NEWS: Holiday Travel: The FAA Tries Desperately Not To Fuck You

An estimated 38.7 million Americans are expected to travel this Thanksgiving period, with 4.7 million of them traveling by air, according to the American Automobile Association.

The airline industry's on-time performance this year has been its worst since 1995, when the Bureau of Transportation Statistics began keeping track. During the first nine months of the year, 24.3 percent of all domestic flights arrived late and 21.3 percent departed behind schedule, the bureau found.

Flight cancellations reached 2.2 percent, the worst since 2001.

Issuing a statement at the White House, Bush said it is time "to bring order to America's skies."

The penalty now is $200 or $400, depending on long the passenger has been inconvenienced. The proposed increase would make the fee $400 to $800.

[White House Press Secretary Dana] Perino said that rule, if it becomes final, wouldn't be in place until next summer's travel season.

… and White House press secretary Dana Perino said the Federal Aviation Administration was imposing a holiday moratorium on nonessential maintenance projects, allowing all FAA personnel and equipment to be focused on keeping flights on time.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Government investigators smuggled liquid explosives and detonators past airport security, exposing a dangerous hole in the nation's ability to keep these forbidden items off of airplanes, according to a report made public Wednesday.

farva said:
Really, does no one check these "articles" for grammar?

"At least he didn't promise to be democracy to the skies."

Do you mean "bring democracy"?

"I can fill the spirit of the holidays filling us all with joy."

Perhaps "feel the spirit..."?

"My heart is starting to de-ice and I even have faith that even though Bush has..."

Kill one "even" and it still makes sense, in fact, more sense.

Oddly, you used the correct spelling of "throes."

The quotes also had mistakes, but I figured those were either editing mistakes by the source, or due to the fact that quotes by Bush and other government officials tend not to make sense.

swingkungfu said:

LOOK AT YOU! BIG MAN, WITH YOUR EDUCATION!

lesbodojo said:
How long have we been at an level "Orange" terror alert? Seems like forever.

bardsatyr said:
Am I the only one wondering if some dork is going to accidentally shoot down a "hostile" airliner over military airspace?
Oh wait, we don't have enough military personnel left on American soil to worry about such things.
Disregard.

SleepyLady said:
Dear reader,
I proofread and re-write my work constantly. I apologize that those errors appeared. I went in and edited them.

I thank you for your help in pointing out what was wrong. I am not going to play games and respond to hostile tones. I can't imagine getting upset about this. I'm not getting rich off this nor is it my full-time job and also I'm not hurting anyone.

I am not here to argue that it is right or wrong to have errors. I'm here to say that there are ways to talk to people, even people who are killing you with their unedited errors, that is cordial. I'm always deeply saddened by the nasty tones people take on message boards. There are a lot of cool people on this site, hot girls and fun things to read on here. I just wish people were not so angry.

CULTURE: Holiday Travel: The FAA Tries Desperately Not To Fuck You





Americans sure love to visit their families on Thanksgiving! I don't understand it. I'm trying not to judge it. I suppose everyone has a right to subject themselves to their relatives in the privacy of their own homes, just don't do it in front of me. But if you are planning on flying across the country to eat mashed potatoes with grandma next week you're not alone.



An estimated 38.7 million Americans are expected to travel this Thanksgiving period, with 4.7 million of them traveling by air, according to the American Automobile Association.




You better call grandma and tell her you might be late.



The airline industry's on-time performance this year has been its worst since 1995, when the Bureau of Transportation Statistics began keeping track. During the first nine months of the year, 24.3 percent of all domestic flights arrived late and 21.3 percent departed behind schedule, the bureau found.



Flight cancellations reached 2.2 percent, the worst since 2001.




But wait? What's that up above flying in restricted military air space? It's President Bush! He's going to save Thanksgiving!



Issuing a statement at the White House, Bush said it is time "to bring order to America's skies."




Our track record for bringing order isn't great but maybe this time he'll get it right. Right? At least he didn't promise to bring democracy to the skies. So, what's the plan Captain America?



Bush proposed increasing the bump fee for passengers who buy tickets but end up getting bumped from their flight.



The penalty now is $200 or $400, depending on long the passenger has been inconvenienced. The proposed increase would make the fee $400 to $800.




Awesome! I could use that money. Maybe I'll pray to be bumped this Christmas!

SleepyLady said:
Dear reader,
I proofread and re-write my work constantly. I apologize that those errors appeared. I went in and edited them.

I thank you for your help in pointing out what was wrong. I am not going to play games and respond to hostile tones. I can't imagine getting upset about this. I'm not getting rich off this nor is it my full-time job and also I'm not hurting anyone.

I am not here to argue that it is right or wrong to have errors. I'm here to say that there are ways to talk to people, even people who are killing you with their unedited errors, that is cordial. I'm always deeply saddened by the nasty tones people take on message boards. There are a lot of cool people on this site, hot girls and fun things to read on here. I just wish people were not so angry.

farva said:

What is worse is when people assume someone is being nasty when they are commenting or communicating in a very straightforward manner. People who write for a living, or even simply as a hobby, and put their writing in the public domain for many to read, should do the reader the favor of making their writing readable.

Alyk said:

It's distracting, unprofessional, and makes the newswire look shabby.

Anyone with a fifth grade education could tell at first glance she didn't bother to proofread her own shit, so chill out with your obnoxious caplocks. The op is trying to help homegirl out by proofreading pieces for her.

MarcMerm said:
I like how airlines have started pushing away from the gate on time because that counts as an on time departure even though you're sitting in a traffic jam for three hours. I'm glad I scheduled that connecting flight a week from when I'm due to arrive at the connecting city (*sarc*). How about staying at the gates until it's time to go. Give every aircraft a number and when it's their turn to take off they can push away. At least passengers can freely move about the cabin and don't get tazered for daring to get up to get another book from their bag after reading War and Peace for the third time while waiting.

flyboy757 said:

Well since I have to live this experience several times a day, four days a week let me help you out. Yes, pushing back counts as on time departure but you have to push back to start the process, ground control will not activate your flight plan until you check in with them and get your taxi instructions. When you check in with ground control you get your "sequence", "spot", "slot" what ever you want to call it in the departure line. From here, things change, and can change quickly, if you are not out there ready to go, you can/will be bypassed.
We can't stay at the gate because there are inbound flights that need the gates for their arrival, real estate at airports is very limited and expensive, worse case think LaGuardia (LGA) if you didn't push, they would have to close the airport to arrivals, nowhere to park the planes.
As for being stuck in your seat, yes, if we are on a taxiway and the line is inching ahead, you have to stay seated. If we are parked off to the side or have an indefinate delay I know that I will let the folks up and let you use your cell phones and computers with the understanding that when I make the PA to put the stuff away, we need it put away quickly. Same with a long slow line up where we are inching ahead, I will let you use you phones and anything else you have in your pockets or under your seat, just don't get up to get anything out of the overheads. If you need to go to the bathroom, just let a flight attnd. know and they will call up front and if I think we will be still for several minutes, sure go to the bathroom.
Not all crews/airlines do this so your experience will vary, but think of it like this, yes, you are stuck on this plane today for this flight, your crew has been doing this all day for several days. Some days are better/worse than others.