Lately… the constant threat of plague followed very closely with that guy hiding in the corner vaping. Seriously. we all know what you’re doing back there. Knock it off.
Definitely how long it takes to just get through the airport to the plane and/or from the plane back into the airport. You always think “oh, x city is only y hours away”. WRONG! Add a half a day.
I came here to say, “All of the above.” But I’m reminded of an occurrence earlier this week:
I’m waiting for my wife to deplane. I’m standing somewhat near the TSA checkpoint. At about 8:30pm I notice a commotion over there and nosy me eavesdrops. Turns out TSA is closing the checkpoint for the day. But there are still several flights scheduled to depart later that evening. Much later. More than an hour later.
But TSA is turning away ticketed passengers because (and I’m quoting one TSA agent here), “You should have arrived at the airport two hours before departure anyway.”
So add “the TSA” to the poll list. (I’m thinking very un-Christian thoughts about them.)
The airplane peanuts! I mean, what’s the deal with them? Also, what’s the deal with Chicken McNuggets?!? I mean, what part of the McChicken do the McNuggets come from? If it’s the McPart I’m McThinkin’ of, then I don’t wanna McEat 'em!
For me it’s just the anxiety about everything.
Anxiety about the TSA checkpoint. That I forgot about my pocket knife in my purse. That I’ll have to explain that kid scissors and crochet hooks are actually allowed. Anxiety about missing my flight. Anxiety that my luggage will get lost. Anxiety that they overbooked the flight. Anxiety that there will be a delay and I’ll miss the connecting flight.
As for the environment of it all, I enjoy it. I love airports. But I just stay nervous the whole time.
@LaserEyes Traveling with Mom and her kid scissors and knitting needles a few years back - no questions or even mention of them at all security points until the very last flight coming home. “You can keep the needles but not the scissors” Umm, long pointy things = good and couple inch blunt plastic things = bad? Mom told them to pitch them and we moved on but we were amused at the logic
I have never minded flying. The seats can get uncomfortable after a long period of sitting. But my biggest fear had always been getting groped by a pervert. Now by biggest fear is having some lunatic go crazy on the plane because they were asked to wear their mask properly.
I do hate the high cost of food though and that was my choice on the poll.
My last trip two months ago:
–Chick-Fil-A at DFW closed and it wasn’t even Sunday. Had to settle for Subway. Meh.
–Last-minute seat reassignment to one directly across from the lavatory.
–No alcohol served onboard because of the out-of-control anti-maskers.
–Sweating while my carry-ons were scanned because I had not brought sunscreen and ended up buying a too-big bottle on the cruise ship. No fks given by the TSA agent.
–Many fks given by the TSA agent who hand-searched my bag and eventually a pair of shoes in said bag. I guess my beard makes me look like the Shoe Bomber.
–Walking myself to freaking death.
The whole bad security theatre bureaucracy schtick is why we can’t have nice things.
Test the people, not their stuff. Flying is not a human right. We have pilots licenses, there should be passenger licenses. The ones we have now (boarding passes) are just a receipt which only proves you had the money to pay the fare. Not that it is safe for the other passengers once you are on the plane.
Over booked flights / having to pay extra to get to pick your seat so you’ll actually get one. One one my recent trips, because we didn’t pay the extra to get assigned seats, my wife and I were forced to have different seats. Even though the flight was not full.
On the plus side they now offer free on screen entertainment for longer flights. Its like their own version of Netflix. Its on a 10" tablet on the headrest infront of you. It may be common now, I haven’t flown in a while until this year
@joebuddah Wow - even though the flight was not full?! That’s just mercenary bullshit! We get to see outrageous passenger behavior on the news, but this sort of thing probably doesn’t help.
Lately… the constant threat of plague followed very closely with that guy hiding in the corner vaping. Seriously. we all know what you’re doing back there. Knock it off.
All of the above comments, the survey choices, and the additions below this!
They make me pay to take a plane ride.
Definitely how long it takes to just get through the airport to the plane and/or from the plane back into the airport. You always think “oh, x city is only y hours away”. WRONG! Add a half a day.
I came here to say, “All of the above.” But I’m reminded of an occurrence earlier this week:
I’m waiting for my wife to deplane. I’m standing somewhat near the TSA checkpoint. At about 8:30pm I notice a commotion over there and nosy me eavesdrops. Turns out TSA is closing the checkpoint for the day. But there are still several flights scheduled to depart later that evening. Much later. More than an hour later.
But TSA is turning away ticketed passengers because (and I’m quoting one TSA agent here), “You should have arrived at the airport two hours before departure anyway.”
So add “the TSA” to the poll list. (I’m thinking very un-Christian thoughts about them.)
All.
Of.
The.
Above.
The sense of going on an adventure replaced by a nightmare of gloved hands groping, airline faces scowling, and passenger fist flying.
Not enough directions.
The airplane peanuts! I mean, what’s the deal with them? Also, what’s the deal with Chicken McNuggets?!? I mean, what part of the McChicken do the McNuggets come from? If it’s the McPart I’m McThinkin’ of, then I don’t wanna McEat 'em!
@Atomizer Priceless
@Atomizer @ThunderChicken Sigh. Remember back then when SNL was actually funny?
Where is the “all of the above” option?
How could you leave COVID off the list? It’s like they think it just went away, like magic. (Narrator: It did not.)
@Vertabrae I can’t believe you can afford to have Morgan Freeman as the narrator.
@Vertabrae @yakkoTDI
For me it’s just the anxiety about everything.
Anxiety about the TSA checkpoint. That I forgot about my pocket knife in my purse. That I’ll have to explain that kid scissors and crochet hooks are actually allowed. Anxiety about missing my flight. Anxiety that my luggage will get lost. Anxiety that they overbooked the flight. Anxiety that there will be a delay and I’ll miss the connecting flight.
As for the environment of it all, I enjoy it. I love airports. But I just stay nervous the whole time.
@LaserEyes Traveling with Mom and her kid scissors and knitting needles a few years back - no questions or even mention of them at all security points until the very last flight coming home. “You can keep the needles but not the scissors” Umm, long pointy things = good and couple inch blunt plastic things = bad? Mom told them to pitch them and we moved on but we were amused at the logic
I’ve been on one plane trip in the last twenty years. Going on another one soonish. Coming in here was a mistake, lol.
My last trip was surprisingly okay.
The expensive shitty airport food really sucked though.
flight delays
All of what’s already mentioned in the comments, plus the aircraft seats.
The huge time suck at each end of the flight
Everything about the airport is enjoyable to me! But, then again, I’m very biased. :B
@PooltoyWolf As a pilot, I used to love airports. No more.
@PooltoyWolf @ThunderChicken
As a passenger, I used to love airports. No more.
The security theatre is just a badly acted Kafka play.
the Apple tax
@phendrick Ah, the WiFi base stations: AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme. They’re all discontinued now. Go back to sleep. (grabs pillow menacingly)
I have never minded flying. The seats can get uncomfortable after a long period of sitting. But my biggest fear had always been getting groped by a pervert. Now by biggest fear is having some lunatic go crazy on the plane because they were asked to wear their mask properly.
I do hate the high cost of food though and that was my choice on the poll.
My last trip two months ago:
–Chick-Fil-A at DFW closed and it wasn’t even Sunday. Had to settle for Subway. Meh.
–Last-minute seat reassignment to one directly across from the lavatory.
–No alcohol served onboard because of the out-of-control anti-maskers.
–Sweating while my carry-ons were scanned because I had not brought sunscreen and ended up buying a too-big bottle on the cruise ship. No fks given by the TSA agent.
–Many fks given by the TSA agent who hand-searched my bag and eventually a pair of shoes in said bag. I guess my beard makes me look like the Shoe Bomber.
–Walking myself to freaking death.
Your luggage should be able to lead you through the airport, and you just follow it.
Having to be at one.
The whole bad security theatre bureaucracy schtick is why we can’t have nice things.
Test the people, not their stuff. Flying is not a human right. We have pilots licenses, there should be passenger licenses. The ones we have now (boarding passes) are just a receipt which only proves you had the money to pay the fare. Not that it is safe for the other passengers once you are on the plane.
You can only enter, you can’t leave.
@Star2236
/youtube hotel California
Oh, ugh - now I’ve given myself a relentless earworm.
@Kyeh @Star2236 You can always leave… But you have to go back through security checks.
Over booked flights / having to pay extra to get to pick your seat so you’ll actually get one. One one my recent trips, because we didn’t pay the extra to get assigned seats, my wife and I were forced to have different seats. Even though the flight was not full.
On the plus side they now offer free on screen entertainment for longer flights. Its like their own version of Netflix. Its on a 10" tablet on the headrest infront of you. It may be common now, I haven’t flown in a while until this year
@joebuddah Wow - even though the flight was not full?! That’s just mercenary bullshit! We get to see outrageous passenger behavior on the news, but this sort of thing probably doesn’t help.
I’ve only been through twice, and the security folks were super nice.
restrooms.
The stress and anxiety caused by the need to be extremely time conscious.