I am specifically not getting into politics, but there is something more mundane about air travel that chaps my hide.
I travel for work a good bit.
I spend a good bit of time in lines at airports.
When I check in at the airport, I show my passport, check my bag, and head for the gate. I always take about 3 minutes of the check-in person's time.
There always seems to be one person, one problem traveller, that delays everyone because of their problem. ("I have to have a vegan meal!" or "I want to pay in cash, in shekels." or I want a left-handed ticket" "I do not want to pay extra for my overweight bag."). Everyone behind them gets slowed down because airlines always have a first come, first served" approach. If the problem passenger is there before you, you just have to wait until thei fix the problem passenger's issue, even if your time at the counter will be perfect.
The same goes for people at passport control.
I have arrived at Brussels airport four hours prior to departure and barely made my plane.
When I was in the military, I did a lot of airplane load planning. Aircraft 5 had one HMMWV, a Jeep, and four pallets. The Army and Air Force conduct a "Joint Inspection" (JI) to make sure the cargo is safe to fly. If something has a deficiency meaning it cannot fly, the Army moves it to the "Frustrated Cargo" area, where the deficiency is corrected. If it is going to take some time to fix, then we move the next like item into the slot on aircraft 5. (If all the vehicles and pallets are going to the same place what difference does it make if HMMWV 23 (which has a deficiency) goes to a later flight and we move a HMMWV that had been scheduled for Aircraft 6 forward to Aircraft 5? That is better then flying the aircraft with an empty slot.
I wish airlines and passport control would have a "frustrated passenger" area so that especially skilled airline personnel and deal with problem passengers. "Your bag is overweight? Go over there and deal with that person."
You do not have a visa to come into the country? Go over there and talk to agent Smith about getting your visa.
I am a bit surprised that someone from the Wharton School has not come up with this idea. Everyone could move through the airport and, more important from my perspective, "non-problem" passengers could move quickly through the system.[/complaint/]
I travel for work a good bit.
I spend a good bit of time in lines at airports.
When I check in at the airport, I show my passport, check my bag, and head for the gate. I always take about 3 minutes of the check-in person's time.
There always seems to be one person, one problem traveller, that delays everyone because of their problem. ("I have to have a vegan meal!" or "I want to pay in cash, in shekels." or I want a left-handed ticket" "I do not want to pay extra for my overweight bag."). Everyone behind them gets slowed down because airlines always have a first come, first served" approach. If the problem passenger is there before you, you just have to wait until thei fix the problem passenger's issue, even if your time at the counter will be perfect.
The same goes for people at passport control.
I have arrived at Brussels airport four hours prior to departure and barely made my plane.
When I was in the military, I did a lot of airplane load planning. Aircraft 5 had one HMMWV, a Jeep, and four pallets. The Army and Air Force conduct a "Joint Inspection" (JI) to make sure the cargo is safe to fly. If something has a deficiency meaning it cannot fly, the Army moves it to the "Frustrated Cargo" area, where the deficiency is corrected. If it is going to take some time to fix, then we move the next like item into the slot on aircraft 5. (If all the vehicles and pallets are going to the same place what difference does it make if HMMWV 23 (which has a deficiency) goes to a later flight and we move a HMMWV that had been scheduled for Aircraft 6 forward to Aircraft 5? That is better then flying the aircraft with an empty slot.
I wish airlines and passport control would have a "frustrated passenger" area so that especially skilled airline personnel and deal with problem passengers. "Your bag is overweight? Go over there and deal with that person."
You do not have a visa to come into the country? Go over there and talk to agent Smith about getting your visa.
I am a bit surprised that someone from the Wharton School has not come up with this idea. Everyone could move through the airport and, more important from my perspective, "non-problem" passengers could move quickly through the system.[/complaint/]
