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Wynonna Judd's 33 Wildest Stage Costumes
Recent Comments:
Galley Gossip: In Defense Of Old And Weary Flight Attendants {Gadling}
May 2nd 2012 7:05PM i am a frequent business traveler and i also say "please" and "thank you" because i understand that it can be a frustrating job. i also send in compliments via the service channels when i think they deserve it and i let them know too. what customer facing job isn't? i'm customer facing as well so i understand the pains of irate customers.
however i've still yet to bark at a customer, yell or anything. even if i'm not smiling, i'm always patient and courteous. the rational ones who bite at me in heightened emotions tend to understand that's what it was and they tend to stay as long term customers. those who don't, well, i don't want them as customers anyway.
the issue i have with US based flight attendants (not "as a whole" yet, but i'm seeing a disturbing trend moving towards that) is not necessarily the age or gender, but it's about attitude. i've encountered both men and women, both young and old who will snap at me when i ask them, "could i get a glass of water, please?" and i understand that safety is the primary duty of an FA, but FA's are also the face of the carrier to the customer. it's a common sense rule of service. if your management is creating problems for you, that's your issue with them. you do not take it out on the customer. i see it to a lesser degree on european carriers and to a far lesser degree on asian carriers. i'm not sure what our overseas counterparts are doing, but my experiences have always been much better than here in the states.
everyone's got problems. but in my opinion, and the rule i follow myself, is that we don't take it out on the customer.
Contest: Cold hands? Win a Zippo Hand Warmer! {Gadling}
Feb 9th 2011 10:44AM somewhere around 10 degrees-ish. i live in manhattan and it was in the middle of snowmageddon.
Should you eat at American chain restaurants when you travel? {Gadling}
Jan 26th 2011 4:49PM i like to try american chains overseas... once in a while. i find that often times they offer something novel that the american counterparts don't have.
my favorite: potato pizza in korea. tasty.
Five airline amenities making a comeback ... and the one we want {Gadling}
Dec 31st 2010 7:59PM free meals is the one i want back. i fly frequently and i am not always free to make a food run (and my EUA success is getting thinner as FF programs look for more cash). continental was the last of the big 5 to give out free food in Y and quite frankly, that was one of the big honking reasons i am so loyal to CO (i want my turkey dogs back).
Hotels gearing up for battle over the business traveler's wallet {Gadling}
Dec 31st 2010 7:51PM 1 - internet connectivity. offer both wired and wireless (since wireless is usually spotty) and splurge for a LAN cable, those are forgotten/poached/lost often.
2 - outlets near the bed. few things frustrate me more than having no outlets free near the bed when i want to charge my phones and use them as alarm clocks.
3 - bigger desks. L shaped would be ideal. it's frustrating having to fit the gigantic room service tray and plates along with my papers and laptop on a tiny desk.
4 - soap that isn't cheap (marriott, i'm looking at you). after a 5 hour transcontinental flight, few things are more frustrating than soap that takes 10 minutes to scrub the filmy layer off.
my biggest request that would alleviate one of the biggest headaches of business travel: regulate the platinum/diamond check in line. on the days i fly 3, 4 or 5 flights in a week and check in to hotels multiple times, call me spoiled but especially late in the week i have no particular desire to wait behind the non-elite family of 20 who decides that now is the time to haggle over some small minute detail.
ExpressJet pilot refuses body scan, puts privacy over safety? {Gadling}
Oct 21st 2010 11:07AM I'm in agreement here.
Is the TSA acting like a schoolyard bully? Sure, maybe. Is the scanner useful? Questionable. They're definitely not acting appropriately.
However, the pilot is just making things more annoying (as is everyone else who raises a stink at the security line thus delaying everyone else, I'm looking at you, EWR passenger who made me miss my flight for getting in an argument with a TSA worker five months ago). Chris G is spot on. I might not like the scanners and the pat downs... but these are things that are posted on giant signs at the security line. It's not an "unreasonable search" in my mind because it's not really something that exactly sneaks up on my and catches me by surprise. If you think that, you're a fool. It's not a 4th Amendment violation since it's not forced upon me.
You don't like their procedures? Don't fly. Sure it's a little bully-ish since practically speaking in most instances you have to fly, but legally you do technically have a choice. I think there are useful and productive ways of showing your discontent with their procedures. Whining and throwing a hissy fit at the security line like an infant is not one of them.
10 high-tech innovations invading the hotel world {Gadling}
Aug 19th 2010 10:31AM i know that hyatts (i've stayed at the hyatt regency in reston, va and chicago, il) seem to be putting in the kiosks. i use them for quick checkout but haven't used them for check-in yet.
Spirit Airlines starts charging up to $45 for carry-on baggage {Gadling}
Aug 2nd 2010 12:56AM ...what?! someone beat ryanair to the punch?
Ask Gadling - What can I do on a layover for free? {Gadling}
Jul 14th 2010 7:15PM Coincidentally i was reading this as I'm waiting for a two hour layover at term E IAH. I catch up in web surfing.
Breaking: NY port authority realizes what we all know - LaGuardia airport is a dump {Gadling}
Apr 30th 2010 10:28PM I take the US Shuttle out of LGA quite frequently and quite honestly, I don't mind it. Sure it's old, somewhat dumpy but it gets the job done.
The only thing that annoys me is whenever it gets windy in the slightest, they seem to shut down everything but one runway. It makes for longer in-cabin wait times...
