Why Can’t Traveling Be Fun? It Can! Read On…
This past year I celebrated traveling my 1,000,000th mile on American Airlines. I have always traveled a great deal and probably have flown over 2,000,000 miles in the past 25 years. I used to love to travel and can still remember my first big business trip I went on way back in the 80’s when Marianne Schafer and Field Facts sent me to the AMA conference which happened to be in Palm Springs, CA. What a GREAT spot!
Speed up to 2008. Travel isn’t as much fun as it used to be. In fact it really isn’t that much fun at all. The airports these days are filled with long delays and unhappy people…not to mention increasing fees every day.
Why can’t airlines make travel fun? I say they can and should and if they don’t, they will have a bigger problem on their hands.
What can the airlines do?
- How about playing bingo in flight? Think about it for a minute…the flight attendants don’t serve a ton of food these days and seem to have some extra time on their hands. They could pass out bingo cards and announce the numbers on the intercom system and the winner gets a free drink, free meal, deck of cards and maybe a grand prize of a free flight to anywhere in the United States. This won’t cost the airlines a ton of money and it would show the passengers that the airline is very creative and cares about them.
- What about making some announcements about the city you are going to? I realize that some people are taking another flight, but on flights that 75% of the passengers are staying in that city, talk a little bit about the restaurants, museums and things to do. I think people might enjoy it and again start to have fun again on flights.
At the end of the flight, let any kids who want to, take a picture with the captain in the cockpit. I think my kids would like to do this. It would be easy to do. When you land, make a quick announcement and ask those interested to stay seated until everyone is off the plane. Then they can come up and meet the captain and take a picture. I don’t think it would take a long time, and it would probably give the kids a memory forever.
Those are just a few ideas that I thought of that perhaps might make a difference to some people.
- What do you think of my crazy ideas?
- Are any of them fun?
- What ideas do you have?
- Are you enjoying traveling these days?
I look forward to hearing from you.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:01 am
on one delayed flight i was on. the flight attendant had everyone get out a dollar bill. he called out numbers and if the serial number on your dollar bill had the matching numbers in order, you received a prize. They gave out a couple of bottles of wine and maybe an upgrade? I can’t remember the exact gifts, but it kept us entertained for the 45 minutes we were waiting on the plane!
August 27th, 2008 at 10:14 am
I still enjoy traveling and don’t mind the chaos at the airport. There are some trips that are harder than others, but for the most part I really enjoy flying. The bingo game is a fun idea, but it should be something that is non-invasive to other passengers. If you could use your headphones if you want to play, that would be a really fun idea. I’d personally rather see them install personal video screens in each seat (like they have on a lot of international flights). On there they have games, TV shows or movies. It really makes the time go by. My wife and I just returned from Eastern Europe and 2.5 hour flight from Prague to London and then 10 hours home to Dallas. The videos were a real plus and kept us entertained on the long journey back to Dallas. I’d like to see more of that domestically, even though most American flights don’t even have video monitors domestically.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I love to travel, but haven’t had a position that enabled me to travel as much as I would like. However, I am still looking and with a little prayer and luck I may find that position.
I like humor, so what I thought about was (it may sound gross but..) name that spot. We all know the airlines are probably filled with “mystery” spots and it could be fun and humorous. What about the best impersonation of a famous celebrity.
It is a great idea Merrill, and it’s a wonder airlines are not a little more creative.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:10 am
You should fly Delta Song…they have interactive games. You compete with other passengers.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:15 am
Connie,
Thanks for the information. I am sure lots of people including myself didn’t realize that.
Merrill
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 am
I find myself less irritated by the flight itself and more irritated by the time wasted in the airport waiting. The seats are horrible, there aren’t enough televisions or power outlets, and I was spending a lot of time eating candy and feeling sorry for myself. So, I started walking — fast. I wear my running shoes, check my bag, stuff my ear buds in, and walk, trolling my small computer wheelie behind me. Airports are HUGE, especially DFW and ORD. Last month I clocked a total of 16 hours power walking in airports. It was actually fun dodging crazy people with ice cream cones, dogs on leashes and those darn carts going 20 mph — which is also a little trippy when you’re blasting the Ramones in your ears. I just looked like some nutty person late for a flight. I was a little sweaty on boarding, but hey, I didn’t smell any worse than those McDonald’s meals people bring on board. I’ve lost a little weight and even slept soundly on an evening flight after a 2 hr walk, which I never do. Look for me in the airport — I’ll be the crazy lady walking really fast from one terminal to another and back again!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Be careful what you suggest that is intrusive. Many people want to work or sleep. Stuck on the runway–OK to do anything. Everyone is awake and bitching.
A couple of years ago I took a number of AA flights in a row, including overseas. The movie selection was abominable. George of the Jungle three times. I wrote to the head of marketing suggesting that they run Oscar winners. I’d rather see Casablanca again, again, than most of the junk. My point, however, is that I never got a reply–of any sort.
So, the hell with them!
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Love the bingo idea! I think that anything interactive and competitive would help to pass the time quickly. There used to be interactive games at the Jordan’s Furniture in Framingham, MA that was a blast to compete with the other shoppers.
I like seeing where you are during your flight, having an interactive screent hat you could find attractions for your destination city such as restaraunts and entertainment would be great.
A screen that has connecting flights would be helpful, many times there is no agent at the gate to help and finding the information is not as easy as it should be.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Laurie,
Good idea about the connecting flights. that would be very helpful to most passengers.
Thanks for your comments.
Merrill