What I learned yesterday (re-revised)
editorial note: I decided the name of the airline wasn't important to the story so I removed it. I added a bit of a detail about the end of my night. One person who reads the blog will find it funny.
Hi gang,
Well, I'm home. Betcha most of you didn't know I was gone. I ran away from home over the holiday. I wanted to celebrate the New Year the right way and had a fantastic time. I'm not writing about how I celebrated the end of 2010. I'm happy it's over, though. as I'm sure several of you are. 2011 started out much better and I know it will be better than the last several years have been.
I do want to talk about my journey home, though. I caught a connecting flight in Las Vegas last night and it's this flight I want to talk to you about. When the plane came in at Las Vegas and there was no ground crew to meet it. It sat just outside the gate waiting for ground personnel to marshall the pilot to the gate. Those are the folks on the ground that keep the pilot from hitting stuff and stopping him at the right spot for the jetway. It took about ten minutes for that to happen. The passengers deplaned and as the ground crew prepared the jet for the trip from Vegas to Salt Lake, people in the terminal began to get antsy. The gate agent had to ask three separate times for people to step aside so the folks could deplane. A lot of people had connecting flights in Salt Lake to catch and our flight was leaving a little bit late. There were a lot of nervous travelers on our flight. When the time came, everyone quickly boarded and we were ready to go; and then we weren't.
As the aircraft was readied inside for departure, one of the ramp employees working the flight was injured, to the point where the paramedics were called. The employee eventually was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Aviation is a dangerous business and when you hurry through things, sometimes bad things can happen. I said a little prayer in my seat for this person because I've been there when you're trying to fix a broken airplane full of people anxious to get going. I felt this person's pain. I was among the few on board the 757 that did. I've seen it happen before. There are lots of things that stick out of the sides and bottom of a jet to bump your head on. I've been dropped to my knees in pain after walking into something sticking out of the jet.
Inside the aircraft the mood went from nervous to tense. People were grumbling about missing connecting flights. Nobody around me seemed to be too concerned about the ramp agent. One group was so hostile, they had to be chastised by a flight attendant in a terse voice to "not start this" because it wasn't going to make the situation get any better. She was polite, but FIRM. Nobody sitting near me made a comment about hoping the employee was all right. People were genuinely (excuse the language) pissed off (no nice way to say it and convey the mood) because the emergency vehicles were preventing the aircraft from leaving, to include the two women I sat in the row with. Nobody seemed to remember the guy got hurt trying to get us off the ground on time. I did. I know there must have been others, but we were in a small minority.
Upon arrival in Salt Lake, we who had Salt Lake as our "Final Destination" (it's not my Final Destination, but that's for another day) were asked to not deplane until the passengers with connecting flights departed the jet. The customary announcement about remaining seated until the aircraft arrived at the gate fell on deaf ears. About a third of the passengers were on their feet as the aircraft came to a stop. I have never more angry people trying to get off an airplane in my life. They almost literally rushed the door as it was opened. I was between the two angry women (I think they may have been actresses) and the isle. In the interest of safety (namely mine), I just grabbed Herbie and got off the plane quickly. The biker looking thespian looked and sounded like she was ready to whup on someone. I'm not kidding. You could feel the tension in the jet. It had the real potential to get ugly if someone got in the way.
People last night missed flights. I'm sure some spent the night in Salt Lake compliments of the airline because I had a chance to meet some of the airline's ground staff last night when my bag didn't make it up to the claim area. The baggage office personnel were busy passing out overnight kits to stranded passengers.
If I thought people were upset about missing flights, I was about to witness a whole new group of people; equally as bad if not worse. I saw the people that lost their stuff! I was in a line of angry, hostile people. I patiently waited my turn in line. When I got to the counter, I was polite, understanding, and courteous as the agent looked in the computer for my bag. She promised me the airline would find it and deliver it to my house the next day. She gave me a tracking number and offered an apology which I accepted with grace. I told her to take her time, it was no big deal. It was just a misplaced bag. She didn't lose it, nor did the airline lose it on purpose, either.
There are though, some common-sense things that could have happened. They'd closed the airplane door, so we couldn't use our cell phones to call anyone. I think some common sense could've been used to allow us to call someone and let them know what was happening. But it wasn't huge. I had to get my sister out of bed to take me home because I couldn't call the immigrant until I got to Salt Lake and she didn't answer her cell phone the 20 times I tried to call her. I got home after midnight. Sis didn't get home until after 1:00 a.m. I didn't get mad, and fortunately, neither did my sis. We had a long talk about random. She's a Christian. She's also a skeptic.
Hi gang,
Well, I'm home. Betcha most of you didn't know I was gone. I ran away from home over the holiday. I wanted to celebrate the New Year the right way and had a fantastic time. I'm not writing about how I celebrated the end of 2010. I'm happy it's over, though. as I'm sure several of you are. 2011 started out much better and I know it will be better than the last several years have been.
I do want to talk about my journey home, though. I caught a connecting flight in Las Vegas last night and it's this flight I want to talk to you about. When the plane came in at Las Vegas and there was no ground crew to meet it. It sat just outside the gate waiting for ground personnel to marshall the pilot to the gate. Those are the folks on the ground that keep the pilot from hitting stuff and stopping him at the right spot for the jetway. It took about ten minutes for that to happen. The passengers deplaned and as the ground crew prepared the jet for the trip from Vegas to Salt Lake, people in the terminal began to get antsy. The gate agent had to ask three separate times for people to step aside so the folks could deplane. A lot of people had connecting flights in Salt Lake to catch and our flight was leaving a little bit late. There were a lot of nervous travelers on our flight. When the time came, everyone quickly boarded and we were ready to go; and then we weren't.
As the aircraft was readied inside for departure, one of the ramp employees working the flight was injured, to the point where the paramedics were called. The employee eventually was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Aviation is a dangerous business and when you hurry through things, sometimes bad things can happen. I said a little prayer in my seat for this person because I've been there when you're trying to fix a broken airplane full of people anxious to get going. I felt this person's pain. I was among the few on board the 757 that did. I've seen it happen before. There are lots of things that stick out of the sides and bottom of a jet to bump your head on. I've been dropped to my knees in pain after walking into something sticking out of the jet.
Inside the aircraft the mood went from nervous to tense. People were grumbling about missing connecting flights. Nobody around me seemed to be too concerned about the ramp agent. One group was so hostile, they had to be chastised by a flight attendant in a terse voice to "not start this" because it wasn't going to make the situation get any better. She was polite, but FIRM. Nobody sitting near me made a comment about hoping the employee was all right. People were genuinely (excuse the language) pissed off (no nice way to say it and convey the mood) because the emergency vehicles were preventing the aircraft from leaving, to include the two women I sat in the row with. Nobody seemed to remember the guy got hurt trying to get us off the ground on time. I did. I know there must have been others, but we were in a small minority.
Shortly before touchdown, I was pleased the flight attendant made an announcement about the welfare of the worker. He went to the hospital and was just being kept for observation. I'm happy for that person. I was planning on asking how the person was when I deplaned. I also liked the way she said what she did. I could hear it in her voice, though she couldn't say it; "Shame on you!" Good for her.
Upon arrival in Salt Lake, we who had Salt Lake as our "Final Destination" (it's not my Final Destination, but that's for another day) were asked to not deplane until the passengers with connecting flights departed the jet. The customary announcement about remaining seated until the aircraft arrived at the gate fell on deaf ears. About a third of the passengers were on their feet as the aircraft came to a stop. I have never more angry people trying to get off an airplane in my life. They almost literally rushed the door as it was opened. I was between the two angry women (I think they may have been actresses) and the isle. In the interest of safety (namely mine), I just grabbed Herbie and got off the plane quickly. The biker looking thespian looked and sounded like she was ready to whup on someone. I'm not kidding. You could feel the tension in the jet. It had the real potential to get ugly if someone got in the way.
If I thought people were upset about missing flights, I was about to witness a whole new group of people; equally as bad if not worse. I saw the people that lost their stuff! I was in a line of angry, hostile people. I patiently waited my turn in line. When I got to the counter, I was polite, understanding, and courteous as the agent looked in the computer for my bag. She promised me the airline would find it and deliver it to my house the next day. She gave me a tracking number and offered an apology which I accepted with grace. I told her to take her time, it was no big deal. It was just a misplaced bag. She didn't lose it, nor did the airline lose it on purpose, either.
I've been that angry jackass before. That's why I went to see the therapist. I wanted to make sure I didn't treat anyone else the way I used to treat folks. I still make mistakes, but when I do, I catch and try to correct them almost immediately. We're all in this together. Some people forget that. Last night, a lot of people forgot that.
As I was just about finished with my business with the baggage agent, she told me something I really appreciated. She told me that I was very nice, and she really appreciated my attitude about the whole matter. She told me with a wistful voice that she wished everyone who came in had that same attitude and it would make her job a lot easier. She was really trying to help me and all I did was just show her the basics of human kindness: politeness, understanding, and appreciation for her efforts.
I wondered though, about the lack of caring by all these people for their fellow man last night and I was ashamed. Have we really become so self-important and so self-absorbed that we don't have any tolerance for mistakes? Things happen. Have we forgotten about that? Sometimes the unforseen comes into our lives and we just have to make the best of it. I was bumped off a flight a couple of years ago and spent a night in Oklahoma City I wasn't planning on. I was put up at a nice hotel and they gave me food vouchers. I had a pretty nice night. It wasn't where I wanted to be, but the only time I was rude to the gate agent was when he got rude with me. I quickly asked to speak to a supervisor and he changed his demeanor and I changed mine to match his. Have we become so complacent about things working like we should that we can't allow for the unexpected? Airlines don't want planes late. It costs them money. Nobody wants people grumpy. They want to get you where you want to go, but airplanes are complex machines. Machines break. People break. Weather happens. Things happen. Mistakes get made because we're human. Please plan accordingly.
As I was just about finished with my business with the baggage agent, she told me something I really appreciated. She told me that I was very nice, and she really appreciated my attitude about the whole matter. She told me with a wistful voice that she wished everyone who came in had that same attitude and it would make her job a lot easier. She was really trying to help me and all I did was just show her the basics of human kindness: politeness, understanding, and appreciation for her efforts.
I wondered though, about the lack of caring by all these people for their fellow man last night and I was ashamed. Have we really become so self-important and so self-absorbed that we don't have any tolerance for mistakes? Things happen. Have we forgotten about that? Sometimes the unforseen comes into our lives and we just have to make the best of it. I was bumped off a flight a couple of years ago and spent a night in Oklahoma City I wasn't planning on. I was put up at a nice hotel and they gave me food vouchers. I had a pretty nice night. It wasn't where I wanted to be, but the only time I was rude to the gate agent was when he got rude with me. I quickly asked to speak to a supervisor and he changed his demeanor and I changed mine to match his. Have we become so complacent about things working like we should that we can't allow for the unexpected? Airlines don't want planes late. It costs them money. Nobody wants people grumpy. They want to get you where you want to go, but airplanes are complex machines. Machines break. People break. Weather happens. Things happen. Mistakes get made because we're human. Please plan accordingly.
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