Reply #9: The smoking thing....you hit on the dealbreaker! [View All]

[pink-o]

Listen, I worked for the airlines starting in 1989, and it was still a glam biz (deregulation was still "trickling down" I guess) and no matter how crappy flying has gotten, I trade it all to NEVER sit in a toxic aerial wasteland ever again! Even in the "smoking/non smoking" restaurant sections you could always go outside to avoid it; obviously the same solution wasn't open to you 7 miles above ground!

My present airline used to serve the most amazing food; now Starbucks has better bistro boxes. We charge for checked luggage, we charge for alcohol and food onboard, and charge a fee if you buy your ticket at the airport. (God forbid, we do not charge for exit row seats: if that ever happens, I swear I will mount a Tall American protest over civil rights violations.) But we are smoke-free. Fair trade-off as far as I'm concerned.