  http://bit.ly/tByBpq

[3] MayoClinic.com: Healthy Lifestyle-Adult Health: “Hand Washing-Do’s and Don’ts,” http://bit.ly/vGVUDh

[4] The Centers for Disease Control,  CDC.gov, “Key Facts about Seasonal Flu Vaccine,” September 21, 2011: http://1.usa.gov/t6NvaU

Avoid forcing the TSA to be the Grinch that stole YOUR Christmas!

© MGM/UA for Theodor S. Geisel (Dr. Seuss)

As sure as the holiday season is upon us, someone is always ready, willing and able to ruin things for the rest of us!

Last week, a Continental Airlines passenger, bound for Cleveland, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport and charged with possession of and transporting marijuana with the intent to resell it.[1]  What made this incident a bit more relevant than most was HOW the Transportation Security Administration discovered the more than 120 pounds of cannabis that was seized…

It turns out that Derik Dwayne Neely, 32, of Flint, Michigan, had concealed the parcels of pot within two Christmas-wrapped boxes inside his checked bags.  Since the TSA officers who were scanning the luggage couldn’t make out what was inside the gift-wrapped boxes, by protocol, they were removed and unwrapped.

The holidays are important to the vast majority of us Americans, whether it is for Hanukkah, Kwanza, or Christmas.  It’s perfectly fine to take off for your family’s, friends’ or favorite vacation destination fully prepared for gift exchanges…but if you are going to fly to get there, the TSA warns: DON’T WRAP THE GIFTS!

To begin with, try to remember that there are certain things which cannot be transported on commercial aircraft simply because they may fall into the category of “dangerous goods.”  Flammable liquids, gases and solids are a no-no.  Any type of explosive or explosive material is forbidden.  And believe it or not, if your holiday goodies require refrigeration, do not assume it’s okay to wrap it in dry ice without notifying the airlines and filling out the necessary forms required by law, no matter how much you pack in your carry-on or checked luggage!  (By the way, PLEASE don’t pack perishables in either your carry-ons or your check baggage using regular ice—you may end up causing an unexpected spectacle at the airport if the ice begins leaking out of your bag, especially in an overhead bin at 30,000 feet!).

Oh, and those of you Paula Deens, Rachel Rays and Gordon Ramseys out there: listen up!  You may make the very best homemade gravy, cranberry sauce or strawberry jam, but according to the TSA, if it’s more than 3.4 ounces and not placed in the required singular quart-sized Ziploc™-style baggy when going through the screening checkpoint, they will be required to confiscate it!

The TSA has guidelines spelled out for all travelers regarding the transport of Christmas Gifts and food items on flights during the holidays.[2] You can find a complete run down of the do’s and don’ts on their website.  The TSA advises that pies and cakes are allowed through the screening checkpoints, but are subject to additional screening procedures.  Gifts purchased at the airports inside the secured checkpoints have already been pre-screened and should require additional scrutiny by TSA, but remember they have the authority to question and/or screen any item being brought aboard an airplane.

© Theodor S. Geisel (Dr. Seuss)

If you just personally feel that Santa must deliver to your loved ones at your destination, have the good folks at FedEx or UPS act as your sleigh this year.  It’ll save you time, stress and especially delays or embarrassment at the airport.

Let the “reindeer games” commence!

_________________________________

[1] LA Weekly, Blogs, “Christmas Marijuana Seized at LAX: TSA is The Grinch,” Dennis Romero, Nov. 11, 2011:  http://bit.ly/t2OB7e

[2] Transportation Security Administration, For Travelers, “Traveling with Food or Gifts: How to Pack Food and Gift Items”  http://1.usa.gov/sqf6KQ

When you are at the airport, on the subway, or even at the mall, have you ever wondered who the woman behind that voice you seem to hear everywhere looks like?

Believe it or not, she’s not a computer or a digitized voice…she’s Carolyn Hopkins, an unassuming lady from northern Maine. CBS News recently did a profile on the woman behind the message.

http://www.dailymotion.com/videoxmbs9nVideo Courtesy: CBS NEWS

Now you know! Cheers!

Just a short entry today, but a powerful message!

Next time you get angry or upset about not getting your first choice of meals in first class, or have to check your carry-on bags at the door because the overhead bins are filled to capacity, watch this video…then take a moment to remember this guy and change your attitude!

Cheers and fly safe everybody!

Is it time for a new paradigm shift in airline traveler etiquette?

After reading Christopher Elliott’s piece on the seeming growing trend of passenger meltdowns and misbehavior[1], I did a little thinking about my own experiences, especially in the past 10 years.  Here are a few observations…

When I began my career, the “Tech Sector” bubble hadn’t yet burst.  If you recall, there was a period of time when anything and everything that had anything to do with either computers or the Internet was considered golden.  If you were to tell a Wall Street investor that your private company concentrated on developing anything for the tech industry, be it hardware, software or services, and you tacked on the initials “IPO” (initial public offering), it was almost a certainty that you’d be an overnight millionaire.

Soon, these “new money” guys and gals were living the high life, suddenly able to afford “McMansion” homes, bad-ass sports cars, baubles, bangles and very expensive beads.  They could take expensive vacations; they could buy second homes in the Caribbean or in other island paradises.  And along with that newly discovered freedom was the ability to purchase an airline ticket – at full fare, no less – in the first class cabin.

Precipitously, these new “golden children” (most of them in their early to mid-twenties) were taking over the premium cabins on airplanes and just like an army of ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’s’ began making demands of the airline personnel that seemed to be out of place from the classic first- and business-class travelers of before.  These young tech aristocrats would haul their brood of children into these premium cabins as well, expecting the crews to yield to their every whim. It was amazing how the environment had evolved.

Before long, the seasoned premier travelers began to raise concerns about the misbehavior of this ‘new money’ generation.  There were many times when some of my best customers would approach me and ask if there was anything that could be done about the quickly growing trend of bad behavior.  At first, I would make an attempt, trying to be diplomatic without being presumptuous, but it wasn’t long before it was clear to me and everyone else around that these folks were ‘entitled!’  “It’s not my child who’s the problem, it’s that crusty old windbag’s problem” (that is an actual quote from one woman I dealt with when her two brats, seated in first class, wouldn’t stop fighting with one another, while she and her husband sucked down as much champagne as we would allow them to drink).

After the tech bubble exploded, there was a short period of time where crews found a bit of relief, but it wasn’t long before those same people, now forced to travel in economy, brought with them the same attitudes and expectations as they had in the premium cabins.  Soon, other travelers followed suit and before long, it seemed everyone had joined in the fun!

As much as I hate to admit it, 9/11 brought about a swift 180° in passenger attitudes about airlines crews.  All of a sudden, people were polite; they empathized with us, and they cheerfully did whatever was asked of them.  There was a small reprieve from the selfish, entitled self-centeredness that had been growing exponentially.  But the public (especially the travelling public) has a short memory and within two or three years, the grand and unattainable expectations that were hurled on the flight attendants from these and others began to raise their ugly heads again.

Once again, things began to morph into some of the strangest trends.  People would come on board in their pajamas or worse yet, with hardly anything on at all.  Instead of suit cases, there were back packs, shopping bags and (my favorite) full trash bags of clothing and personal effects.  Over-the-top public displays of affection that would make your skin crawl began to show up.  With the advent of laptops and personal DVD players, I have seen passengers viewing pornographic images right there at their seats, while someone who could well be my sweet grandmother sat in plain view of the images!  And most likely my least favorite display of public inconsideration: I have seen people take off their shoes and put their grungy feet on the bulkhead walls.  Several times, I have actually witnessed passengers who have their legs and feet resting on the tray table in front of them! (Think about that the next time you want to use it for eating off of – sanitary wipes anyone?).

I could cite thousands of examples of traveler horror stories but the real question is “what (if anything) is to be done about it?”  Chris Elliott suggests it could be as simple as dressing up for travel.[2]  No matter what the obvious solution might be, the real trick is to get the average traveler to agree that the experience of getting from Los Angeles to Chicago might simply be to treat everyone like you would treat your own mother.

Oh wait, that doesn’t always work…does it?  *sigh*

___________________________

[1] MSNBC.com, Travel Tips, “5 ways travelers have lost their manners,” Christopher Elliott, August 16, 2010:   http://on.msnbc.com/o4q6xJ

[2] Elliott.org, Elliott Blog, “What a great idea! Honor your crew — wear a tie when you fly,” Christopher Elliott, August 17, 2010: http://bit.ly/nZZR6a

I have been privileged to have seen many places in my travels around the world.  Some exotic; some historic; all of them a life experience I will cherish and be thankful I had the opportunity to see…

The Sydney Opera House

There is one place, however, that I am drawn to; I constantly find myself yearning to return to its land of marsupials and platypi; of “Vegimite” and didgeridoos: Australia!

This wonderful landmass is about as unique as the Galapagos; here you will find animals and vegetation unlike any other place on earth – and most of it is publically accessible.  Having just returned from there, I would like to share with you a little taste of what I know…

Australia is distinctive in many ways.  It’s the only country that, by itself, is one of the seven continents of earth.  The country itself consists of the continent of Australia, Tasmania, and several island groups off its coastline on the Pacific and Indian Oceans.  Established as an independent government in 1901, Australia has a parliamentary style democratic government, yet is ruled by its own self-styled constitution.  Although Australia was a dominion of the British Empire, it only recently gained its sovereign independence from England in 1986.

Aussies enjoy a free-market economy, and their economic market is currently ranked 13^th in the world, with the sixth highest per capita income and a stable, relaxed lifestyle.

The majority of its 22 million plus population is settled on the eastern coastline of the country, from Cairns to the north off the Coral Sea, down the coastline of the Gold Coast through Brisbane, around New South Wales past Sydney to Melbourne (Aussies pronounce it ‘Mel-bun’) and Adelaide to the south off the Great Australian Bight (that’s the name of the waterway between Australia and Antarctica).

Much like the United States, the capital of Australia (Canberra) is not the most populated city in the country.  Sydney is first with over 4.5 million, followed by Melbourne (4 million), Brisbane (pronounced ‘Briz-bin’ – 2 million), Perth (1.7 million) and Adelaide (1.2 million).  The climate of Australia’s largest city, Sydney, can be compared to Southern California, mostly temperate with a comfortable sea breeze blowing through it the majority of the year.

The country is easily accessible by rail and air transportation.  Within its borders, the Aussies are served by Qantas, JetStar, Tiger, Rex, V-Australia, Virgin Blue and Eastern Australia Airlines, just to name a few of the over 50 separate air carriers that serve the country.  Driving can be a challenge for Americans, since traffic moves forward on the left-side of the road.  Drivers are usually quite courteous (although the Aussies will tell you they are terrible drivers) and it’s not uncommon that drivers here use their turn signals for almost all movement on the roads.

There is much to do in Australia, let alone in Sydney or Melbourne.  In the harbor city, Sydney has become synonymous with such landmarks as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  Transportation by ferry is a common mode used to get to the coast suburbs of Manly and Bondi Beaches.  Several large state parks are found within its precincts, including the world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens, location of the Queen’s Royal Rose garden and home to a swarm of over 22,000 flying foxes or giant fruit bats…tourists can see them sleeping in the high perches of the Botanic Gardens’ tallest trees during the day, or watch the spectacle of them leaving in droves as they fly off towards the Blue Mountains for their nocturnal hunt at dusk!

If you’d care for a quick glimpse of Australia’s unique, indigenous wildlife, the Taronga Zoo Sydney is the place to get your fix.  For a land-based sea-life adventure, the newly renovated Sydney Aquarium, located near the heart of Sydney in Darling Harbour is a must-see.  And when you’re finished there, walk over the Darling Harbour Bridge and enjoy the sea-faring history of the city and Australia at the Australian National Maritime Museum.  You can also enjoy a bird’s eye, panoramic view of the entire city and its surrounding area from the Sydney Tower Eye, the tallest structure in Sydney.

Nightlife in Sydney is pretty much non-stop, especially on weekends.  Sydney has countless restaurants that cover the gamut of international cuisine.  From black-tie to informal sidewalk cafes, Sydney’s choices for food are reminiscent of New York City at night.  Aussie’s love to socialize and there is no shortage of pubs, social halls and nightclubs to satisfy your itch for fun.  And Sydney has a great selection of cultural events to please, from the symphony and opera, to pop concerts and Broadway musicals.

Blue Mountains National Park

For those with a more adventurous streak, there are no shortages of choices and are only limited by your own imagination: from hiking in the Blue Mountains to scuba diving off the Great Barrier Reef.  There’s something for everyone!

Australians are some of the most friendly and warmly welcoming people I have encountered.  Getting around in the country is made easier by their willingness to be of help when needed.  It’s a sure bet that when you make friends with an Aussie, it’s for life.  I encourage you to highly consider making Australia, one of your top priorities for vacation destinations.  At least put it on the top of your bucket list!

For further information about Australia, visit the official tourism website: www.Australia.com.

I’m really scratching my head on this one.  I know that we can all be a little forgetful when we travel.  I have a mental checklist when I get ready to leave home for a trip that will put me in several airport terminals in the space of three or four days.  I usually travel with two bags: my roller-board suitcase and a compact duffel-tote bag.  With these two bags, I can pack up to six days’ worth of clothing and sundries to meet just about any situation.

I pack my own bags.  I don’t have hired help, or even my mother to help me out the door with all that I need.  So I am well aware of every item that I carry with me when I head for the airport.

Image courtesy of The Orange County Register

The public demand for airline travel has grown exponentially over the last 30 years.  This fact alone indicates that there will be a much larger swath of the public who will travel because it is cheaper than bus, car or rail.  It also most assuredly guarantees that among that plethora of people and personalities, there will be those who have no idea what they are doing, or those who will try anything to bend or break the rules when it comes to air travel.

Still, I find it disturbing that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) continually discovers an interesting assortment of “contraband” in travelers’ luggage as they try to get through airport security lines across the country.  Their latest blog continues to reveal the items that are found around the system on a daily basis![1]  You’d be stunned to hear what exactly people are trying to bring aboard airplanes these days.  Here are a few recent highlights:

• In August of this year, a female passenger in Rochester, NY was detained at a TSA checkpoint when the screening agents thought they saw a knife concealed inside the woman’s cane.  It turned out to be a 19” double-sided sword![2] After questioning, she was allowed to continue on — minus the cane/sword, of course!
• An Egyptian man from Baltimore was arrested after a TSA screener found 13 knives concealed within the liner of his luggage.  The man, who has lived in the USA for seven years, claimed he was a knife collector, had just purchased the knives, and was booked on a flight to Minneapolis that day.  He faces a number of charges, including carrying a concealed dangerous weapon and interfering with airport security procedures.[3]
• A 22-year old man from Tennessee, on his way to Las Vegas, was slapped with federal misdemeanor charges for trying to bring knives, tactical and police batons, brass knuckles and four inert grenades in his tote bag.[4]

Image courtesy of TSA.gov

What puzzles me is that the two most common replies that TSA, ATF and the FBI get when questioning these folks is either “I didn’t know they were in my bags,” or “I forgot they were there.”  Seriously???

The truth of the matter is that in this day and age, after just recognizing the tenth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, why are these folks being given what appears to be a “pass” on these issues?  Misdemeanor charges?  Being questioned and then released with the banned items confiscated?  Am I sounding too alarmist here?

I work on an airplane.  It’s my job, and not only do I enjoy my work, but I have a reasonable expectation that I will get from one airport to the next without the need to call in the SWAT team simply because someone who left their wits back at the security checkpoint was lucky enough to slip one past the guardians!  And in one instance, they had help from an airline employee!!![5]

Personally, the logical part of my brain asks, “Where have these people been hiding?  Under what rock were they living?”  Unfortunately, as it IS the public we are dealing with here, I learned long ago that when it comes to the General Public, you’ll have to throw out logic just to get your mind wrapped around what these people were (or perhaps not) thinking when they got up that morning, knowing that they were going to the airport, needed to pack a bag or two for the journey, and would be subjected to an intensive search of their belongings at the security checkpoint!

The cynical side of me says that these people knew exactly what they were doing and were trying to circumvent the system to accommodate their own idea of civil freedoms.  I just can’t fathom how law enforcement can accept the “I didn’t know” excuse or the “I forgot it was there” defense.  Plato said “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.”

As long as bad people continue trying, we’ll continue to need the security countermeasures that the TSA is continually trying to improve.

[1] The TSA Blog, “Sometimes The Airport Is Similar To A Gun And Knife Show,” Blogger Bob, September 28, 2011, http://bit.ly/oQYtUf

[2] Transportation Security Administration, TSA.gov, Media Room, “ROC Good Catch – Sword in Cane 8-23-11,” http://1.usa.gov/q3itSn

[3] The Baltimore Sun, Travel, “Man from Egypt held on BWI weapons charge,” Michael Dresser, July 14, 2011, http://bit.ly/qk098W

[4] TimesNews.net, Associated Press, “Screening finds grenades, knives, other weapons in luggage at Nashville airport; Tennessee man arrested,” January 8, 2011, http://bit.ly/q9ZjiY

[5] Thaindian.com, Newsportal-World, “Two people arrested on board U.S. Airways flight at Philadelphia International Airport,” BNO News, June 4, 2009, http://bit.ly/oIGyF5