http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1870578SoCalDemThu Aug-10-06 02:05 AM
Original message
No more easy flying.. Those days are gone forever.. Updated at 12:32 AM
I was lucky enough to have flown in the "glory days".. a REAL piano in the coach lounge of an inaugural 747 flight...I even sat in the co-pilot seat of a Pan Am 747 from JFK to San Juan (daunting)..
gone are the fashion shows on Air Jamaica...the fantastic T-Bone steak dinners on delta..
No more "stewardesses" in hotpants or sharp designer suits..
no more Calder planes (Braniff was the BEST)..
What we have now is a flying Greyhound Bus... or perhaps Continental Trailways (the Avis of bus lines..2nd best)
The whole flying thing MUST be re-evaluated and changed dramatically...and soon..
instead of billion dollar detection schemes, and acres of dazed would-be-passengers, airlines must start thinking out of the box..
Perhaps vacation travelers will just have to accept the fact that their luggage can no longer travel with them on the same plane.. Trains always had separate cars JUST for baggage..
Business travelers, may have to start tele-conferencing more and flying less..or perhaps sending their personal luggage ahead to the location they plan to visit.. Maybe deluxe hotels that cater to businesspeople could even offer that at a service, and have the luggage stored until the customer arrives, sans luggage..
Each airport could have a separate baggage warehouse (they could conference with Fed Ex)... Baggage-only flights for the whole day's schedule could be flown to airports twice a day.. Passengers would still get claim checks, but they would have to return to the airport to claim their bags....
It would be a hassle, but would it really be MORE of a hassle and expense than what we see in the future?
Terrorists would not get much glory for blowing up a planeload of suitcases..
The passenger planes could use a system similar to the way ole time swimming pools operated.. You arrived clothed, changed into your suit and stowed your clothing in a wire basket which locked.. You were issued a key which you pinned to your suit, and when you were ready to go home, you just claimed your clothes..
Airlines could have changing rooms where passengers would disrobe, and put on loose fitting jumpsuits and put their carry ons in a see thru baggie..
The clothing could easily be scanned for contraband without having to "probe" any people..
passenger planes would be lighter too without all that luggage too..
I even see job opportunities in this plan...
think outside the box;;;;