Useless Conversation

[01101010]

Never seen people clap on a flight in my life.

Nor I.  Usually people are too busy jumping out of seats early, even though they're told not to, to open luggage racks and make right fucking cunts of themselves to other passengers.  The fucking Amorphous crowd of fucking sheep.

Then they stand there.  Just stand there.  Looking Fucking Stupid for another half an hour till the fucking doors open, the poor cunts.  And then you see the real fucking dimbulbs standing at the conveyor waiting for luggage for 2 fucking hours, despite the fact that they chivvied YOU out of a fucking comfy seat so they could fucking stand, the fat fucking stupid bastards.

I'd clap if they fucking died.

I'm liking you so hard right now.

[Teleku]

Yeah, never come to Russia Ironwood.  That annoys me as well, and they've turned it into a professional sport here.  People actually get violent in not only getting out of their seat and doing everything you said, but also trying to elbow and fight their way past people standing in front of them in the isle during those 30 minutes before the door opens.  I've also seen Russian women walk up to a totally full overhead bins, pull other peoples stuff out and throw it on the floor, put their 20 bags of stupid shit inside, then walk away.

But yeah, I have the same attitude about people who line up at the gate to get on a flight.  I always grab a beer (or sit at a bar that has a view of my gate) and drink right up until everybody has gotten on the plane, and stroll right in.  You aren't getting a better seat by being first on the plane people!

[Ironwood]

Yeah, that side of the flight also bugs the fuck out of me.  We're all sitting there with our fucking boarding cards, but those two cunts, first seat back, first seat front, will charge in there and just block every cunt for ages.

Let's be honest, planes are not where you see the best of the human condition.  One of the reasons Virgin flights just sacked the whole idea of the 'waiting area'.

[Strazos]

I typically buy my tickets strategically, with the goals of not getting a middle seat, and being able to get aboard while there's still overhead space (if I need it). Cheap priority boarding helps a lot, as do cheap business class tickets.

And fuck the people that bring all that extra shit aboard.

[Chimpy]

The whole "board by group" into random seats thing so they can then sell people "priority" is the worst invention ever.

While I don't personally care for the unassigned festival seating on Southwest, their system of assigning you a place in line at checkin works pretty well. Alaska wins though. Not only do they board the plane the old fashioned way of "back to front" which is most efficient, they are putting in the bigger overhead bins so people don't have to fight for bin space.

I wish airlines/airports would police the carryon size though. Some of those roll on bags people use now are way bigger than the limit and the assholes that bring a giant hiking backpack as a carryon piss me off too.

[01101010]

The whole "board by group" into random seats thing so they can then sell people "priority" is the worst invention ever.

While I don't personally care for the unassigned festival seating on Southwest, their system of assigning you a place in line at checkin works pretty well. Alaska wins though. Not only do they board the plane the old fashioned way of "back to front" which is most efficient, they are putting in the bigger overhead bins so people don't have to fight for bin space.

I wish airlines/airports would police the carryon size though. Some of those roll on bags people use now are way bigger than the limit and the assholes that bring a giant hiking backpack as a carryon piss me off too.

Doesn't help that the airlines keep shrinking the size limits. Luggage makers built most of their carry on lines to spec and people bought them. Luggage doesn't wear out fast enough to keep up with the airlines changing their dimensions.

[Chimpy]

The IATA size limit has been the same for a long time. Most of those rolling bags never met the standards to begin with (or if they did, it was only in their "non-expanded" size).

[Paelos]

The airlines created the bad behavior on planes with their fucked up bag fee policies, which encourage you to use the biggest "carryon" you can get away with and play Tetris in the overhead bins. I'd love to show the airlines how much time they lose to this, and that the opportunity cost of removing bag fees and applying it to the price of the ticket like Southwest would work.

I fly Southwest now whenever I can. People get into their seats because there's no assigned seating until there's nothing but middle left, and then you have the flight attendants tell the sheep to take a fucking middle that's all there is.

[Ironwood]

Assigned seating is best.

OTHERWISE ALL IS ANARCHY.

[Sky]

Hell, I won't even go to a general admission concert anymore. Fuck anarchy!

My preferred flying is Delta 1st class. Let me board early and get off early (oh ho ho). Good in-flight service. No dicking around with the carryon fee nonsense, either. Easily worth the money. I build it into the cost of any trip. You're basically paying double the cost of a coach seat, but these days I'm tempted to buy the seat next to me anyway, lest some fat stinky bastard ruin my flight.

If I have to fly quickly on the cheap, probably JetBlue. Their coach isn't quite as cattle-y as the others I've flown.

[IainC]

The airlines created the bad behavior on planes with their fucked up bag fee policies, which encourage you to use the biggest "carryon" you can get away with and play Tetris in the overhead bins. I'd love to show the airlines how much time they lose to this, and that the opportunity cost of removing bag fees and applying it to the price of the ticket like Southwest would work.

I fly Southwest now whenever I can. People get into their seats because there's no assigned seating until there's nothing but middle left, and then you have the flight attendants tell the sheep to take a fucking middle that's all there is.

Even with no bag fees, people won't check a bag unless they have to. A lot of European carriers give you one or two free checked pieces with even economy tickets but people want to avoid waiting for a bag or having the risk of bags going missing, stuff being stolen etc.

I travel a lot and I almost never use my checked baggage allowance unless I'm going to be away for more than two weeks or I need to carry stuff that has to be checked (like bottles of booze).

[Chimpy]

The "not wanting to wait for bags" thing is also where Alaska Airlines is awesome. They have a 20 minute guarantee where if your bag is not on the carousel within 20 minutes of your plane arriving at the gate you get a $25 discount on your next flight (or 2500 flyer miles). In most airports, that is about how long it takes to get from the gate to the baggage claim anyway.

[Polysorbate80]

I always check my bag.  I've had it delayed a couple of times over the years but never lost.

My carryon is a small backpack containing electronics, medication, and a change of underwear.  It always fits under the seat.

I personally wouldn't mind the airlines taking some of the ridiculous carryon items I've seen out onto the tarmac and setting fire to them as an object lesson/warning.

[01101010]

The IATA size limit has been the same for a long time. Most of those rolling bags never met the standards to begin with (or if they did, it was only in their "non-expanded" size).

Odd. I've had the same carry-on since 1999 when I was at LSU and flying home 3 times a year. That bag fit the airline's little "will it fit" example box at the ticket counter. Now it doesn't fit in the line drawn boxes they have now. Something changed along the way and I doubt my bag has been eating big macs without me knowing.

Then again, I don't fly unless I have to and if I am flying, I pack a bottle of Dobel so it gets checked anyway.

[rattran]

My wife flew to NC last fall, I convinced her to spend the $50 to upgrade to Delta first class. Now she'll never fly coach again. Free booze, better seating, help getting to her connecting flight, and a guaranteed spot in an overhead bin took all the stress out. Except from the security theater shitfest.

[Merusk]

I did a bit of flying over the last year for the new gig and was amazed at the whole rush to get on thing. The only time I've ever done that is if IHAD to have an overhead because my itinerary had something dumb like a 30 minute layover in ATL. Running from E to C concourse is sucky enough.  Still, I was entertained enough always watching folks crowd in. So much the better when I showed up at the end after the aisle and middle were comfy and I made them move.

Since few of my trips are ever more than a day or two I don't check luggage. Since we're consultants the company wants us to keep travel as cheap as possible so clients don't bitch about the bill too much. I would always take the "please let us gate check your bag" offers though.  You knew it was getting on the plane and didn't have to pay the damned fee.

I agree on the idiots with carry one though. Especially new parents. Two strollers your bag and the baby bag along with a car seat. Yeah, maybe the trip to South Carolina from Atlanta could have been a drive.

[Abagadro]

My wife flew to NC last fall, I convinced her to spend the $50 to upgrade to Delta first class. Now she'll never fly coach again. Free booze, better seating, help getting to her connecting flight, and a guaranteed spot in an overhead bin took all the stress out. Except from the security theater shitfest.

Get TSA Precheck. It's great.

[Khaldun]

I always travel with my medium-size backpack, which is almost never full and so no problem, I can squish it overhead 99% of the time, and then I tuck my small camera and iPad bag under the seat.

But I fucking hate flying with a passion now. I used to go to workshops and conferences willingly, but now it had better be goddamn important and incredibly productive or I'm not going, period. If I take a new administrative role on in the near-term future here, I'll probably have to go to a few more than I have been, but I'll hate doing it, every second.

[Trippy]

But yeah, I have the same attitude about people who line up at the gate to get on a flight.  I always grab a beer (or sit at a bar that has a view of my gate) and drink right up until everybody has gotten on the plane, and stroll right in.  You aren't getting a better seat by being first on the plane people!

You do on airlines that don't have preassigned seating like Southwest.

While I don't personally care for the unassigned festival seating on Southwest, their system of assigning you a place in line at checkin works pretty well. Alaska wins though. Not only do they board the plane the old fashioned way of "back to front" which is most efficient, they are putting in the bigger overhead bins so people don't have to fight for bin space.

Back to front is one of the slowest ways to board people. Southwest's "free for all"-style is actually faster.

http://jalopnik.com/mythbusters-proves-most-airlines-board-planes-all-wrong-1636981904
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-14717695

[Viin]

Get TSA Precheck. It's great.

Agreed. But get Global Entry if you travel internationally even once a year (this also gets you TSA Pre).

[calapine]

Get TSA Precheck. It's great.

Agreed. But get Global Entry if you travel internationally even once a year (this also gets you TSA Pre).

I think I have an idea for a Counterstrike themed porn!  

[01101010]

As great as it might be, no fucking way am I paying money for pre-check... it is still around $80 right? Such a fucking racket.

[Nebu]

As great as it might be, no fucking way am I paying money for pre-check... it is still around $80 right? Such a fucking racket.

It's $85 for 5 years.  It's worth it if you spend a lot of time in larger airports. 

[Strazos]

Global Entry is $100 for 5 years. It's totally worth it. Also, certain credit cards will rebate the whole fee; I think Amex Platinum is one of them.

[Abagadro]

Most of the high fee ones do: Amex Plat, Chase Reserve & Citi Prestige

[MisterNoisy]

So after years and years of buying a new sub-$100 Office Depot chair every couple of years, I finally bought a proper office/desk chair for use at home.  My ass and back are already thanking me, and for the first time, the chair doesn't make any goddamned noise when I move.

[Trippy]

What did you get?

[MisterNoisy]

What did you get?

I picked up a HON Ignition high-back from Amazon for $350.  Proper lumbar support and 'synchro-tilt' along with properly dense foam.  

I looked around for ages on Craigslist and local 'for sale' ads for Steelcase stuff, but they never really came up, so I started looking for options that weren't $1000 new.  I've sat on a lot of HON stuff at the office for eight hours a day/five days a week, so I felt pretty good about their durability.

It's not a top-of-the-line chair, but its definitely way nicer than the crap I've been buying.  Bonus:  all of their non-Basyx line stuff is USA-made with a lifetime warranty

[Chimpy]

Number 19 = best chair ever.

[Yegolev]

Still standing at work.  Once the office move happens, I'll probably refit my home office with a decent monitor (>40") and a standing desk.

[Ironwood]

We are going to Paris and a few small German towns in a week.  My wife is very interested in not looking like an American, which I personally feel is an inaccomplishable task but hey, I'm also interested in not being an annoying tourist if possible.

Anyway, I read this today:
http://thoughtcatalog.com/charlie-shaw/2014/05/35-europeans-answer-whats-a-dead-giveaway-for-americans-in-your-country/

It is rather interesting that a theme seems to be that Americans are happy and have positive attitudes.  I should have no problem being the opposite of a loud ball-cap-wearing friendly can-do person, as long as I actually remember to not smile so much.  But, just for fun, I want to find out other absolute indicators that someone is an American in Europe.

Saw this.  Thought of you.   

[Trippy]

We deserve it.

[RhyssaFireheart]

Nowhere else to really put this, but our new fridge was delivered today.



So damn happy!  Am I weird getting so excited about this?

[Chimpy]

I like the French door fridges, unfortunately the previous owners of my house were morons and when they redid the kitchen left only a 30" fridge opening and they don't make many good fridges that size that aren't twice as expensive as 34 or 36" ones.

[RhyssaFireheart]

Yeah, husband measured a few times because we were worried about the opening space.  It's tight, but there's still about a half-inch on each side.  It doesn't stick out much further than the old fridge either, so that's good.  It was harder than I thought to find one that didn't have an in door water dispenser though.  We don't have a water line over to that area, plus I mostly think those things are a waste of space in the fridge.