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The Seven Most Annoying Myths About Flying
From airfares to safety to the roles of the captain and copilot, ASK THE PILOT take a look at seven of the most persistent and irritating myths and quasi-truths about flying. (www.askthepilot.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
and the one about the cabin air NOT being full of germs ? give me a break ! it's happened to me as well, but I have known too many people who have become ill after plane journeys. it stands to reason - you're all in a confined space and if someone is breathing (or coughing, sneezing) out germs, then everyone else is going to breathe them in. if planes can't filter out the obnoxious smell from the khazi, then there's no way i'll believe they can filter out germs !
The explanation is simple: the low humidity makes you more susceptible to catching on of the fewer germs around.
#1 - "Flying is expensive". The article says it's not (compared to 50 years ago), but that's not my experience. Maybe it's due to increased taxation - especially from those stupid European environmentalists, but back in 2000, it cost me and my family $400 per person for return, direct flights between Philadelphia and London. Now it costs $1200 for a direct flight (if you're lucky !) and we just can't afford it anymore. My wages have increased by about 15% since 2000, not 200% !!
Travel is expensive. I recently used AMTRAK for a trip from BWI to Albany, NY, rather than drive. The cost to go coach was over $200.00 and there was NO checked baggage. The hotel was discounted and still cost $150.00 a night and a full 1/3 of that was taxes and fees from people who had nothing to do with my trip.
Fixed and variable costs for an airline are enormous. I don't know how they operate with such low fares. The cost of fuel alone forced one carrier to buy it's own refinery, another low margin operation. Now, with the cost of oil drooping it's a choice they may regret.
I don't pretend to know the ins and outs of big business. I'm continually astounded at the magic and ingenuity of the minds that understand it all. They have, in many cases, delivered air travel for the cost of driving your car if you're traveling alone.
Fixed and variable costs for an airline are enormous. I don't know how they operate with such low fares. The cost of fuel alone forced one carrier to buy it's own refinery, another low margin operation. Now, with the cost of oil drooping it's a choice they may regret.
I don't pretend to know the ins and outs of big business. I'm continually astounded at the magic and ingenuity of the minds that understand it all. They have, in many cases, delivered air travel for the cost of driving your car if you're traveling alone.
Well, depending on class, back in the day that same ticket would have been $5000 plus. Personally $400 is bad cheap and is probably why it is at $1200 now. It just took it awhile to adjust.
As a passenger that spends more time in commercial aircraft than a car, I live with delays every week. Updates are nice but they really don't change the situation. If it is a ground stop at the destination, ATC, mechanical or whatever the cause, it is what it is and I accept that. Sadly, I also observe people who act like the carrier is purposely trying to challenge their connection and blaming it on a cargo door light. They vent on the flight attendants, gate agents, janitorial staff and anyone that looks like they'll tolerate a tantrum. The PEF mentioned in the previous comments tend to be more stretched than the E-string on a violin.....