Have You Ever Traveled By Plane?

[Nameless14]

How were your experiences like? Are you afraid of flying or do you enjoy it?

[chrissa1]

My late husband and I flew Concorde down to Tenerife. I’m not a great fan of flying , but I absolutely adored the flight.

Saw the curvature of the earth and felt the kick in the small of your back when it accelerated up to Mach2.

Fabulous plane and, experience.

[-Talbot-]

I always thought Concorde was overrated...the mushy peas were too dry and the spotted dick was stodgy.

[Ken4155]

Never flew before 7 Apr '73 when i flew out from Luton airport to RAF Gutersloh to join the skeleton crew of my regiment in Hohne. I remember it as a brilliant experience. 4 days later i flew from Guttersloh to Aldergrove, to join my main body of the regiment who were in Belfast. In June, i flew to and from Manchester for my 4 days R&R, in August back to Germany. Then from Hannover to Luton for 3 weeks leave before flying back to Hannover. By which time, flying had become as boring as being on a train :-/

[KARL]

I really dislike what, having checked in, getting onto an aircraft now entails: hideous "security" pantomime, excruciating plodding through shops (no short cuts allowed), tedious waiting, etc. Once on board I see the experience rather as if it simply is an airborne bus, mostly I neither like or dislike it. Arrival is the best part, especially when/where there is no passport control or at least smoother/better/quicker than in places like the USA, UK, some other parts of the world.

[Meg]

A fortune teller told me I'd die in a plane crash when I was 35, yes I know they talk a load of crap and I'm 65 now but it scared me to death at the time. Imagined planes missing the runway at Manchester and crashing into my house. You can be killed in an airline accident without actually being a passenger. In the last few years I have started flying again but I need to have a few drinks before I get on that hunk of metal.

[Flonska]

Love it.

My best experiences were pre Sep 11 2001 when I would go up on flight deck for take off and/or landing.

[Meg]

Chrissa1 my parents usually flew Concorde to New York and sailed Cunard back. They loved it. I've still got some of the "proper" knives and forks they gave you in those days.

[EDDIE51]

New Judge, your answer reminds me of my experience. I bought a balsa wood ,rubber band powered airplane in a kit form. Took me weeks of careful cutting out the correct shapes in the balsa wood & glueing them together.Then tissue papering the body and wings, followed by 'doping' and painting. I went outside with the completed plane, wound up the rubber band and carefully released my 'pride & joy'. Only to see it crash straight into a wall and smash itself to pieces.

[-SharonA-]

Best flight was one where we were upgraded to first class. Mind you this was years ago and nothing like first class of today, but it was luxurious!!

[tonyav]

Have You Ever Traveled By Plane?

Yep, apart from the take off and landing it's the same as being on a coach imo.

[IJKLM]

I travel a lot. Air travel is safer than cars or train or cycle.

It becomes so routine that I have my favourite seat in each type of aircraft.

I've piloted small prop- driven planes; sat as a passenger in everything from 4-seaters to A380s.

Sitting in a scheduled passenger flight, one goes into a kind of dead zone. Listen to music; watch the progress; eat; drink; sleep; fill in the landing card...

One gets to the point that the most important thing is getting on board early to be sure you can get your carry-on bags into the overhead lockers (I never check baggage in to the hold) and disembarking as quickly as possible, to get out of the airport in the shortest possible time.

Flying is great. The cabin staff bring food and drinks.

I regret that on almost every flight they insist that the window blinds are closed. On the 787s, they fade the windows automatically.

Means everyone has darkness to watch their screens, but you cannot look out of the window at the changing scenery.

[Old_Geezer]

It's fine.

[chrissa1]

Meg.

We flew down to Tenerife and then got on Oriana and sailed to Lisbon. It was a treat for us and I think was done when BA was trying to make money out of Concorde.

Nevertheless, it was such a great experience. I’ll never forget it.