Can you imagine?  If you want t fly from Chicago to Miami you have to be rerouted through Phoenix!

https://viewfromthewing.com/you-cant-be-that-inept-passenger-hijacks-chicago-ohare-pa-forces-american-airlines-agents-to-finally-face-passengers/

Noel

 

 

Seb looked pretty proud when talking about the Customer Service Counter career mode adventure. You can play for the shifty Airline company or for the confused passengers. 

I love this comment on the article:

"People….if you are flying Domestic within the US, or International on a US carrier, forget about receiving anything more than simply arriving alive and maybe with your checked luggage. Anything else is a bonus."

I don't fly any more.  Stopped about 10 years ago.  The airlines are only concerned with raking in as much profit as they can milk from their hapless passengers while they treat them like garbage. Then there are the airports with their absurdly expensive junk food and drinks. 

The golden age of flying ended a long time ago, unless you're rich, of course.

Dave

3 hours ago, dave2013 said:

I don't fly any more.  Stopped about 10 years ago.

Years ago I began traveling by Amtrak.   Comfortable roomette and bed for the night.  Good meals in the dining car meeting new people.  And just watching America go by in the lounge car with a cold beer.  But patience is a requirement.  I just didn't care if the train ran late or if there were delays.

The last vacation Betty and I took was an Amtrak trip.  Albuquerque to Los Angeles.  Three days in Los Angeles with a side trip to San Diego.  Los Angeles to Seattle spending three days there.  Seattle to Chicago and another three days in that city.  Then Chicago back to Albuquerque.

Highlights of the trip were interesting people we met in the dining car where they have community seating.  Over  the days we spent on the train I met a deep sea diver who repaired undersea pipelines.  A couple from Sweden.  He was an engineer for Volvo.  An American lady who lived in England and wrote children's books.  Everyone we had meals with were quite friendly and interesting.  The menus and food were excellent.

In our sleeping car there were pastries, fresh fruit and hot coffee waiting at the attendant's station after you woke up.

I would not recommend Amtrak if you have a busy schedule to keep or if you're an impatient person.  But if you have the time it's the only way to travel.

On our long trip I just described I read The Hunger Games.  Lots of time to read if you're so inclined.  

Noel

Train travel is a wonderful way to get there and back.  Some 53 yrs ago when I was seventeen, I traveled to visit my oldest sister on CN  from Montreal to Edmonton and back in a roomette.   Thanks to my parents.  The time of my life at that age.  The food was good and it was pretty easy to get a beer if you could get up on the bar stool.  The Plains of Canada weren't all that exciting, but I found them beautiful, mile after mile.😉

Probably about 20 yrs ago, my wife and I took the AutoTrain back home from Florida to Virginia in a private room.  Not the greatest scenery, but still enjoyable.  Beats driving. 

Hint:  If you are going to travel by train for more than a day, get your own room with a bathroom!

Edited September 6, 2025Sep 6 by tdflightsim

36 minutes ago, tdflightsim said:

Hint:  If you are going to travel by train for more than a day, get your own room with a bathroom!

Agreed.  The hot showers are welcome after two days.

Noel

I love traveling on trains.  I took trains all over the UK and a good part of Europe when I was stationed over there.  Even took 1st class on a trip from Milano to Napoli one time, and it wasn't even that much more expensive than coach.

I've heard that long Amtrak routes like Noel mentioned are quite expensive.  Is this true?

Dave 

42 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

I love traveling on trains.  I took trains all over the UK and a good part of Europe when I was stationed over there.  Even took 1st class on a trip from Milano to Napoli one time, and it wasn't even that much more expensive than coach.

I've heard that long Amtrak routes like Noel mentioned are quite expensive.  Is this true?

Dave 

Hi Dave.  I've done a couple of searches in the past for Amtrak trips from Philadelphia to New Orleans and Philadelphia to Yellowstone.  Both with private cabins.  Very expensive with a few train changes along the way. 

IMHO, the best trip across North America for your money is Toronto to Vancouver.  Still not cheap, but less expensive and better bang for the buck.

BTW, I believe you've said you live in Eastern Tennessee.  Beautiful part of the country and beautiful people.  I've done a few motorcycle trips through there.  I could easily live there. 

Edited September 7, 2025Sep 7 by tdflightsim

I didn't find it very expensive Dave.  If you get first class accommodations meals are included with your fare.  I think the roomette my wife and I had was about 1200 dollars from Chicago to San Francisco.  You spend two nights on the California Zephyr.  You leave Chicago about 3:00 PM on Monday and arrive in San Francisco about 4:00 PM Wednesday.  I have no idea what the cost is today.

Noel