Dehydration excitement and compliments to flight attendents!

I just recently returned from my Eastern European holiday, about which I plan to blog extensively.  The holiday was extraordinary and brought the region history together as my high school and undergraduate education could never do, but that’s a story for another day.

You hear all the time how important it is to make sure that you are hydrated and that you move around.  I know this to be important, but because I am healthy and active, I sometimes ignore these simple suggestions, particularly the drink liquids.  I hate using airplane restrooms.

So, we are flying practically all day starting from LA, California to Cincinnati, OH and from there to Paris, France before continuing to Austria.  On the flight from Cincinnati to Paris, I have dinner and wine and periodically do lower body flexes.  I decide to try to go to sleep. 

Some time early morning as we are approaching Europe, I start feeling sick … that dehydrated feeling.  I unbuckle and get up thinking I will walk around … maybe I just need some exercise or something to drink.  As I am walking toward the back of the plane, perhaps 4-5 rows from my seat.  I drop to one knee, then the next knee.  I must say this was very embarrassing, but I don’t even think I was thinking about that at the time.  Next thing I remember, I was stretched out on my back and a flight attendant was taking care of me.  Believe, laying on an airplane floor is the last place I would want to be … think of all the germs.

I tried to tell her that I just felt dehydrated and I remember trying to get up … not very successfully.  So, the flight attendant brings me some water and I tried to drink.  Most of which spilled on my pants like I had had an accident (Not reaching the toilet in time.)  Next, she brought me oxygen, so, I get to use the little oxygen mask that they always demonstrate.  Again, more germs.

So, I am still laying on the floor.  The flight attendant didn’t want me to move.  They call for any medical personnel on the plane.  Next, I feel someone’s hand around my wrist.  Of all people to pass out around.  I passed out by a French physician, who was on holiday in the United States.  Finally, I am able to sit up and the flight attendant walks with me to the back of the plane and the French physician accompanies us.  He takes my pulse and checks my blood pressure, which was around 90/65.  That’s even low for my low.  He takes my blood pressure several time.  It remained low, but has climbed a little to around 100/65 … I think.  They make me drink juice and eat.  I ate the banana … that was my compromise.

They ask if I wanted a medical team to meet me.  I refused.  I was really embarrassed by this time, but the flight attendant and the French physician were quite graceful and attentive to my needs. 

Thank you both.

Always get a second opinion

I just recently returned from my Memorial Day travel and have to say that that was one of the better traveling experiences I have had … not because of where I went, but because there weren’t that many people traveling … at least through Cincinnati and Washington Dulles and Raleigh.

So what am I complaining about this time?  I decided to arrive at the airport early since I live about 80 miles from Cincinnati’s airport and I thought that I would go to one of the airport lounges and work … there are just so many distractions at home.  I had already checked-in and thought that I would just head off to the club, which is in a different terminal with a different security.  In other words, there’s no way to get from one terminal to another once going through security.  So, I asked the United check-in personnel [mistake number one] if I could enter any terminal with my ticket.  I told her I wanted to go the Delta club … she said empathically, no, absolutely not, can’t be done, don’t even try.  Okay!

Despite her confidence in answering my question.  I was not confident, probably not satisfied, with her answer, so I asked a TSA agent.  He said, you can absolutely go to any terminal you like as long as you have a valid ticket for the airport.  So, off I go, trouble free.  TSA, did ask me, hey, you know you are at the wrong terminal, and I replied, yes, I just want to visit the Delta club, and the agent said okay.  FYI, the Delta club in Concourse A is closed on Saturdays, fortunately the club in Concourse B is open.  I had the club practically to myself!

Last word, always get a second opinion.

United and US Air … courting

It seems that Delta and Northwest have set off a renewed effort by the airlines to merge and get larger in the name of better service.  These mergers also are supposed to make the industry more stable and efficiently operated.  Maybe.  United and others have said that bigger is better.  Maybe.

Perhaps with fewer airlines, the industry will have fuller flights and operate more profitably than they currently do, but I remain skeptical.  Surely, the industry can be more efficient even with the current number of carriers.  On my recent flight from Atlanta to Memphis, the flight was not very full.  How might this change if there are only two or three larger carriers?  Fuller flights, more expensive tickets, and fewer options and times.

Well, one thing is certain, the airlines probably do not want to let Delta and Northwest drawf them.  So, who is American going to merge with?

Delta & Northwest … better service is on the way

As a Northwest frequent flyer, I have been receiving periodic electronic mail assuring me that I will not notice any negative changes or impact to my status as an elite member after the merger … and I believe them.  Why would the merger negatively impact my status, when the airline can do that anytime.  Read the fine print for your frequent flyer program.  The airline can change the rules anytime they want too.

I believe Northwest when they say that I will not lose my miles or status as an elite member and that I will continue to enjoy the high level of service as a loyal customer.  This makes sense for many reasons.  The reason that frequent flyer programs are effective is that we expect to accrue some benefit.  I certainly do.  Federal regulators would also be skittish about future mergers if passengers were completely abused.  The airline would also risk losing a loyal customer, assuming that there is still competition.

I don’t know about better service, but I expect to keep my miles and status … they just may not be worth much after the merger though.  The airlines have never needed a “good” reason to redefine miles programs and the benefits of elite status, so why blame the merger.

A tale of two flights

I’m not a business or first class flier, but I have flown business class and I can say that the difference between the two classes is worlds apart.

My first business class flight was from Cincinnati, Ohio to London, England on Delta.  I had no idea that there was such a difference.  For us economy class flier, we typically walk through the first and business class sections and notice that the seats are larger and that there is more leg room.  That isn’t even the start of the differences.

When you fly business or first class on international Delta flights, you have access to their business lounges.  This is where the differences start.  The Cincinnati lounge is large, spacious, and quiet … you are completely insulated from the hustle and bustle outside [my apologies to those of you who consider this part of the travel experience; I don't].  There was hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.  The food was not bad either.

With a business or first class ticket, you can board first and then the service starts, including cocktails, a blanket, and a travel kit to include ear plugs and a sleep mask.  During our flight before dinner, the flight attendants served warmed nuts, not in a bag, but a nice serving dish.  Around dinner time, the flight attendant gave us a menu to make our selection.  She then comes back and said let us know when you are ready to eat.  Since this was an overnight international flight, the flight attendant asked if she should wake us for breakfast.

Now, this is service.

The Ugly American …

Yesterday, as I was flying Delta, I decided to read the Delta magazine, a mix of interesting articles, advertisement, and self promotion. One interesting piece that I found was about how we, Americans, are perceived in Europe. According to this piece, Europeans do not hate us, as we may think.

I must say that I have not observed this anti-American attitude in any of the European countries that I have traveled, which include England, France, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland. The Germans and Swiss on the street were the least friendly as a whole, but nothing anti-American. The Portuguese and the Dutch were probably the friendliest. Picking the friendliest was really hard.

The gist of this piece is that Europeans rate us highly. I recall that only the Japanese were higher. We rate the highest in terms of being the best tippers, but the worst dresser in terms of style.

So, let bury the perception that we are perceived as the ugly American. By the way, lets not act like the ugly Americans either.