Flying Sardines!!

I recently had to take two flights to get to my destination, and not being a expert on flying, I am about to give my “unasked for review” of the service of Alaska Air. I waited in the first airport for my flight which was running 20 minutes late for boarding, tho I didn’t notice it much because I had 4 friends there with me to gab with. If I were alone, that would be much different; each minute would have dragged by tick tock, tick tock!

We finally boarded the plane and waited another 10 minutes before we finally started moving. This time I felt restless to get going, tho I told myself, any last minute checks they are making to be sure everything’s in working order is great with me.

I watched as people crammed huge suitcases into the overhead, pounding on them repeatedly, until they finally fit, but only because they crushed someone else’s bag, or because the other suitcases in there, popped out and hit the floor. Then the “luggage crusher” acting oblivious to it all, just goes and sits in his/her seat.

I’m not sure who is responsible for checking the bags at the door to see if they fit into the little basket. You know, that little basket with a sign over it saying if you carry-on does not fit in here, you must check it, I have yet to see someone do that.

(Note to self: only carry something into the plane that can fit under the seat in front of me, and pray that the passenger sitting in that seat will not get airsick, and vomit all over my stuff).

The seat seemed so small, I remember when they were a bit bigger. The seat belts are very short too. I remember when they were longer, and it has nothing to do with my size changes because I am pretty average in size. Seems just 10 years ago plane seats were a tad bit bigger.

It seems the airlines has miniaturized everything in order to get those extra rows of seats in, making us so tight we can hardly move without jabbing, jostling, or bumping someone with our elbows, shoulders or knees.

The only other complaint about the seat is that my feet barely touch the floor; I have to keep my heels up and tootsies on the floor to be semi comfortable, but can’t hold that position for longer then 15 minutes before my feet start complaining. So I have to keep shifting my legs, and can never get comfortable.

So now everyone is squished in like sardines (Literally) then they tell us we can’t get up, until the seat belt light goes off. So, we patiently wait and wait and wait, until the stewardess comes by with some choices of water, coffee or juice. Oh, and I mustn’t forget the teeny tiny package of snacks that I am not really sure what is in it…

So now we are finally able to land, we sit waiting for the lights to go off, others are already pulling their stuff out of the bins, dropping stuff on people (who obeyed the directions to stay seated until the plane comes to a complete stop), and practically climbing on their laps to reach way in the back, rather then waiting for the person to get up.

Everyone jumps in the aisle, scrambling to get off the plane, practically pushing the people in the line out the door. Some passengers refuse to be a part of this “cattle prodding type method” and sit and wait till the line depletes (pretty smart).

It is nice to finally get out of the long tunnel and in to the airport lounge. I can breathe easier now, and I’m safely at my designated destination. Only to find out that my other flight left because the plane I just got off of was…25 minutes late. Ugh!

Alaska must have a pilot in every crook n' cranny... Everyone I know has a pilot's license and a small airplane they fly around, like a Piper. There are many many places in Alaska that you have to fly in, because there are no road access or rivers to boat in. I think that Alaska does really well with not having a lot of plane crashes for the amount of small planes from brand new or in a terrible state of disrepair flying around.

CU