Traveling equals vacation, adventure, relaxation, and good times right? I wish. Don't get me wrong, I love to visit other places and experience different cultures. I love trying new food, meeting new people, and seeing the wonders of somewhere that are completely different from home. It's the process of getting there that's become unbearable and it's not the transportation industry's fault, it's my fellow travelers. Post 9-11, air travel has become more regimented with security requirements firmly in place. There are acceptable forms of ID, body scanners, baggage limits, and long lines. There have always been boarding procedures. None of it is a surprise and detailed instructions can be found with a minimum amount of research. Yet, without fail, someone always shows up at the airport without ID, with a giant oversize bag that must be checked, or without enough time to get through security to make their flight. And without fail, they make a huge scene and hold up the process for everyone else. Trust me, no one else wants to listen to you rant about a situation that you've created yourself. Planes are tight spaces with people packed inside like sardines. Why do some women feel it necessary to bathe in perfume? What smells lovely to you smells old lady or cheap hooker to other people. Not the sexy impression you were trying to give I'll bet. Some people are extra sensitive to scent as well. Perfumes cause migraines for some people, nausea for others, and no one wants to be next to someone whose scent is so strong they can taste it. How about you just smell clean? There's also limited storage space on planes. I was recently on a flight where a couple had used the overhead bins for two tiny fanny packs that would have easily fit under the seat in front of them. They also didn't want to stack them so other people could use the overhead space. Really? How selfish and self centered are you that you can't share? If it's small enough to slide under the seat, put it there. This same flight had a woman who had a giant backpack, a purse, a tote bag, and two shopping bags that she tried carrying on. I guess she thought that the one carry on per person rule didn't apply to her. Getting her extras checked held the boarding process up and standing in a line pressed up against the people in front of me for 7 minutes was exactly what I wanted to do right then. Another thing I don't want to deal with (and neither does anyone else) is your kids fighting, shouting, crying, or kicking the back of my seat. Yes, I know they're just kids, I know they're bored, I know they're excited, I know they're tired. So is everyone else. You brought them on the plane, it's your job to handle them. Let them know ahead of time what kind of behavior is expected, bring stuff to keep them occupied, and pay attention to what they're doing. I realize that kids will be kids, I just want you, as the parent, to step in when they get out of hand. If they (or you) aren't mature enough to travel, maybe you should think twice about subjecting them to it. My favorite type of traveler is the Ugly American and I've seen plenty of them. They're the people who think everything should be just like it is at home. They complain, while visiting other countries, that the seats are too small at the airports, there aren't free refills on beverages, there aren't bacon and eggs for breakfast, the Holiday Inn at Disney had better accommodations because it had a pool, no one has Bud Light, cars are too small, and (gasp!) people in other countries don't speak English! You can almost always tell they're American because they're wearing tennis shoes and baseball caps, no matter where they are, and somehow believe that if they just speak louder, then the person they're talking to will miraculously understand English. I find myself wondering why in the world did they decide to visit? People behaving badly.
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