Starling Travel

I was enjoying the prosh sounds of Mod Scene. I imagined that at any moment Michael Caine could walk up to me and ask for a shag. Then this song came on: Air Travel by Chris Farlowe.

It was a song extolling the convenience and joys of air travel. As far as I could tell, it wasn’t being ironic.

Here are the lyrics:

(Chorus)
Air travel (air travel) it’s the thing of the day
Air travel (air travel) it’s doin’ fine
So come on everybody now let’s get on board
We`re gonna take a trip around the world

(Chorus)

Can you imagine it? A time when people ENJOYED flying in an airplane? No strip searches at security. No elbows and shoulders crowding you for hours. I imagine it to look a lot like this:

Ad via: vintage_ads: United Airlines

This advertisement for Delta Royal Service Flights seems surreal to me.

It reads:

Extra hands assure extra luxuries on Delta Royal Service Flights.

Not two, but three alert stewardesses assure you of every attention in the brief span of a Delta Royal Service Flight. So linger over your luncheon or dinner with its complimentary champagne and choice of entree (tenderloin steak to order, Rock Cornish hen or seafood on appropriate days). There’s also music by Muzak, fast baggage handling, and beverage service for the discerning passengers who specify these luxurious flights.

I have to admit that every flight I’ve been on has had at least two and usually three flight attendants, but the idea of tenderloin steak served with champagne on an airplane is completely foreign to me. I’ve heard that air travel used to be something one dressed up for, but I’m not old enough to have ever seen it.

Personally, I like my flight the way it is. I don’t want to be fed on an airplane unless they hold me hostage for eight hours on the tarmac. I don’t even want an in-flight movie. What I’d really like is free Internet connectivity and three more inches of personal space. If I have to wear a pink Jackie O suit and pearls to get it, I’d be willing to do it.

Advert via: vintage_ads: Оригинал   (733×1024)

I love these comparisons of travel posters.

• Flavorwire » Vintage Travel Posters vs. Today’s Versions

It’s interesting to see what the old posters looked like compared to how they are advertising travel today.

Via: Vintage travel posters – Found in Mom’s Basement

I love this story from Kitykity about her flight:

• Susan’s Journal » Blog Archive » Interesting travel.

Normally while on a flight, about ten minutes or so before it lands, they go through that whole put-your-tray-tables-up thing. Well, this time, they started talking to us about forty five minutes out. The pilot came on, and he said, “There are thunderstorms in our destination city. We are not going to divert the plane, but we are going to experience some violent turbulence. You have about ten minutes to use the bathroom, then we are going to lock it and start cabin preparations.” I could tell the hunk next to me was nervous. The poor guy. What a flight to be on. So I strapped in, turned off my electronic device, checked my seat and tray table, then held on tight.

She obviously lived to tell the tale, but it’s just great to hear about scary plane flights.

This old advertisement for Greyhound Bus Lines made me smile.

It reads:

For fun-filled trips to Winter Playgrounds…

This year, take all or part of your vacation in Winter – when you need it most!

We know a man who can show you how to relax in Southern sun at scarcely more cost than staying home! He’s the Greyhound agent in your town – and he’ll arrange your trip in easy-riding, well-warmed coaches, select optional scenic routes and stopovers… he can even make hotel reservations and plan special sightseeing. All this at rates so far elow those of conventional travel that you can spend extra days in the sun.

Your Greyhound agent (man or woman) will explain the advantages of Limited schedules with extra luxury – or Express service, which will take you straight through at no extra fare, often without change of bus or baggage.

Start planning now – and see your Greyhound agent soon – he’ll make your plans come true!

I have always felt like traveling by bus was far too expensive compared to the convenience of flight or driving myself. I checked fares for a Greyhound bus to Las Vegas from Salt Lake City and the prices ranged from $91 to $121. When I checked Expedia for airfare, the prices ranged from $285 to $457. So riding in a bus is FAR cheaper than flying.

But how does it compare to driving?

I can drive to Vegas on two tanks of gas, which is about $80 round trip. So riding with Greyhound is only slightly more expensive than driving myself. When I drive myself, however, I don’t need to rent a car in the town I’m visiting, which saves me a bundle as well.

Maybe when this advertisement was made, traveling with Greyhound was an inexpensive way to go, but now, it just doesn’t compare to driving myself.

Ad via: vintage_ads: Greyhound Bus

As if we didn’t already know that airlines are ruthless with baggage, Dave Carroll lost his $3500 Taylor guitar to rough handling on a United Airlines flight. After a year of trying to work with the airlines for compensation, they denied his claim. Instead of crying, The Sons of Maxwell wrote a song about it. Here is the video:

You can read the whole story here:

• United Breaks Guitars | Dave Carroll Music.com

In the spring of 2008, Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and my Taylor guitar was witnessed being thrown by United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago. I discovered later that the $3500 guitar was severely damaged.

They didn’t deny the experience occurred but for nine months the various people I communicated with put the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate me for my loss.

So I promised the last person to finally say “no” to compensation (Ms. Irlweg) that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world.

After they released this video, United Airlines called him to try to make it right. Honestly, it really shouldn’t take one million views on YouTube to get the service we deserve. Why can’t they realize the power their customers have when we live in the age of online reviews and YouTube videos.

When I was a teenager, my family flew on a trip and one of our suitcases were lost. The airline was just as unhelpful as poor Dave Carroll experienced. Whenever I get my luggage after a flight, I feel like a miracle has happened. The idea of checking a $3500 guitar makes me break out in a sweat for fear of it being lost completely, much less for rough handling.

That’s why Mike and I choose to “go by car” more often than not. Thanks for reminding all of us why, Dave Carroll!

The Library of Congress posted these imaginings of what the future would look like. Here is what they called a shipwreck of the future.

It reads:

A shipwreck of the future, when passengers are carried between Europe and America in the air.

Liner Icarus, in mid-ocean, December 26, 1919, 3:10 pm. By wireless to The Tribune: A disastrous explosion (cause yet unascertained) in our motor room at 5:12 this morning made it necessary to descend. Unfortunately, the waves were running high and our rudder was broken. Wind increased rapidly and our stern was battered till we threatened to sink. Our airships have come to our rescue, as have some submarines and freight steamer Lusitania, formerly used for passengers. All hands will be saved beyond a doubt, except those in the motor room, which is now submerged.

This was published in 1909, so they have set this future in 1919, almost twenty years before the tragic Hindenberg disaster. Unfortunately, the Lusitania didn’t last until 1919 because it sank in 1915. The first solo transatlantic flight didn’t even happen until 1923, thanks to Charles Lindbergh.

I find it fascinating to see how the past viewed the future. Now that we can fly across the ocean whenever we want, it’s hard for me to remember that it used to take MONTHS on the Lusitania.

Kevin has had a frustrating experience with the Virgin America website. He was trying to book a flight, ended up getting charge for TWO flights and they still want to charge him for the extra seat.

• kev/null – Virgin America: How a Bad Website Can Kill Good Will

The most frustrating part of this entire episode is how it feels like we’ve been blamed and then penalized for an error on their part. All the good will garnered through their savvy multi-million dollar marketing, fancy mood lighting and in-air WiFi was washed away because of one website error they wouldn’t take responsibility for.

Virgin is supposed to be the coolest and hippest way to fly with their electrical ports and Internet access, but one bad experience with their buggy reservation website killed all of it.

Bad form, Virgin America, bad form.

I love this photo from 1937 of two men walking on a road.

The bill board reads:

Next time try the train

Relax

Southern Pacific

It’s such a strange dichotomy to see the walkers with their suitcases in contrast to the cartoon man reclining on the billboard. I wonder if those two men would have taken the train if they had a choice…

I LOVED this rap that was done by Dave, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant!

Don’t you wish you had been on that flight?!!