Ticked Off Traveler

I’m barely back from vacation and while you’d probably rather see my pictures of the Grand Canyon (stay tuned!) I couldn’t resist the opportunity to get some things off my chest with the That Time of the Month link up sponsored by Wendy and Holly.

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Not surprisingly, the things that have me ticked today off are travel-related. 

1. Driving in the rain. As it turns out, August is monsoon season at the Grand Canyon. (Who knew?) As we drove in from Phoeinix, we encountered a huge storm with heavy rain that made it difficult to see the cars in front of us. What made it even more difficult and ticked me off? People driving in torrential rain without their headlights on. Since it’s the law in Virginia, I thought it was a basic safety rule that everyone was aware of, but apparently it’s not the law in Arizona. But guess what? If I can’t see you, it’s harder for me not to run in to you. So, please, make driving in the rain safer for everyone and turn your @#($% lights on.

2. Sitting in the aisle seat.  When I fly, I try to get an aisle seat so I can get up and walk around more easily, which is extremely important with my DVT history. But sitting in an aisle seat has it’s own dangers. I know to keep me feet in when the flight crew is coming through with the beverage cart, but what really ticks me off is when other passengers use the aisle seats as their own personal handrails, pulling on each seat as they walk up and down the aisle. Not only are they invading what little personal space I have left, but with each grab my seat gets jolted back a few inches. I get it if there’s turbulence, but otherwise keep your hands to yourself! 

3. Airline cost-cutting.  I don’t mind paying for a checked bag, or having to bring my own snacks or pay $4 for a small can of Pringles, but I think Fronteir took it too far when it skimped on tray table size. 

On the left, is a normal-sized tray table. On the right, what I call The Ledge.  It’s barely big enough to hold a can of soda, but since even that will cost you $2 on Frontier maybe it doesn’t need to. I had been flying Frontier from DCA to DEN to visit my daughter, but it really ticks me off that I can’t even count on a full-sized tray table to support my laptop during that cross-country flight. I’ll pay to use the overhead storage bin, but if I can’t even pay for a seat with a full-sized tray table, I’ll be going back to United.

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What makes you a ticked off traveler? 

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15 Responses to Ticked Off Traveler

  1. ha I can just picture you sitting there in the seat! all of those things annoy me too! I also hate when they delay your flight and don’t tell you in advance or don’t tell you how long it is delayed. Hope the rest of your trip was fun!

    • Coco says:

      I’ve found that the airline apps can do better at keeping you up to date than the crew, but they still don’t promise when you will take off.

  2. Hmmm. I do like the aisle seat. So many prefer the window, and I guess I get that, but I usually need to use the bathroom.

    Never flown Frontier. Good thing I don’t have a laptop, just a tablet.

    There’s always the kids kicking your seat to tick you off!

    • Coco says:

      I don’t even think a tablet would fit on that ledge! I’ve been pretty lucky at avoiding seat-kickers but that would be annoying!

  3. Oh no that ledge doesn’t look big at all! I don’t travel on a plane very much, only once in my lifetime but just being considerate is my biggest thing. Be considerate on the road when we’re in a 32′ motorhome and you see us in the turning lane don’t inch up 2′ over the line. It makes it difficult for us to go around you and still stay in our lane. At gas pumps if you’re in a small car and there are 2 other lines of pumps don’t get on the end where that is our only option for gas….I think I could write a whole blog post on this..Humm maybe next TTOFM!

    • Coco says:

      Yes! And when you’ve left a safe braking distance in front of you, don’t think that’s the perfect spot to squeeze in in heavy traffic. Argh!

  4. OMG, the ledge! How about the seats that don’t recline? My sister and I flew on Spirit to Las Vegas a few years ago, and there was no leg room. We aren’t big people, but my knees were hitting the back of the seat in front of me! There was a big guy a few rows ahead who stood up for the entire flight. Ridiculous.

    Thanks for linking up!!!

  5. HoHo Runs says:

    The ledge is irritating. I usually try to put a book on the tray table and the ledge doesn’t work for that. Seat kickers are irritating on a plane or in a movie. But, I think it’s the parent’s fault for not stopping the child. I hope you had a wonderful trip to the Grand Canyon. I would love to go one day. Thanks for linking with us too!

  6. Marcia says:

    Maybe I’m weird but I never recline in airline seats because I hate it when the person in front of me does it. Do unto others, right? On our 8 hr overseas flight, the lady in front of me reclined the entire time. It was brutal. I too prefer the aisle seat because I like to get up whenever I want but yes the bumping and pulling is so annoying.

    • Coco says:

      I don’t usually recline my seat either – I am so short I don’t need to for leg room – but if the person in front of me puts theirs back, it is harder!

  7. We are on our way back now from a beach weekend. Here in Florida if you no where you are going you drive in the left lane, out site seeing & looking for the Cracker Barrel- right lane. Not happening today !

  8. Yikes, I heard Frontier really nickles and dimes you. We don’t have them near here.

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