Fear of flying
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I definitely prefer driving, even a 10-11 hour drive to Ohio as compared to: 45 minutes to airport and hour wait a 1.5 hr flight to Baltimore a 45 minute layover a 2 hour flight to Columbus an hour dealing with disembarking, getting a rental, driving to the hotel 6 hours, exhausted, dehydrated, stressed, deaf, airsick, food poisoned, and infected, then spending 5 days eating garbage for breakfast, lunch and dinner at garbage restaurants. vs. a 90% beautiful scenic drive, listening to a book on CD, stopping at scenic places and taking a walk, bringing my own food and cooking good meals at the hotel on a portable electric unit. Marc
I loathe driving. I do it on longer trips only because I'm a total cheapskate.
Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
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I definitely prefer driving, even a 10-11 hour drive to Ohio as compared to: 45 minutes to airport and hour wait a 1.5 hr flight to Baltimore a 45 minute layover a 2 hour flight to Columbus an hour dealing with disembarking, getting a rental, driving to the hotel 6 hours, exhausted, dehydrated, stressed, deaf, airsick, food poisoned, and infected, then spending 5 days eating garbage for breakfast, lunch and dinner at garbage restaurants. vs. a 90% beautiful scenic drive, listening to a book on CD, stopping at scenic places and taking a walk, bringing my own food and cooking good meals at the hotel on a portable electric unit. Marc
How's about: 45 minutes to airport an hour of work while waiting a 1.5 hr flight (squeeze in a nap or read a good book, drink water) 45 minutes to continue the nap or check email a 2 hour flight (more nap, more book more water and snacks) an hour getting a rental and driving to the hotel. 6 hours, rejuvinated. Then spend 5 days eating good food while staying in a hotel room with a fridge, the odd meal out if there's a good place nearby. It really doesn't have to be that bad. Cheers, Drew.
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How's about: 45 minutes to airport an hour of work while waiting a 1.5 hr flight (squeeze in a nap or read a good book, drink water) 45 minutes to continue the nap or check email a 2 hour flight (more nap, more book more water and snacks) an hour getting a rental and driving to the hotel. 6 hours, rejuvinated. Then spend 5 days eating good food while staying in a hotel room with a fridge, the odd meal out if there's a good place nearby. It really doesn't have to be that bad. Cheers, Drew.
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Drew Stainton wrote:
It really doesn't have to be that bad.
No. But, often as not, it is.
But who is the king of all of these folks?
Shog9 wrote:
No. But, often as not, it is.
Well obviously things can happen that make things not-so-good. When flights get screwed up it's bad. When luggage gets lost, bad too. But all-in-all, I've had as many, if not more, bad drives than I have had bad flights. Too many crazies out there. Could be I've just been lucky though. Cheers, Drew.
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Shog9 wrote:
No. But, often as not, it is.
Well obviously things can happen that make things not-so-good. When flights get screwed up it's bad. When luggage gets lost, bad too. But all-in-all, I've had as many, if not more, bad drives than I have had bad flights. Too many crazies out there. Could be I've just been lucky though. Cheers, Drew.
Oh, don't get me wrong - i hate driving. Or rather, i hate driving when distance and time constraints prevent me from properly enjoying the drive. But flying is better than driving in sorta the same way that eating a McDonald's hamburger is better than eating a hot, fresh, dog turd. The advantages are a function of the core differences in construction, but there are almost as many missed opportunities for improvement. Waiting in a stuffy, uncomfortable seat while the plane sits on the runway is just pointless. Taking off my shoes going through security is pointless. Walking half-way across the concourse to lock up my bags so that i don't have to drag them with me for the next three hours is pointless. Having to remember all the current security restrictions or risk losing personal items... yeah, that one became pointless once we moved from restricting guns and knives and started searching for bottles of water and little pointy things. The fact that i pay much, much more now for a ticket with far fewer amenities than i did less than a decade ago doesn't help much either.
But who is the king of all of these folks?
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Oh, don't get me wrong - i hate driving. Or rather, i hate driving when distance and time constraints prevent me from properly enjoying the drive. But flying is better than driving in sorta the same way that eating a McDonald's hamburger is better than eating a hot, fresh, dog turd. The advantages are a function of the core differences in construction, but there are almost as many missed opportunities for improvement. Waiting in a stuffy, uncomfortable seat while the plane sits on the runway is just pointless. Taking off my shoes going through security is pointless. Walking half-way across the concourse to lock up my bags so that i don't have to drag them with me for the next three hours is pointless. Having to remember all the current security restrictions or risk losing personal items... yeah, that one became pointless once we moved from restricting guns and knives and started searching for bottles of water and little pointy things. The fact that i pay much, much more now for a ticket with far fewer amenities than i did less than a decade ago doesn't help much either.
But who is the king of all of these folks?
Shog9 wrote:
Taking off my shoes going through security is pointless.
I still laugh at that. Now they make me flip the front of my pants down too.
Shog9 wrote:
The fact that i pay much, much more now for a ticket with far fewer amenities than i did less than a decade ago doesn't help much either.
Yup, the cost/benefit sure has dropped. It's still worth it for anything over a 5 hour drive, at least up where I am. I do like a nice, quiet drive on a mostly empty road in the summer, though. Cheers, Drew.
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Shog9 wrote:
No. But, often as not, it is.
Well obviously things can happen that make things not-so-good. When flights get screwed up it's bad. When luggage gets lost, bad too. But all-in-all, I've had as many, if not more, bad drives than I have had bad flights. Too many crazies out there. Could be I've just been lucky though. Cheers, Drew.
Depends a lot on the car as well. If you have the right car it's a joy to go on a long drive. I took the greyhound bus cross country once it sucked worse than words can really convey. I drove back the other way a few years later and it was very nice and enjoyable. Flying though, these days just seems like such a hassle to be avoided at all costs, particularly into or out of the U.S. unless you have no other choice.
When everyone is a hero no one is a hero.
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Shog9 wrote:
Taking off my shoes going through security is pointless.
I still laugh at that. Now they make me flip the front of my pants down too.
Shog9 wrote:
The fact that i pay much, much more now for a ticket with far fewer amenities than i did less than a decade ago doesn't help much either.
Yup, the cost/benefit sure has dropped. It's still worth it for anything over a 5 hour drive, at least up where I am. I do like a nice, quiet drive on a mostly empty road in the summer, though. Cheers, Drew.
Drew Stainton wrote:
Now they make me flip the front of my pants down too.
Do they give it a squeeze to make sure you don't have a stick of dynamite shoved down there?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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You had to tell me this four days before I get into a ten-hour flight... X|
Stupidity is an International Association - Enrique Jardiel Poncela
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How's about: 45 minutes to airport an hour of work while waiting a 1.5 hr flight (squeeze in a nap or read a good book, drink water) 45 minutes to continue the nap or check email a 2 hour flight (more nap, more book more water and snacks) an hour getting a rental and driving to the hotel. 6 hours, rejuvinated. Then spend 5 days eating good food while staying in a hotel room with a fridge, the odd meal out if there's a good place nearby. It really doesn't have to be that bad. Cheers, Drew.
Drew Stainton wrote:
an hour of work while waiting
Waiting is mostly standing, which is not conducive to working.
Drew Stainton wrote:
a 1.5 hr flight (squeeze in a nap or read a good book, drink water)
A nap? Surely you jest. Reading a book is doable.
Drew Stainton wrote:
45 minutes to continue the nap or check email
Napping with screaming children, tinny muzac playing and lost security item announcements? You must be a good napper.
Drew Stainton wrote:
6 hours, rejuvinated.
Hardly. :)
Drew Stainton wrote:
It really doesn't have to be that bad.
I don't fly often, and the deafness and ear pain from flying is sufficiently bad that I'm quite happy staying on the ground. Marc
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Drew Stainton wrote:
an hour of work while waiting
Waiting is mostly standing, which is not conducive to working.
Drew Stainton wrote:
a 1.5 hr flight (squeeze in a nap or read a good book, drink water)
A nap? Surely you jest. Reading a book is doable.
Drew Stainton wrote:
45 minutes to continue the nap or check email
Napping with screaming children, tinny muzac playing and lost security item announcements? You must be a good napper.
Drew Stainton wrote:
6 hours, rejuvinated.
Hardly. :)
Drew Stainton wrote:
It really doesn't have to be that bad.
I don't fly often, and the deafness and ear pain from flying is sufficiently bad that I'm quite happy staying on the ground. Marc
Marc Clifton wrote:
You must be a good napper
Well, yes - that is an advantage. Although in 20 years I'm destined to be one of those older people that falls asleep in mid conversation. :sigh:
Marc Clifton wrote:
and the deafness and ear pain from flying is sufficiently bad
Now THAT would be no fun. I'd drive too if I suffered from that. Cheers, Drew.
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Drew Stainton wrote:
Now they make me flip the front of my pants down too.
Do they give it a squeeze to make sure you don't have a stick of dynamite shoved down there?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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Michael Martin wrote:
Do they give it a squeeze to make sure you don't have a stick of dynamite shoved down there?
Ya - but they weren't at all happy when I asked if I could go through security again. And again. And again. Cheers, Drew.
Drew Stainton wrote:
Ya - but they weren't at all happy when I asked if I could go through security again. And again. And again.
I take it then, that you're married and will take any attention you can?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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You had to tell me this four days before I get into a ten-hour flight... X|
Stupidity is an International Association - Enrique Jardiel Poncela
Fernando A. Gomez F. wrote:
You had to tell me this four days before I get into a ten-hour flight... X|
...is your friend.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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Drew Stainton wrote:
Ya - but they weren't at all happy when I asked if I could go through security again. And again. And again.
I take it then, that you're married and will take any attention you can?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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I definitely prefer driving, even a 10-11 hour drive to Ohio as compared to: 45 minutes to airport and hour wait a 1.5 hr flight to Baltimore a 45 minute layover a 2 hour flight to Columbus an hour dealing with disembarking, getting a rental, driving to the hotel 6 hours, exhausted, dehydrated, stressed, deaf, airsick, food poisoned, and infected, then spending 5 days eating garbage for breakfast, lunch and dinner at garbage restaurants. vs. a 90% beautiful scenic drive, listening to a book on CD, stopping at scenic places and taking a walk, bringing my own food and cooking good meals at the hotel on a portable electric unit. Marc
How does flying stop you cooking good meals at the hotel? Is it the cooking unit? Here is SA we have a number of very comfortable, self-catering hotels, meaning you cook for yourself.
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I definitely prefer driving, even a 10-11 hour drive to Ohio as compared to: 45 minutes to airport and hour wait a 1.5 hr flight to Baltimore a 45 minute layover a 2 hour flight to Columbus an hour dealing with disembarking, getting a rental, driving to the hotel 6 hours, exhausted, dehydrated, stressed, deaf, airsick, food poisoned, and infected, then spending 5 days eating garbage for breakfast, lunch and dinner at garbage restaurants. vs. a 90% beautiful scenic drive, listening to a book on CD, stopping at scenic places and taking a walk, bringing my own food and cooking good meals at the hotel on a portable electric unit. Marc
Hehe, my last was: Taxi to airport ($$$). No check-in waiting. Long queue at boarding gate. Go for a pee. Miss flight. Long wait in pub for standby. {$$$) and X| Get standby in morning. Spend whole night in casino ($$$$$) Standby not available, new ticket. ($$) Long wait in pub for new flight.
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Shog9 wrote:
Taking off my shoes going through security is pointless.
I still laugh at that. Now they make me flip the front of my pants down too.
Shog9 wrote:
The fact that i pay much, much more now for a ticket with far fewer amenities than i did less than a decade ago doesn't help much either.
Yup, the cost/benefit sure has dropped. It's still worth it for anything over a 5 hour drive, at least up where I am. I do like a nice, quiet drive on a mostly empty road in the summer, though. Cheers, Drew.
I've never been to the States/Canada, but don't you have trains over there? I'm sure I've seen them on films where you get on for free by riding your horse alongside... Seriously though, you get to see the scenery, snooze, work, read, whatever you like. You'll even add a bit less carbon to the atmosphere while you're at it. Mind you, I've never had anyone rummage my nether regions on a train, so maybe I've got this all wrong... Dan
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How does flying stop you cooking good meals at the hotel? Is it the cooking unit? Here is SA we have a number of very comfortable, self-catering hotels, meaning you cook for yourself.
Brady Kelly wrote:
Here is SA we have a number of very comfortable, self-catering hotels, meaning you cook for yourself.
You have to pay $150-$300+ a night to get a room with a proper kitchen. The $66/night place the company puts me up in--well, I have to bring my cooking unit. At least there's a fridge (which is really just a small freezer, pretty pathetic), though once I had to refill the cooler (which I brought) with ice every morning. Marc
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I definitely prefer driving, even a 10-11 hour drive to Ohio as compared to: 45 minutes to airport and hour wait a 1.5 hr flight to Baltimore a 45 minute layover a 2 hour flight to Columbus an hour dealing with disembarking, getting a rental, driving to the hotel 6 hours, exhausted, dehydrated, stressed, deaf, airsick, food poisoned, and infected, then spending 5 days eating garbage for breakfast, lunch and dinner at garbage restaurants. vs. a 90% beautiful scenic drive, listening to a book on CD, stopping at scenic places and taking a walk, bringing my own food and cooking good meals at the hotel on a portable electric unit. Marc
lol Marc, that's about right... ... for commercial flights. I work for a private jet company. There is a whole different world on the other side. I did a few series of flights on the aircraft (got really lucky to do so), and it was completely different. Try this instead: Drive from home to the closest regional airport (10 minutes for me). Pull the car up and drop the car off with the valet. Walk to the plane as a lineman takes your bags for you. Talk to the crew for a few minutes, and when you are ready, hop on the plane. 6 seats and no other passengers, pop in a CD, grab a vodka out of the galley and proceed to make your libation of choice. Watch whatever movie you want, or sleep, or read. Fly to within 10 minutes of where you need to be, and your car (or rental, or chauffeur) is waiting at the plane for you when you get off. I've never been envious of the rich until I had that experience.
Beginning Programmer - Still learning as much as possible.