Mundane travel thread

I have a rule, no matter how much cheaper it is, I refuse to fly Ryan Air, mostly because I don't want to give my money to the cunt who runs it. (see also Spoons)

Flew Ryan Air fairly recently and Mrs Charlie had a blazing row with their ground crew at Birmingham, who were unbelievably rude to passengers in the queue to board.

Only flown business class a couple of times and only when someone else is paying. We did once book something called premium plus on Virgin, a sort of halfway house between business and cattle class, but it was a waste of money. Whatever class you're in, you can't escape the fact that it's never going to be as comfortable or quiet as even the most basic cheap B&B.

I have the same view on flying Business. I'm only doing it on someone else's coin because I'm not wealthy enough to justify spending that kind of coin on a few hours of extra comfort when I don't have any real problem with flying cattle.

Premium Economy for transatlantic, 9 hours flight from Italy to Boston is as an example where it makes a significant difference.

Happy with coach/cattle/standard for domestic flights.

Cattle's fine until you get stuck next to some degenerate fuck with a personal hygiene issue. Then not so much.

United's first class looked nothing special as we walked through last week, but I did like the look of the booth-type arrangement with plush seats, lots of legroom and isolated from those around you. No way I'd pay that dollar though even if I could afford it.

On the flip side of that, there was a Cockney gobshite in the departure lounge at Newark whose Heathrow flight had been delayed by 12 hours (9am to 9pm), which is a fucker in anyone's book. Unfortunately, it appeared he'd passed the time mostly at the bar. By 7.30pm when we arrived for our, mercifully, on-time 9.45pm flight he'd just been refused another drink and was majorly kicking off. First he got in the face of the fella behind the bar, then turned his attention to the female airline staff - effing and blinding and clearly scaring quite a few young kids in the process.

In a country where cops carry guns and often ask questions afterwards, we thought he was majorly pushing his luck. They did show after about 10 minutes and calmed him down quite quickly without the need to bounce his front teeth off the tiled floor.

Anyone done the new EU entry fingerprint thing and how was it?

Flying to Vienna tomorrow en route to Graz and not sure what train we will make if it takes ages to get through passport control.

We did it on the way into the States last week at Newark. It was OK but did lead to some sizable queues - moved reasonably quickly. They scanned faces, then fingers and thumbs of both hands so not a quick process.

I flew in today from Heathrow and we didn't have to do it.

@BrettWilliamst I have Global Entrt for the US so can use the machines, don't even need to get passport out it just recognises your face. There was a period last year when my passport wouldn't work in the UK readers and I had to queue, meaning it was easier and quicker for me to enter the US than it was the UK. Passport seems to now work in machines again thankfully.

@Andy The perfect answer thanks!

I had a Belgian girlfriend 25 years ago and it wasn't a problem then...

Post Brexit though it's much harder to slip in.

Because we do everything onn points on our cards we have been using that benefit to fly first class/business class abroad for 6 plus years. It is a game changer really. We flew domestic to Vegas and did cattle class. Call me posh if you will but it was definitely way more uncomfortable and crowded. Also the people are weird and i don't like sitting next to them.

Apart from that...Ace.

Chicago: Prince of the Points card.

That's entirely the point, it isn't. If it was I'd consider it, but it actually makes little appreciable difference. For me, at least. And it's not like you're 6'6" either.

If you are on a very long flight on a domestic airline like American or United going abroad, the cattle class is very crowded. Also the business class can stretch you out and you can sleep with ease. We love it.

And yes even at 5ft 8" (ish) I feel cramped in the back of the plane. Long flights , the posh areas are a must really. Domestic we can take the slight inconvenience of cramp for 3 ish hours.

Chicago: First class passenger.