Dauber's World Report From The Front Lines

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year to travel. Dauber's World has avoided flying home for years on this day to avoid all the headaches associated with traveling today.

2007 is different, however and Dauber's World (despite his typical better judgment) is blogging from the front lines: SFO Airport in the morning. What possessed Dauber's World to take a flight out on the Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving isn't important. What is important is that he's here to report to you, the loyal Dauber's World reader, what is going on.

And just what is going on at 7am on this, the busiest of travel days? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Dauber's World drove the official Dauber's World car (an Acura MDX for those of you who are curious) up to SFO early this morning only to learn that Long Term parking lot was full. However SFO parking officials had already remedied the situation before Dauber's World could even utter the words "let me speak to your manager". They gave Dauber's World a voucher to park in Short Term parking at the Long Term rates! Why can't that happen all the time? Finding parking then became a trivial task at that point and Dauber's World geared up for what was certain to be a gigantic security line. Much to Dauber's World surprise, however, there wasn't one. The entire line consisted of three people. THREE PEOPLE in a security line the morning before Thanksgiving! Dauber's World has never seen a line this short at SFO. Not even on a Sunday evening for a redeye. Good thing Dauber's World got here an extra half an hour early just to be on the safe side.

Now of course everything couldn't go off without a hitch on Thanksgiving Wednesday. Dauber's World's plane is delayed due to "mechanical issues". Everyone knows the really means "indefinite delay" (especially on a day like today). But as far as the airport conditions are concerned Dauber's World is still stunned at how empty the airport is.

Dauber's World wants to take this time to wish you and your friends and family a healthy and happy Thanksgiving. And remember, always have your pets spayed or neutered.

Big Difference Between United and American

I'll say upfront that I'm a 1K on United which means I fly 100,000 miles every year (well, at least the past three years). Today, however I'm stuck on an American flight to Chicago (it was MUCH cheaper, so I guess I can't complain too much. Wait a minute. Yes I can). Here are some observations as to why I don't like American:

-Their web site/online check in stinks. I entered my name and record locater and that didn't work. Then I logged on and went to "my itineraries" and that didn't work. Finally I went and found the email telling me to check in online. That led me to a link that did work.

-MD80s are really crappy airplanes. No wonder MD got bought out by Boeing. An MD80 is significantly worse than a 737. The 2-3 configuration means that there is a lot less overhead bin space especially if people carry on their roll-aboards (which everyone does of course).

-American has no leg room. Coach on United isn't that bad if you can get in Economy plus. 4 inches never mattered so much. I'm 6'4". I need all the space I can get. Sitting in American my knees hit the top of the seat in front of me.

-No pillows and very few blankets on American. Even Northwest, the worst airline in the modern world has the option of purchasing a pillow. And the head rests in American are too low. On United you can adjust the head rest. The seat back only goes up to my shoulders here.

-No movies on American. Not that I care about this a ton, but I'm sure if I traveled with kids I would care.

-No free snacks on American. On a 4 hour flight to Chicago they only give you drinks for free. You can buy a cookie, chips OR a 3 musketeers bar for $3 EACH. That's right, one 3 musketeers bar for $3! When I made a comment to the flight attendant asking about any free snacks (pretzels maybe?) she gave me some lecture about how airlines don't give meals anymore. I explained that I fly about 100K miles/year on United and am well aware of the meals situation, but I didn't know American's policies. She then asked me if United was making a profit. I bit my tongue at that point. The amazing thing is that she said American DOES give snacks -- only on short flights. So they'll give you a bag of peanuts flying to LA, but not to Chicago? I need a snack less on a shorter flight. Unless that's just to encourage me to pay them $3 for their 3 musketeers bar. Seems like extortion to me.

The only thing I like about American is that they have power outlets in Coach. Last week I flew a 757 to Chicago on United in First and they didn't have power outlets (even in First class, that's absurd). That's pretty annoying. Still, the balance is strongly in United's favor. Especially from a seat comfort standpoint.