Comments on: Why Does Flying Suck?

By: Mark Maslowski

Mark Maslowski — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:02:53 +0000

I believe that the worst thing to happen to commercial air travel was the introduction of overhead bins. In the 1960s you could board and off-board a full 707 in a quick, orderly and stress-free manner. No priority boarding needed. No boarding groups. No free-for-all struggle for bin space. No waiting for idiots struggling to fit massive suitcases into a space that obviously doesn’t fit. Boarding has become a nightmare on almost every flight!

By: Julianne Adamik

Julianne Adamik — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:09:42 +0000

The most fun I had going through TSA was when the conversation would go something like this:

ME: “So…When someone tried to build a bomb by mixing chemicals we were no longer allowed to bring liquids on board, right?”

TSA: “That’s right, Ma’am. It’s for your safety.”

Me: “So, when someone tried to light an explosive in his shoes we had to start taking off our shoes, right?”

TSA: “Yes, Ma’am. It’s for your safety.”

Me: “So when the guy put an explosive in their underpants, you didn’t change a thing. If you’re not going to look in my underpants, why do I still have to take my shoes off?”

TSA: Look on their face….PRICELESS!!!

Obviously, TSA is beyond logic.

By: Elaine St. John-Lagenaur

Elaine St. John-Lagenaur — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:50:46 +0000

Regarding “Security Theater”, some friends posted, “What was the DUMBEST thing that TSA confiscated when you went through security?” Me: Tiny (less than 2”) plastic scissors in a travel sewing kit. I was lectured, “NO SCISSORS EVER!” My sister: She accidentally left a Swiss Army knife in a carry-on day pack. It zipped right through screening…uh, you did make a VERY valid point!

By: Adrian Wap Caplet

Adrian Wap Caplet — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:14:03 +0000

Agree wholeheartedly on the terminal racket; it could be reduced by half if we communicated boarding zones via screens above the gate vs announcements, banned the use of the phrase “at this time” and the “final boarding call” was actually the final boarding call.

Also ruefully concur on the security theatre. I used to work airside operations at a major North American airport, and believe me, if a bad actor wanted to place something nefarious aboard an airplane, he or she could so easily gain a job at any number of airside providers and have easy access to any part of the apron.

As for regional jets, yes but they serve a very useful purpose: connecting smaller towns with large hubs. North America is a big place, and adequate passenger train service is essentially non-existent, so <76 seat jets are the only reasonable solution to provide service in most cases. It's the fault of the traveler and of the airlines that serve them, that they desire frequent service. It's the fault of low-time pilots that they accepted and encouraged the continuation of the poverty wage dynamic. You and I were both 500-hour keeners at some point – sadly not enough of our colleagues decided to take a moral stance; instead accepting shitty pay & working conditions for a coveted seat in the cockpit. You write as if the "big jets" have the airborne right of way, or some sort of ownership of the upper flight levels, but that simply ain't the case.

By: RJT55

RJT55 — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 19:00:17 +0000

I find the mid size airports to be relatively peaceful. I fly into the Sunport in Albuquerque quite alot and find it quite nice. Regarding security, pre 9/11 I flew home from Stockholm. Before I could reach my gate, I was met by a young woman who asked a series of questions. Did I pack my own bag, why this plane etc. What I rember was her adking the same question many different ways yo try and trip me up. Helluva lot more effective than having a TSA officer checking to see if I took off my belt.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:22:14 +0000

For short trips (I fly from SFO to Burbank or Portland regularly)I have an underseat duffle bag. For trips to the east coast, a small carry-on that easily fits in an overhead, and a small underseat bag for iPad and personal stuff. I have Clear and TAA pre. I fly economy plus. I’m always pleasant to the FAs, and they are to me. I’m 73, I still think flying is cool – and by keeping a low profile and paying for a few enhancements, it’s pretty easy. I do sometimes have to explain “those are drumsticks and brushes.”

By: Geoff Glave

Geoff Glave — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:12:17 +0000

A Granny cannot go through security with a gun, because it could do harm to people and the aircraft.

A Granny cannot go through security with a jar of her strawberry jam because it could be an explosive which could do harm to people and aircraft.

In the former case she will be arrested and grilled by law enforcement.

In the latter case, the jam is confiscated, thrown in a garbage can and she is sent on her way.

If they are both potentially deadly threats to the aircraft why is granny treated differently in both cases?

By: Steve Hartman

Steve Hartman — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:26:00 +0000

You’re right. Most announcements can be eliminated. A huge portion of passengers walk around with noise canceling headphones or earbuds and aren’t listening anyway. It’s perfectly illustrated by videos of several emergency evacuations. Despite coordinated shouting by Flight Attendants of our universal call, LEAVE EVERYTHING!”, passengers open bins and carry bags down a slide or out an exit window. If they don’t, or won’t listen to instructions designed to save their lives, why do we believe anyone listens to departure announcements in airports?

By: Mike Mintz

Mike Mintz — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:24:12 +0000

Piggybacking on ReadyKilowatt, what about deregulation? Seems to me this is why we have the bifurcation in prices (and service).

By: LIndy

LIndy — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:16:20 +0000

Re: Security theater…..I began flying with my new kitten in April of this year. We have had four trips so far and are taking another in December. Every time I take him through security they swab my hands for explosives whereas they never did that before. How are explosives even remotely related to a cat??