Tech & Biz

Flights from Hell: Documenting Airline Passenger Woes

by jordan | April 2, 2009 at 09:00 am

126 views | 15 Recommendations | 2 comments

From private websites to feedback sections on travel-based e-commerce sites, passenger feedback is coming to the fore. This is a bold step, since relatively few passengers have positive things to say about flying these days. One of these sites: "Flights from Hell".

Flying used to be cool. Free drinks, flashy technology, and a sense that you're leaving the day-to-day behind.

No longer. Now it's all about taking off your shoes and getting strip-searched, "step into this room, sir" (if you're me), and long delays.

Then you get onto the plane, and the true nightmare begins...

I heard somewhere that coach class loses 2 feet of overall legroom with each cabin redesign. My own experience bears that out: my tiny laptop won't even open all the way, so typing becomes impossible.

Having checked out some of the complaints on the site mentioned below and others, it seems that most of the issues are fixable, but airlines just haven't bothered... though dipping ticket sales will possibly prompt a rethink.

Rottler, a 54-year-old environmental health supervisor in Tampa, Florida, launched the site more than two years ago. Since then, FlightsFromHell.com has attracted submissions from passengers and flight attendants that have run the gamut, touching on categories that include "odors," "attendant issues," "weird people," and "luggage and delays."

Among the story headlines: "Titanic toddler creates tumult," "Wifey punched by elderly 'sleepwalker,' " and "Lip-locked tousle-haired 20-somethings."

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Jennings David L

at 17:53 on April 2nd, 2009

I hope I don't have a reason to contribute to the "Flights form Hell" website. I fly tomorrow to Florida. I have found myself checking these sites out before booking some flights. It didn't used to be like this. Maybe this help improve service.

Paschen

at 18:08 on April 2nd, 2009

I remember flying was nice and comfortable 20 years ago and even as I travelled with my parents some decades earlier it was nice, yet recently especially since the 90 and more so since 911 it has become a nightmare of sorts.

However there are many reasons for this, not only security and airlines saving where ever they can.

People have become rude, chronically stressed out and undisciplined. Even egocentric and rude.