Flying those now unfriendly skies

Flying has undoubtedly got more than its fair share of hassles , especially in the US. The term, unfriendly skies, isn't without reason.

The Travel section of the NY Times has a piece written by a reporter who donned the airline uniform and saw what things were like from the "other side".

Just one example:

"Certainly the one lesson I learned quickly — along with how to cross-check the doors and that Dansko clogs are the footwear of choice among experienced flight attendants — was how to say “no” politely. No to the young Indian man who asked for a blanket for his mother who was shivering in her sari next to him. (There were none left.) No to the hungry passenger who wanted to purchase a cookie. (We had already sold the only two stocked for the flight.) No to the guy who, like many of his fellow passengers, was concerned he wouldn’t make his connecting flight because of our late departure and pleaded, “Can you call and find out?” (Sorry, but here’s the customer service number you can try when we land.)

I also got a crash course in stress management."

Read the whole rather dispiriting piece here.

Comments

Sean said…

Believe me, those Dansko shoes actually do help with stress management!

September 16, 2008 1:22 am

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