Hell with the laptop. I'm 6'4" with long legs. Some seats in steerage class place my knees in direct contact with the seat frame in front of me. I've been forced to pay extra for "Economy Plus" seating which often costs me several hundred dollars on long flights. Often, with today's full flights, they are not available when I have to buy my ticket. And using the seatback in front to stand is virtually essential for someone with long legs because you can't get your weight far forward enough to stand. (Don't believe me? Try sitting in a normal upright position and stand up without leaning forward.)

(Written on 2019/04/15)(Permalink)

Just a quick comment: the report states it was learned by "customer disclosure." The question here is whether or not a firearm really was carried through, or did a customer with an alternate agenda (perhaps) report it when it didn't happen? Another thought is whether or not it might have been a plastic 3D printer made weapon with insufficient metal to alert a screening device or x-ray.

(Written on 2019/01/14)(Permalink)

It has gotten so bad that except for my rare overseas flights, I will always -- ALWAYS -- choose to drive rather than fly. The price of 2" more knee room for my long 6'4" legs is outrageous. Seats in steerage were designed by 4' tall engineers. What the airlines haven't gained is their own loss.

(Written on 2018/01/15)(Permalink)

There is no better sound than that of a military radial on those old war birds.

(Written on 2017/07/26)(Permalink)

Yes, some of it is, but on the 777's they actually have a section between business/1C and steerage that has regular seats but extra knee room spacing. It's just a devious way of getting higher fares from taller passengers. I think they should charge passengers by weight, not by height.

(Written on 2017/06/27)(Permalink)

With packed planes and record profits, they have finally crunched the public into paying for a price increase while advertising cheap seats for midgets. I avoid flying now at all costs. I don't have to stand in line for a full body cavity search when loading the car for vacation.

(Written on 2017/06/27)(Permalink)

Leg room varies also by aircraft. Perhaps some have not been back in the shop to be retrofitted with the steerage dimensions.

(Written on 2017/06/16)(Permalink)

If I had to guess, I'd say that not one airline CEO is close to 6' tall and not one has ever spent time in an Economy seat for a flight. I have been forced to pay extra for "Economy Plus" (which really means Economy plus 2 inches) on recent flights. I guess, since most flights are overbooked, no one gives a damn if I have cut my flying down to a rare international vacation. I now drive everywhere else. If these airlines want to make money on people, how about charging by body and luggage weight and give us back a humane amount of seat space and knee room??

(Written on 2017/06/15)(Permalink)

Yes, maybe one notch above routine for the pros. I've flown a 737-800 into there on my simulator - no ILS and you must make the 180° turn at the west end of the valley to set up on the approach. Not for amateurs.

(Written on 2017/05/11)(Permalink)

I'm a scientist. I understand depressurization. A bullet hole would not cause a drastic problem with air pressure. But wings and tanks are loaded with fuel. Engines can easily be damaged. Aircraft "skin" is quite thin and not strong enough to stop even a small caliber bullet like a 9mm or .380. I repeat, you do not want to discharge a firearm inside an aircraft.

(Written on 2017/04/22)(Permalink)