The Not-So-Friendly Skies

  When did flying the "friendly skies" become so difficult? When did road rage move to 30,000 feet? It seems like every day we see another video of a passenger, or crew, doing something crazy. The FAA rules are being enforced, or not enforced, depending on what the airline reps have for breakfast. 

  Over the years it's become much more common to hear of a plane making an emergency landing because of unruly passengers. Handcuffs are now standard issue on flights....just in case someone needs to be restrained. The rules have changed and not everyone is happy, including the airlines.

  It used to be the occasional flyer would have a little too much to drink and perhaps not be happy when they were told no more booze. Now a melt down could happen because you weren't given the entire can of soda! 

  Over booking flights is the main culprit though. It is frustrating to be told you must get off a plane you are buckled into. Especially when you have paid the ridiculous amount of money it now costs to fly. But airlines based in the United States do it all the time. We were booked on a flight with United a few years ago and while they had booked us, because of weather delays, we had not been assigned seats so we technically were not on the flight. The plane was over booked by about fifteen people. We got lucky that a family of four didn't get to the airport in time and we got their first class seats!

  In the past John and I have benefited from over booked flights. We gladly volunteered to take a later flight and were given free passes to anywhere the airlines flew. Without kids it was not an issue hanging out in the airport for another hour or two. With food and beverage vouchers no less.  Those days seem to be long gone.

  When you get on a plane from now on take a deep breath. Relax your body and mind. Put on your headphones and meditate. Remember everyone wants to get to their destination safe and in one piece.

  Or take an Ativan....what ever works.

  Ang