Every time I see the scene with the zeppelin I'm struck by two things. One is the clientele on the zeppelin. The wealthy and well-heeled, and the staff. Traveling by air was a class act and people got dressed up for it. Cabin staff waited on people like they were in a nice bar or restaurant. People were polite. It had the appearance of civility.
The other thing I'm struck by is I always, always think of the Hindenburg. Maybe it's because of my love for history, or maybe it is the drama of the event. But it happens every time I see a zeppelin (even the Good Year blimp that I saw at Pompano Beach a while back).
They don't tend to call them zeppelins these days. They call them balloons (sometimes blimps), and in a sense they are a balloon. However, a zeppelin is quite different from a hot air balloon which is what I think of when I think of large balloons like the Hindenburg.
No one knows absolutely for sure what happened to the Hindenburg. Some have theorized it was an act of terrorism although it hasn't been proved. Most think it was a discharge of electricity which ignited the gasses within the behemoth.
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| The Hidenburg zeppelin compared to the Titanic |
It's practically standing still now they've dropped ropes out of the nose of the ship; and (uh) they've been taken a hold of down on the field by a number of men. It's starting to rain again; it's... the rain had (uh) slacked up a little bit. The back motors of the ship are just holding it (uh) just enough to keep it from...It's burst into flames! Get this, Charlie; get this, Charlie! It's fire... and it's crashing! It's crashing terrible! Oh, my! Get out of the way, please! It's burning and bursting into flames and the... and it's falling on the mooring mast. And all the folks agree that this is terrible; this is the worst of the worst catastrophes in the world. Oh it's... [unintelligible] its flames... Crashing, oh! Four- or five-hundred feet into the sky and it... it's a terrific crash, ladies and gentlemen. It's smoke, and it's in flames now; and the frame is crashing to the ground, not quite to the mooring mast. Oh, the humanity! And all the passengers screaming around here. I told you; it – I can't even talk to people, their friends are on there! Ah! It's... it... it's a... ah! I... I can't talk, ladies and gentlemen. Honest: it's just laying there, mass of smoking wreckage. Ah! And everybody can hardly breathe and talk and the screaming. I... I... I'm sorry. Honest: I... I can hardly breathe. I... I'm going to step inside, where I cannot see it. Charlie, that's terrible. Ah, ah... I can't. Listen, folks; I... I'm gonna have to stop for a minute because I've lost my voice. This is the worst thing I've ever witnessed.
— Herbert Morrison, Transcription of WLS radio broadcast describing the Hindenburg disaster.
Certainly since the time of Morrison's broadcast there have been a number of crashes. Thirty-six people died in the Hindenburg in front of their friends and relatives making it perhaps one of the more shocking events of the 20th century, surpassed probably by the explosion of the Challenger space shuttle which was aired live on television due to the unique makeup of the crew on board.
Unfortunately, flying is no longer the civilized event it once was. Cost of air travel has made it more affordable to the less wealthy and people dress down. Large groups of people travel by air like high school choirs and bands. Colleges routinely fly their sports teams to other cities. Flying is a common place experience these days.
Along with flying comes security. No other mode of transportation has its users go through the security one does when you fly. From taking off your shoes, to emptying your pockets, to undergoing pat-downs flying is flat out invasive. No water, no normal size deodorant, no liquids, pastes or gels. Everything questionable must fit into a one quart zip lock plastic bag. Nothing more than 3.4 ounces. Be sure to remove all electronics from their bags and put them in the bins to be checked.
Random folk will have their hands tested for anything that may resemble fertilizer. Sucks if you just did any yard work with pesticides or the like.
Of course, you can avoid a bunch of that if you pay for pre-screening. From TSA:
www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck
TSA Pre✓™ is designed to enhance and expedite security by placing more focus on pre-screening individuals who volunteer information about themselves prior to flying. Eligible participants include certain frequent flyers invited from participating airlines (Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest, United Airlines and US Airways) as well as members of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs (Global Entry, SENTRI and NEXUS) who are U.S. citizens and fly on a participating airline. Denver International Airport has designated TSA Pre✓™ screening lanes located at the North and South security check points.
Through the TSA Pre✓™ vetting process, information is embedded in a barcode on your boarding pass. This information alerts TSA agents that you are eligible for expedited screening. Benefits include no longer having to remove:
Your shoes
3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag from carry-on
Laptops from bag
Light outerwear/jackets
Belts
NOTE: The TSA will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport and no individual will be guaranteed expedited screening.
As of this indignity isn't enough, most airlines will charge you to even bring a carry-on bag onto your flight. This little gem that you pay for will cost anywhere from $35 and up. Checking your baggage? Expect $40 and higher. Most airlines also charge you for a seat. What are they going to do, make you stand up if you don't buy a seat?
Is it any wonder Southwest airlines has mainly full flights? One bag and carry-on are included in your airfare. At least for now. Who knows what the future holds.
All I know is I used to get excited about flying. About saving time, about being able to spend more time with loved ones or on vacation. The rules and regulations that we now have to follow (for a myriad of reasons) take the fun out of travel by air. The additional hidden and not so hidden costs make it less affordable.
Maybe the answer to the invasion of personal space, and costs is to raise the prices to match the real costs so that when you fly somewhere you know exactly what it will cost you (bags included and all). Maybe people will only fly when it is well planned out and not just frivolously on a want-to- get- away fare. Maybe a higher fare would reduce the number of people having to go through check-put, make airports smaller, encourage people to use the train (get that puppy off federal subsidization). Maybe more people will drive and stop in small communities and help their economies by buy fuel, dinner, maybe even do some site seeing.
All I know is that I don't enjoy flying anymore. I bought these tickets before I knew I was going to be laid off and believed I only had ten hours of PTO.
Next time, I'll take the train.
