First commercial plane ride over. WHEW!

[Oh Haha]

Well, at least that's done. I flew from Detroit to Baltimore this afternoon which was my first commercial plane ride ever. It wasn't too bad but the thrust on takeoff MUST be addicting.

I had an aisle seat but peeked out the window before we got to 31,000 feet. felt a little queasy for a minute but I think it was moreso because I had absolutely no control of the vehicle and wouldn;t for the next hour or so.

Rode in my first taxi as well from BWI to Glenn Burnie where the company is putting us up. I know why stereo types portray cab drivers as "crazy" drivers. Just sayin'.....


Met a guy in line going to Tokyo for his company that makes software for transmissions and a police officer from Tenesee heading to MD to teach a class on abduction response. I felt like a total dork asking for help but people were very nice, for the most part. The captain sounded like a character from SNL which actually put me at ease once they closed the cabin door.


Oh, the guy going to Tokyo used to have an SC so we talked about Porsche while waiting in the security line.

[afterburn 549]

I USED to worry about EVERYTHING in / on the Plane. !
After a long long while I now get on and almost dont care.
CAUSE i know it all out of my control anyway............get my 25 cents worth if something does go nutz!

[pwd72s]

No fear of flying here...but haven't flown since before 9-11-01. I'm glad there is nowhere I need to be badly enough to fly to get there. Too many hassles with todays security krap-ola.

[scottmandue]

I have lost track of my number of commercial plane fights over the years (pre and post 9/11)...

So much of our daily life is totally out of our control (Boston)...

Getting on a plane is just more in your face.

[HardDrive]

We fly a lot. It certainly helps one get rid of the illusion that you are in control of your own life.

I've notice that I enjoy flying more when I drink substantial amounts of booze.

[Rick V]

I like flying with folks who are outwardly uneasy. Like when you hit turbulence, they freak out and I go weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

[masraum]

I can't even imagine. My first flight, I was 7 years old, and was from Florida to northern Japan. I think the whole thing took about 24hrs with probably 16-18 of that being air time. I guess doing it as a kid wasn't scary and then I'd had the experience. I don't even think twice about getting on a plane now. Like Scottmandue, I couldn't even begin to count the number of flights that I've been on over the years, and there are folks who've flown rings around me.

I had a buddy that flew for the first time a few years back, he was in his mid 30s.

No you need to go skydiving! I highly recommend it.

[tevake]

That is cool Wayne that you got to have so many firsts. I love the take off, even better at the window, so you can see the angle of climb and watch the earth drop away. But being pinned to your seat in a plane that big is surprising.

Window seat is worthwhile for any over land flight in day light.
Some of my favorite sights have been Mount Blanc in the alps at just a little below us.
Going into Auckland once the airport was fogged in, so we went sight seeing to wait it out. Did a couple of laps around Mt Tongariro once clockwise then the other side got their turn. We had been upgraded on that flight so sipping mimosas added to the pleasure. Also the glaciers and ice filled fiords in Greenland are amazing in low light.
The transition from the Rockies out onto the plains is amazing.

Kind of blows my mind that folks don't bother to even look at the beauty laying out below them.

Cheers Richard

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by Rick V

I like flying with folks who are outwardly uneasy. Like when you hit turbulence, they freak out and I go weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

We hit a couple of bumps and I was just waiting for someone to freak out(not me of course.)

[LSA]

Hate flying it's x hours of pure misery if I can drive there I'm driving. Went to Portugal recently and the flight both ways blew. The flight back was absolute torture 11 hours of terrible pain and boredom. The seats I belive come from the Airbus Agony series. Not to mention the extra 1.5 hours we had to sit on the tarmac for technical checks.

Planes are not meant for tall people I think I'm done with traveling outside the states for a long time.

You'd never flown before? Crazy, not missing much. I used to be a little more apprehensive about flying now I just loathe the actual flight, it's all out of my control anyway.

[911boost]

Glad you didn't mind it.

I had 6 flights last week and only two this week (to Vegas for a beer drinking err hockey tournament).

I don't mind flying at all, I am usually asleep before we even take off.

Bill

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by BSiple

Glad you didn't mind it.

I had 6 flights last week and only two this week (to Vegas for a beer drinking err hockey tournament).

I don't mind flying at all, I am usually asleep before we even take off.

Bill

The Asian dude sitting next to me slept almost the entire flight.

I think one of the best things that I will take away from this adventure is that the world is a big place and we are all just minutia. The diversity I saw today was really cool. Folks from all walks of life were all around me. I wanted to find out their stories but figured that would make me seem a tad weird.



That and the DOT training that I am here for.

[Zeke]

Like Paul, I haven't been on a big plane since 9/11. But I can't imagine anyone that is taking their first airplane ride in 2013.

[Hugh R]

I have something like 400,000 frequent flier miles on United and another 30-50K on three or four other airlines. My wife sees our trip to St. Lucia BWI on Wednesday for my daughter's wedding as an "Adventure". I'm fine with going there and delighted for my daughter. OTOH, I'm thinking "I gotta get on ANOTHER Plane". At least I upgraded me, my wife and my son to Business Class from LAX to Miami. Coach only available from Miami to St. Lucia

[911boost]

I hear you Hugh, I will hit a million lifetime miles most likely in 2014 on United.

I typically use frequent flier miles for vacations with my kids every year. For Christmas I took them Marco Island in FL using miles and hotel points, so other than food and the rental car my trip was free.

Wayne, it is surprising what some people will tell you on planes. I have definitely sat next to somme interesting people.

Bill

[Baz]

Originally Posted by tevake

That is cool Wayne that you got to have so many firsts. I love the take off, even better at the window, so you can see the angle of climb and watch the earth drop away. But being pinned to your seat in a plane that big is surprising.

Window seat is worthwhile for any over land flight in day light.
Some of my favorite sights have been Mount Blanc in the alps at just a little below us.
Going into Auckland once the airport was fogged in, so we went sight seeing to wait it out. Did a couple of laps around Mt Tongariro once clockwise then the other side got their turn. We had been upgraded on that flight so sipping mimosas added to the pleasure. Also the glaciers and ice filled fiords in Greenland are amazing in low light.
The transition from the Rockies out onto the plains is amazing.

Kind of blows my mind that folks don't bother to even look at the beauty laying out below them.

Cheers Richard

I'm with Richard....I'm a HUGE shutterbug and love window seats for the view.

Crater near Manaqua:


Moorea:

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Like Paul, I haven't been on a big plane since 9/11. But I can't imagine anyone that is taking their first airplane ride in 2013.

Never had a reason to go anywhere by plane.

[Hugh R]

Two years ago for work I brought my trophy wife (married 29 years) to Prague, and London on FF miles. My hotel, meals and driver are paid for (yes, I get a driver, especially in London, I won't drive in London). I think my cost for her for three weeks in those two cities was something like $500.

[HardDrive]

We just go back from India. The last leg was a biatch. 11 hours, no personal entertainment systems, crap seats.

On the way there, we had a 4 hour delay from Seattle to Amsterdam. Missed our flight to India, and there's only 1 flight a day. KLM put us up in a hotel near the airport. Ran into another couple who had a daughter the same age as ours. Ended up having a lovely evening, and the kids are now pen pals. We got on the plane showered and rested, arrived in India feeling pretty good. From adversity comes opportunity.

[James Brown]

after 6500 flight hours in the military, i still don't like sitting in the tube with no control of what's going on. Thank god they allow me to drink!!