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dustinprewittMy first experience on the airlines.
Of course with america being the way it is, Mid Continent was looking very empty. I remember when I was young, the airport was so large, and so alive. Of course, there was still the dark and empty corners, but it was much more comfortable back then. Nowadays, no one is allowed past the lobby unless they are boarding passengers, which means that there is now less emotion involved in the boarding of the flights, in that there are no teary eyed goodbyes, etc. And of course, there are the security checkpoints. Appearantly, I got stopped because they thought that there was something of suspision in my carryon. It turned out to be a *very* small novelty pocketknife given to me by the Hutchinson school district during my community college days there. Imagine my surprise, shock, and panic when they pulled that out. "Oh no! Im an unamerican terrorist sympathizer! Looks like its federal prision for me!" But fortunatly the security guards were very friendly and understanding and let me through, even though they did stop me again during pre-boarding and gave me another run over with the metal detector. Needless to say, I let them keep the pocketknife.
My expected image of coach seating was that of a 3 row, moderatly sized area with enough room inside to manuever comfortablly without bumping into anyone, or the ceiling. Sadly, this was not the case. It was more like a crawl-space than an airplace, more cramped than an mexican flop-house. Window seat next to a sleeping old lady, and behind a spastic mentally handicapped person. and VERY low ceiling, and minimal means of seat adjustment. Uncomfortable, yes, but ultimatly I think that I had gotten my money's worth... despite being something of an acro-agoro-claustophobe. I must admit though, the plan did look fairly old, worm, cheap, rickity, etc.
Taking off was a very pleasant experience. I felt the plane speed up, then slowly, suddenly, we began to rise. Upon being in the air, it was so calming and peacefull. I was able to see the whole city of Wichita. The river, the roads, the little people, it was very beautiful to be able to see everything in perspective, so igsignificant, yet at the same time so in its right place. It was almost like watching a movie (or the opening sequence of Triumph of the Will...) looking out that window, like I wasnt even that high up from the earth. But afterwards, it did get boring so I did nod off for a bit, despite not really having enough room to do so. Lol... I even got the boarding lecture on how to use safty belts and I got my single-serving peanuts... too bad they didnt have those little novelty 1st flight wing pins... sigh...
Upon arriving in Chicago, my ears hurt... BAD... everyone sounded as if they were either very far away, or that their voice was being played by a bad speaker. Fortunatly, a fellow passenger was kind enough to offer me a piece of gum for the landing. I recall looking down on the Mississippi river during the flight. Even from up above, I was ASTONISHED at its size. And Chicago... at first I cannot say that I was that terribly impressed with the view, but then again, my stop WAS at the O'Hare airport, presumably towards the outskirts of town... But those outskirts, they looked to be the size of Wichita ALONE... I did manage to catch a glimpse of the windy city, the real chicago. I was far off into the distance, the sky scrapers, or the sillouette thereof, rising on the horizon, hazy with clouds or smog... It was like looking at some magical kingdom, like the emerald city, as if in a dream...
Upon landing, I had a few good minutes to browse, etc. The boarding area was as busy as Mid Continent's best lobby day... I felt somewhat paranoid being there all by myself... not so much as out of fear of being victimized by a criminal, more so out of being over-interrogated by the security forces, what with me travelling alone with a duffel bag, taking a lot of pictures, wearing all black, etc.... No stops though...
To be continued....
Of course with america being the way it is, Mid Continent was looking very empty. I remember when I was young, the airport was so large, and so alive. Of course, there was still the dark and empty corners, but it was much more comfortable back then. Nowadays, no one is allowed past the lobby unless they are boarding passengers, which means that there is now less emotion involved in the boarding of the flights, in that there are no teary eyed goodbyes, etc. And of course, there are the security checkpoints. Appearantly, I got stopped because they thought that there was something of suspision in my carryon. It turned out to be a *very* small novelty pocketknife given to me by the Hutchinson school district during my community college days there. Imagine my surprise, shock, and panic when they pulled that out. "Oh no! Im an unamerican terrorist sympathizer! Looks like its federal prision for me!" But fortunatly the security guards were very friendly and understanding and let me through, even though they did stop me again during pre-boarding and gave me another run over with the metal detector. Needless to say, I let them keep the pocketknife.
My expected image of coach seating was that of a 3 row, moderatly sized area with enough room inside to manuever comfortablly without bumping into anyone, or the ceiling. Sadly, this was not the case. It was more like a crawl-space than an airplace, more cramped than an mexican flop-house. Window seat next to a sleeping old lady, and behind a spastic mentally handicapped person. and VERY low ceiling, and minimal means of seat adjustment. Uncomfortable, yes, but ultimatly I think that I had gotten my money's worth... despite being something of an acro-agoro-claustophobe. I must admit though, the plan did look fairly old, worm, cheap, rickity, etc.
Taking off was a very pleasant experience. I felt the plane speed up, then slowly, suddenly, we began to rise. Upon being in the air, it was so calming and peacefull. I was able to see the whole city of Wichita. The river, the roads, the little people, it was very beautiful to be able to see everything in perspective, so igsignificant, yet at the same time so in its right place. It was almost like watching a movie (or the opening sequence of Triumph of the Will...) looking out that window, like I wasnt even that high up from the earth. But afterwards, it did get boring so I did nod off for a bit, despite not really having enough room to do so. Lol... I even got the boarding lecture on how to use safty belts and I got my single-serving peanuts... too bad they didnt have those little novelty 1st flight wing pins... sigh...
Upon arriving in Chicago, my ears hurt... BAD... everyone sounded as if they were either very far away, or that their voice was being played by a bad speaker. Fortunatly, a fellow passenger was kind enough to offer me a piece of gum for the landing. I recall looking down on the Mississippi river during the flight. Even from up above, I was ASTONISHED at its size. And Chicago... at first I cannot say that I was that terribly impressed with the view, but then again, my stop WAS at the O'Hare airport, presumably towards the outskirts of town... But those outskirts, they looked to be the size of Wichita ALONE... I did manage to catch a glimpse of the windy city, the real chicago. I was far off into the distance, the sky scrapers, or the sillouette thereof, rising on the horizon, hazy with clouds or smog... It was like looking at some magical kingdom, like the emerald city, as if in a dream...
Upon landing, I had a few good minutes to browse, etc. The boarding area was as busy as Mid Continent's best lobby day... I felt somewhat paranoid being there all by myself... not so much as out of fear of being victimized by a criminal, more so out of being over-interrogated by the security forces, what with me travelling alone with a duffel bag, taking a lot of pictures, wearing all black, etc.... No stops though...
To be continued....
no subject
How to...
Have fun and make lots of updates!
no subject
no subject
Next time, when your ears are filled with pressure, hold your nostrils shut and close your eyes, then blow out your ears. It should pop and you'll feel better instantly. ;)
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*Falls over self.*
You'll post pictures, right?!
=D
.Cass.
You Terrorist!
XOXO
Valorie Squirrel AKA Dominique Fontaine AKA Domino-angel