Travel Transportation Airs, Trains, Buses, and Boats, what should I do ? What´s a Eurail Pass? How to rent a car abroad ? Is it safe to take the bus? |
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08-23-2006, 12:59 PM
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#1
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celebrating jacks b-day!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Belfast
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Theres a bit of discussion going on about ryan air and if those 19p flight are still priced too high ( ). I was wondering what airlines has everyone flown with? It'd be handy if anyone ever has any questions about an airline?
Mine are:
BA (good for the price)
EasyJet (ok)
Monarch (crap)
Thomas cook (major league crap!)
Ryan air (4 week old dog turd)
Virgin Atlantic (good)
flybe (good)
When I come back from oz:
Virgin Blue
Pacific Blue
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08-23-2006, 01:05 PM
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#2
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TPunk Recognized
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Colorado :D
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Zoom airlines (cheap flight to the uk )
Ryanair (the worst landing)
easyjet (ok)
aer lingus (the best of the budget airlines by far)
olympic (ok but I've heard other people have had problems)
BA (awesome but maybe thats b/c we got an upgrade)
Air Canada (good)
Thats alll i can think of~!
__________________
We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. ~ T. S. Eliot
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08-23-2006, 02:07 PM
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#3
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TPunk Emeritus
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Here is my list of every airline I have flown that I can recall off the top of my head by region:
UNITED STATES/EUROPE:
USAir - avg
United - avg
American - avg
Continental - avg
Virgin Atlantic - Great
BA - Good
Air France - avg
Alitalia - avg
Lufthansa - Good
ASIA:
Thai Airways - Good
Singapore Air - Good
Cathay Pacific - Good
Emirates - Good
Dragon Air - ok
EVA Air - avg
China Air - ok
Air Asia - good for price (delays are not uncommon but its cheap as hell)
Nok Air - good for price
AUSTRALIA:
Qantas - Good
Virgin Blue - ok
__________________
\\Jamie\\
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
"The plural of anecdote is not data"
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08-23-2006, 02:26 PM
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#4
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Tpunk Senior Moderators
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Birmingham, England
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I can't really remember who I've flown with. I'll try:
Ryanair (not great, but not as bad as a lot of people make out)
Easyjet (good enough for the price you pay)
Virgin (years and years ago, I loved it, and thought the stewardesses were so pretty!)
Thomas Cook (the worst, leg room = zero)
Monarch (the best out of the cheapies, IMO)
First Choice (reasonable, not the best)
Iberia (years ago, so can't remember much)
In about 3 months, I'll be able to add British Airways, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Jetstar, United, and possibly Virgin Blue to that list.
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08-23-2006, 02:31 PM
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#5
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TPunk Emeritus
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Geesh I'll try to remember!
Continental - Great!
Air Canada - So-So man the company is getting ghetto
West Jet - Really nice service and more leg room
Easy jet -Friendly, Casual service
GermanWings - Good
Air Pacific - Really Really Good, Enjoyed my flight
Air Fiji -Just a short flight, however the plane was kind of old and had lots of screw ups with my flight
Quantas - Free Booze! I love it.
Air New Zealand - Free Booze! part deux I love it more.
Virgin Blue - Friendly service.
SAS Good
Alaska Good, no complaints
I'm sure there may be more but I can't think any more. I've already used up my Wednesday brain power.
__________________
I have been to: Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, New Zealand , Australia, Fiji, Costa Rica, United States, England, Ireland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland , France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Vatican, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, India, Nepal.
Where to Next? Iceland!
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08-23-2006, 02:42 PM
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#6
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TPunk Emeritus
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Icelandair - all good
American - fine
United - okay, though I had a major issue flying them when I was on crutches, but they sent me a voucher
Aer Lingus - I loooooooooove Aer Lingus. I want to marry them.
Ryanair - had no problems. No frills but uber cheap.
(either) America West or Sun Jet - fine
I need to stop using the same airlines. My list is so small.
__________________
~~ Jamie ~~
You give me the most gorgeous sleep That I've ever had And when it's really bad I guess it's not that bad
Have some general questions such as whether or not to get a rail pass or how much money you'll need? Visit here!
First time travelers/travelers with a lot of questions - this forum is for you![b]
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08-23-2006, 02:53 PM
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#7
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Minister of Offense
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Air Canada - *yawn* Can't complain, but nothing great to say, either
Air New Zealand - Fan-frikkin'-tastic. Their new planes are comfy and gorgeous, entertainment on demand for longhaul flights, and a surprisingly great selection of NZ wines on board.
American Airlines - have vowed 3 times never to fly with them again, finally sticking to it.
America West - were in the shitter a number of years ago, massively improved in the last few years, pretty solid service, no more air rage.
Basiq Air (now Transavia) - awesome little no-frills Dutch airline, serves peanut butter sandwiches and gives out cool toys with some of their menu items.
BMI (British Midlands) - overall excellent for a low-fare airlines, though service has been, uhh, middling lately.
British Airways - Excellent on longhaul flights with great service, surprisingly good food and nice amenities kit, and the most polite staff around. Disappointingly average for short hops.
Continental - Once the bottom of the barrel, became good again, and starting to slide now. Decent, but not worth flying unless it's a good deal or if you get airmiles.
Czech Airlines - Fairly average, friendly staff, crap food.
Delta - If you've flown Delta, you probably don't need to wonder why they're teetering on bankruptcy. Besides the old hag flight attendants.
EasyJet - Surprisingly nice for a no-frills airline, really truly EASY. They let me buy a ticket with a photocopy of my credit card when I got my wallet jacked in Prague. Bless 'em.
Japan Airlines - Top notch service, excellent food, good fares when you can get 'em.
Northwest - Northworst. KLM should dump their relationship with them. I'm scared to fly KLM because I'm afraid I'll get on a Northworst codeshare.
Southwest - I used to love 'em and fly 'em just about everywhere in the US, but after taking the low-cost airlines in Europe, I'm not so impressed anymore. It's become the air equivalent of Greyhound lately.
United - No way I'd ever fly longhaul with them again, but their little puddlejumpers are actually pretty nice, with very friendly Utah-based staff.
Virgin Atlantic - I love these guys. Love 'em love 'em love 'em. Entertainment on Demand. Hot-ass flight attendants. Good food. Excellent amenities kit.
Virgin Blue - All the hotties and hipness of Virgin Atlantic, none of the price. AU$5 gets you into their lounge for internet access, better airport food, and MASSAGE!
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08-23-2006, 03:48 PM
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#8
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Sex and the City Guru
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Canadian (when they were still kickin) - Really liked them, decent food, good service
Air Transat- Good as well though i still have nightmares about the food to this day
WestJet- I LOVE LOVE LOVE WESTJET soooo much Mwah
After the 5th Ill have flown Air Canada, SAS, and Easyjet/Aer Lingus so we'll see!!
__________________
"Well, I had one that I was playing Quidditch the other night," said Ron, screwing up his face in an effort to remember. "What do you think that means?"
"Probably that you're going to be eaten by a giant marshmallow or something," said Harry, turning the pages of The Dream Oracle without interest. - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
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08-23-2006, 04:42 PM
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#9
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TPunk Emeritus
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British Air - Best airline Ive ever flown. Top notch entertainment the whole flight, unlimited drinks (alcohol included) and snacks, comfortable seats (even for someone tall like me), and decent leg room. Plus this last trip I was given the option to sit in the emergnecy exit row, which made an already comfortable flight all the more enjoyable.
United/Continental/Delta/AA, etc - Im sure Ive flown these at some point, nothing sticks out in memory though.
Jetblue - Cheap flights with great entertainment. Thay have TV screens in the back of thier seats even for reletively short flights. Flys all over the country as opposed to SOuthwest.
Southwest - Cheapest flights between Southern CA and Sacramento, and for an hour and a half its a pleasnat flight. They give soft drinks and pretzles.
Ryanair - Cheapest flgihts around Europe bar none, so you cant really complain. The seats do not recline, which is hell for someone like me. Thier pricing is weird though - one day a flight will be 15 Euro and the next day it will be 150. They also make you pay for water, which is borderline criminal in my opinion.
Easy Jet - More comfortable than Ryan Air, but much more expensive. They have different destinations than Ryan AIr so sometimes its necessary to fly with them.
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08-23-2006, 06:01 PM
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#10
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New York, NY & The Road
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Southwest - The airline I've definitely flown the most. Still good for when you can catch a fare deal, or on certain routes for frequency of flights, etc - but not always the lowest cost carrier anymore. I still recommend them if you're an easygoing traveler.
Northwest Airlines / Mesaba - The airline I fly to visit my parents in Canada (since there are only two choices - NW and Air Canada, and NW is usually cheaper)...when it comes to service compared with other domestic carriers, definitely the lower end, but sometimes you can't beat the price.
American Airlines / Eagle - I've never thought it more ridiculous than when I asked for a full can of soda on a TRANS-ATLANTIC flight and was told "no." The only thing that kept me going completely off (besides the idea of arrest) was that my flight cost me less than $200.
Delta - Nothing special
USAir - Nothing special either, though trans-cons had a movie...if you wanted to pay $5 for headphones.
United - I haven't flown them since the days when there were still hot meals in coach, but they were fine.
Virgin Atlantic - I found the service lacking, but there was free booze (when I could finally get a flight attendant to bring me something!)
SAS - Wow! I got a hot meal on short flight (LHR to Oslo I think), with complimentary booze. They don't make domestic airlines like this any more!
Air France - Great service from what I remember - even had individual In-Flight Entertainment in 1999 when I flew them.
easyJet - They allowed me to change my flight to the next day for a meager 12 euro, but beyond that, this was a step below Southwest for me.
Flybe - Nothing special about them, just a short hop on a low-cost carrier.
Iberia - Can't remember much as it was one flight 7 years ago
Sabena - Well, they don't exist anymore, but it was a relatively good flight. The flight attendants were very attentative to a friend who was sick.
That's it for now though it looks like I may be adding JetBlue and Continental to the list soon, and possibly some others.
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Regards,
Matthew
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08-23-2006, 10:41 PM
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#11
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TPunk Recognized
Join Date: Oct 2005
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El Al -
EgyptAir -
Continental -
America West -
Air Canada -
Southwest -
Delta -
Alaska Airlines -
Horizon -
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08-23-2006, 10:49 PM
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#12
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lover of Germany
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario,Canada
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lesse...
Canada 3000 though no longer in busness was totally the best
Air Canada not my favourite but not the worst either
American Airlines don't really remember
United Airlines OK but they tend to loose luggage
Ryanair meh, you get what you pay for but yeah those landings are bumpy!
Easyet ditto
Lufthansa awesome I was worried as it is a Star Alliance company but its comfy and nice
Caledonian sucks
British Airways are expensive but also very good
Air China not as bad as you might think
Iceland Air like Ryanair but more expensive-you do not get what you pay for.
__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.
Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.
[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"
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08-24-2006, 12:13 AM
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#13
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TPunk Emeritus
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That's a toughie, here's what I can remember:
All service was adequate to good unless otherwise noted.
Canada
Air Canada
Canadian Airlines
some small airlines for local travel - BC Air? Is that what it is/was called?
US/Transatlantic
American
US Air
Delta
Continental
Northwest (I had a bad experience, will never use them again on my dime)
Martinair (charter Seattle to Amsterdam, don't know if they're still around)
Southwest
United
Mesa (regional carrier based in New Mexico. Bit scary, terrible schedule, but takes you to out of the way bits of NM, if you should ever need to go. Better still, takes you OUT of out-of-the-way bits of NM should you ever need to escape.)
Alaska - pretty good, if I recall
Horizon
lots of those little regional connectors for bigger airlines
Asia/Pacific
Asiana - cheapest to Korea, and comfy. Good food if you like Korean.
Thai - excellent. When faced with a trip from Vancouver to Toronto, I discovered that the (then) cheapest way was Thai from Seattle to TO. Go figure.
JAL - mostly we flew domestically, those pilots could land in the WORST weather. Amazing.
Europe
SAS - best to date.
Lithuanian (LAL) - good enough, and cheap
Air Baltic - ditto
LOT - bad schedule, good prices
Czech Air - Ahoj! They were so nice to us. Great kids' toys and a special reward programme just for them.
Aeroflot - back in the USSR. Scariest ever. Stood watching the refuellers pumping gas, cigarettes hanging out of their mouths. As we walked across the tarmac to the plane, the open door revealed what appeared to be massive patches of rust on the interior. Turned out to be the remaining pattern on the faded wallpaper, but sheesh! Trepidation did not dissipate when we literally squeezed in to the seats (I'm 5'4" and my legs were crushed against the seat in front. To get to the emergency exits, you had to push down the back of the seat in front, hoping that the person occupying the seat had already vacated it! Converts were made on that flight. We instituted a Frequent Survivor's Programme for them, and considered ourselves honourary members for life on landing.
KLM
Luftansa - scary flight attendants.
Ryanair - well, you get what you pay for.
That's all I can think of.
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08-24-2006, 01:14 AM
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#14
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Don't cut the red wire...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Washington
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Hmm...
Southwest - great price, good people, but show up early for a decent seat.
America West - not bad, price was competitive
TWA - not memorable
PSA - only mentioned cause it was the first airplane trip I ever took
American Airlines - great if you can avoid changing planes in Dallas/Fort Worth
Horizon - miserable commuter planes, good people
Alaska - Good people, serves microbrews
Northwest - forgettable flight, good food
Kuwait Airlines - Seats too effing small for americans, service was ok (better if you're Arab, worse if you're Asian)
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) - Seats even effing smaller. Had a headrest poking between my shoulders, I think my 11 year old wouldn't fit, even!
USAF - Nothing like racking out in the middle of the aisles! Landings were the best ever (didn't know we were on the ground till they started to brake!)
ATA - complete and utter crap (was a charter, however)
Mexicana - not too bad, competent service
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"A bad carpenter always blames his tools!" - Grandpa Boris
Make war, not love! It's safer!
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08-24-2006, 01:25 AM
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#15
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celebrating jacks b-day!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Belfast
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wow some of you guys have done a LOT of travelling!
Forgot to add BMI to my list. they are quite good but as they are the only company that will fly from belfast to heathrow I've no choice either way!
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08-24-2006, 03:46 AM
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#16
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TPunk Recognized
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Ryanair - does exsactlty what it says on the tin.
Aer Arann - Years ago, their all mad cunie men!
Aer Lingus - 1st perference airline, big comfy leather seats and most importantly Irish tea, esential after a long trip away from home.
BMI baby - They fly into and out of the west of Ireland (uk company) are very cheep but if you think ryanair have dodgey landings these guys will really scare the piss out of ya.
I think I flew continental when we went to vegas I found their seats very close together especial for a long hual flyer.
Espania not sure of the name. Really tight seating was in pain the whole flight.
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08-24-2006, 05:23 AM
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#17
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TPunk Emeritus
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Aerolíneas Argentinas Not the best airlane in the world, but it's pretty good for Argentine standard, besides they fly anywhere in Argentina, and quite a few flights to the US.
Austral their flot isn't very new (or at least it wasnt when i flew with them... I preffer Aerolíneas Argentinas better-
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(omisan @ Aug 23 2006, 06:53 PM) [snapback]136492[/snapback]</div>
Quote:
British Airways - Excellent on longhaul flights with great service, surprisingly good food and nice amenities kit, and the most polite staff around. Disappointingly average for short hops.
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I agree 100%
Egypt Air I totally agree with Goy... I remember people spitting in the isle (sp?)
Turkish Airways: *slightly* better than Egipty Air... but I remember flight attendants had a hard time asking some Arab men to put out their ciggarettes
VASP It's a Brazilian airline... deffinitely not the best I've flown with. We used them to go Buenos Aires - Miami, and that was their last international flight.... i remember the whole crew taking pictures on the wing... needless to say it took off like 45 minutes late. The setrvice wasn't outstanding...
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Been to: Argentina, Chile, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt. Greece, Turkey, England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, USA, Mexico, Spain, Monaco, Czech Republic, Ireland and Uruguay.
Next trip: Still pondering the possibilities for January 2009... * OH THE MYSTERY!! *
The travel bug is insatiable
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08-24-2006, 05:58 AM
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#18
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TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Quote:
Luftansa - scary flight attendants.[/b]
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I would NOT classify Lufthansa flight attendants as scary. At least not the ones I have had on my flights. Quite fetching, actually. Something about blue eyes, blond hair and domineering personality.......
__________________
\\Jamie\\
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
"The plural of anecdote is not data"
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08-24-2006, 12:33 PM
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#19
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TPunk Emeritus
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Yeah, well, the domineering personalities just scared me. When they made an announcement, "You vill have ein cigarette NOW!" even us non-smokers started looking around for a light. *shivers at the memory*
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08-24-2006, 01:19 PM
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#20
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TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2004
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^but can't you just picture them in black leather, knee high boots and a riding crop??
__________________
\\Jamie\\
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
"The plural of anecdote is not data"
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