If you've been over here recently, you'll know I had a slightly hellish time traveling last week. I didn't even fill you in on Friday's trials! In honor of traveling and what a pain in the ass it can be, this week's Salti Talk is all things travel! I give you a list of pet peeves and things that you need to keep in mind when traveling, you share with me your advice and pet peeves as well!
For Travelers:
1. When walking down the middle of a terminal, keep in mind the world does not revolve around you. Don't stop in the middle of everyone else's paths to check your phone or your itinerary. Move to the side. Also, even if you're not in a hurry, there are plenty of other people who are and would appreciate you getting the hell out of the way.
Note: As in the picture above, don't assume no one is behind you. Be courteous of those that don't give a shit about what you think is so fantastically awesome! If you happen to see Yao Ming walking around and want to stop and oogle him, that's great, but MOVE OVER! Make room for others to pass through.
2. Again, while walking amongst large crowds, stay to the right... or whichever side of the road is driven on in the country you're located. It's common courtesy and just makes sense. (Drive on the right = walk on the right and vice versa.)
3. Have your ticket/boarding pass and ID ready to hand to the TSA agent when you go through the Security line. Don't get up to the podium with your license stuck in your wallet. We're all in hurry here, honey.
For the Airports/Airlines:
1. When there are more than 5-10 people waiting in line, Security needs to have more than 1 person checking identifications. It would make the process much smoother.
2. You're not doing a very good job of checking the items that go through the xray scanners. I got to my hotel and realized I'd left a tube of lip gloss and a roller ball of perfume out of the "quart size bag" I'm allowed to take liquids in with me on the plane. Either they saw them in my purse and didn't care, or didn't see them at all. A little unnerving if you ask me! What other kind of stuff is getting through that isn't getting caught?
3. If you're hiring people who are so unbelievabley unhappy in their lives and their jobs, know that will be reflected in the way they treat travelers and other customers every day. Y'all need to rethink either your hiring or your training practices.
4. Airports - when there has been an airport-wide malfunction that will affect ALL flights coming in and going out, indicate this to your passengers waiting for their flights. Don't leave the information on the flight info screens to say everything is on time after you've had an airport-wide radar malfunction. Indicate how late these flights are estimated to be. Quit lying to us! Quit trying to appease us by only giving us little pieces of the truth!
And now it's up to you guys, my readers:
Here's where this becomes interactive... I'm going to post this now so y'all can get to reading it, and then give me your feedback and suggestions. I'll take that and incorporate it into the post, so it will be ever-evolving.
So, tell me what your traveling pet peeves, preferences and key pieces of critical information you use when travling. What are your secrets for certain airports? Which airports are best to use, and best to avoid? Maybe by the end of the week we can send it all out as a PSA to the travel industry!
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***Update***
Here are some tips from the peanut gallery:
Sarcastically Bitter
I HATE when people stand in the middle of the hallway....anywhere. Not just the airport. I don't know about those scanners. But when I went to the USA once, I left toothpaste out (forgetting that it's a "liquid") and ohhh did they give me crap for that!
My tip: Get to the airport for your flight early (unless you are changing planes). It saves you alot of hassle of running around. You can beat the huge lines for checking in and security. Or at least they won't be as big!
My city's airport is nice. You go in one line and it leads to maybe 5-10 security scanner aisles, which is more convenient and can get people through quicker. Mc Carran airport in Vegas I found was a little difficult. We could not find our shuttle for the hotel. They need signs. However, they have a great taxi set up there! Oh and Gatwick airport in London, I think they were renovating, but part of the airport is nice, and the area we arrived at was all 70's decor!
Shevon
How about the inconsiderate people with the biggest possible "carry on" who don't want to pay $25 to check their luggage? Then they hit you in the head, arm, shoulder when they try to get their gargantuan item down the aisle.
Or, they get their bag checked at the entrance to the plane because the airline determines it is too big. I say they start charging them right there. They are already wasting my time. Why not take 5 more minutes from me and collect from the cheap ass?
Jessica
The walking/moving and then sudden stopping drives me bat shit. I've crashed into people at the bottom of escalators because they stopped to look around right at the bottom. Morons.
I think this also applies to public transit - where there are multiple signs telling people what side to walk or stand on. BAAAAH!I could go on and on about the lunacy of TSA...
Jaime
I hate people who act all outraged when they have to remove their shoes to go through security. especially the morons who wear flip flops to the airport. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO WALK AROUND ANYWHERE IN NEWARK BAREFOOT???? idiots.
Cass
I hate when people are walking so fast and about knock me on my ass because they are rude and can't get out of my way when I am in just as much a hurry as they are but have shorter legs.
I hate when people stop to talk on their cell phone after walking briskly with me following, thus causing a collision that they think was MY fault and then proceed to give me a dirty look.
I hate when people don't pay any attention to their kids and people are all trying to avoid tripping over their one year old who is learning to walk in the busiest part of the airport.
I hate flying thru chicago. Nuff said.I hate it when they say they are starting preboarding for those who need extra time with their kids and then 9 million f'ing people crowd the gate so I can't get me or my kid INTO the plane. assholes.
I hate when people let their kids kick the shit outta the back of my plane seat. I have a kid too... get some f'ing control of your kids!
I hate when the guy on the aisle seat falls asleep with his laptop on his tray and then I cant get me or my now poopy diapered kid out to go to the bathroom cause he is snoring and won't wake up.
I will stop now. I can go on like this for days.
I am a nervous wreck when I travel because of all the morons that make me a wreck!
I'm sure I have one of my own... so I'll be thinking of that in the meantime. But recently, I've observed someone else's strange addiction, and I have to say, I'm quite perplexed. This person has got to own stock in Ricola because he/she sits and consumes cough drop after cough drop ALL. DAY. LONG. like it's candy! I mean, those taste alright when you need them, but every day?
Now, if you've got a never-ending case of the coughs, maybe you should see your doctor instead of eating bags-at-a-time of cough drops, just a thought. (And maybe this person has a medical condition that causes him/her to cough a lot, but I've never observed it.) I'm very curious what is driving this person's need for cough drops.
So now it's YOUR turn. Tell me, do any of you have a strange addiction/obsession? What is it and why do you do it? I'm curious and want to hear all about it!
