I Hate Airports. I Hate Flying.
I hate airports, thus, I hate flying. It wasn’t always that way.
Flying was alright in the 80s when I lived in Hawaii and would take the red eye to the mainland, when one could lay down across all the seats in the center isle of the airplane. Flying took a down turn for me in the late 90s when I missed 80% of my flights (Delta Sucks) because Delta wouldn’t keep enough staff working to process tickets. Even after explaining to staff that I got to the airport in plenty of time, and would miss my flight if they didn’t do something, all they would do was reassure me I wouldn’t. And yet, I did, while still standing in line.
I think the final straw for me was being stuck in Ch. De Gaulle for hours on end with nothing in English to read. Especially when all I wanted to do was get back home to a toddler who had missed her mom for the past ten days.
I’m not afraid of flying. I flew on Swissair the week after the crash of Swissair flight 111 back in 1998 (best airline I have ever flown on). I had to fly to Boca Raton for work a few weeks after 9/11, 2001. Yes Boca Raton, which during my stay became the focus of anthrax attacks at the National Enquirer building a few blocks from my hotel. Just my luck, the CDC picked the hotel I was stying in to set up response headquarters. And yes, it is frightening to be awakened at night by evacuation alarms when the CDC is staying in your hotel.
I fly when I have to, but I really should get over it. I flew to Mexico with a good friend three or four years ago when she won a sales contest and invited me to go free of charge. (Who could resist?) But I haven’t flown since. It is the airports that get to me.
In an airport, my anxiety levels are huge because I feel I have absolutely no control over anything. I can’t make the lines move faster. I can’t get anybody who can help me to listen to me. I can’t get even one airport or airline employee to give a shit. I hate airports.
So I fly to San Francisco in a few weeks for work. My only hope is that the metal detectors are set at the same overly high levels as they were right after 9/11. Because back then, the three hooks on my bra set off the alarm. And I must admit, I don’t mind at all getting frisked by a woman in uniform.
Filed under: vendor vent, History, Ranting, Humor, Place d'employ
Airports were fine, before the TSA came and fucked everything up. Now I don’t think anyone likes to go to them. Thank god my name hasn’t made it to their suspect terrorist list yet.
@Sra What is sad is I have a friend in the TSA at the SL International Airport. At a party he sat around and told a bunch of us how to get about anything through security. Frightening.
I FLEW TO WASHINGTON DC WITH MY SON ON 9-12-08 AND YES THE ALARMS ARE HIGH…AND THE HOT UNIFORMED PERSON FRISKED MY CHILD NOT ME…I WAS JEALOUS!
I hate airports too! My problem is that I can’t avoid them, I’m a pilot. I truely believe that people become ruder and stupider when they enter an airport. My advice for flyers is to arrive early and find a doctor who will prescribe you something (The second half doesn’t appty to pilots) happy flying!