5 ms·

This seems like a distinctly American problem - admittedly, it's been a very long time since I've been in the US to see it for myself. Here in Australia, I che

This seems like a distinctly American problem - admittedly, it's been a very long time since I've been in the US to see it for myself. Here in Australia, I check in on the mobile app, arrive at the airport around 40 minutes before my domestic flight, take 1 minute to walk straight to the automated Qantas Bag Drop point (and there's almost never a queue of more than 1 or 2 other travellers), take around 30 seconds to scan my boarding pass or frequent flyer card, put my (complimentary) checked bag with its RFID baggage tag straight on the machine, 30 seconds later I have my baggage receipt. 1 minute later, I'm on my way through security - I have to take my laptop out of my bag and empty metal from my pockets, but I'm not usually taking off my shoes and there's no LAG restrictions on domestic services. No ID checks either (admittedly a possibility of being stopped for 30 seconds for an "explosives residue" test, though). A minute later, I'm on the other side, and I'm already lining up to buy an only slightly overpriced drink from the cafe. The whole process is quick enough that when you don't have checked luggage, it's absolutely possible to walk in the front of the terminal and see FINAL CALL on the departures screen, and still make it to the gate in time. The seat dimensions on domestic aircraft aren't great (and I'm 6'4", so believe me, I know) but it's not really that much more uncomfortable than a car, and it's definitely better than being on a bus for 8 hours. The overhead bin space is way less of a problem when you're on a traditional carrier that unlike the American ones still gives you a complimentary checked bag. And for anyone who suffers from mild motion sickness (like myself), it's way nicer to be in an aircraft and still be able to read a book than to be on the road. I can definitely live with this.

inopinatus 10y ago
Seconded. Terrible airlines aren't a problem unique to the US, but my experience of travel with major Australian and Asian airlines is consistently good, whilst with US carriers almost universally dismal as given in the GP.
- geff82 10y ago
  When I hear American and European airline bosses whining about the harsh competition from the "Gulf" airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways or Etihad, a voice in my head always yells "why don't you just try to give their level of customer experience in the first place before begging your government to help you provide abysmal service".
  - AlphaSite 10y ago
    Because they don't get special deals on the fuel and huge government loans to get started off (and good locations for hubs).
    - snrplfth 10y ago
      And because foreign airlines are generally prohibited from providing domestic service inside the US, which is the substantial majority of the overall market.
ldp01 10y ago
I have to agree. And it's a similar experience in Europe and South East Asia. Maybe this is a generational thing? I've only been traveling for the past 3 years and to me everything seems normal. Edit: There is one thing that really bugs me: The insecticide spray they release into the cabin on some routes. What's next? Barnaby Joyce personally raiding the cabin looking for traces of Pistol and Boo?
- ajdlinux 10y ago
  There are very few things I agree with ol' Barnaby about, but the need for strong enforcement of our biosecurity laws is one of them ;)
  - ldp01 10y ago
    That's fair enough, biosecurity is indeed important. But the cabin spraying specifically has always struck me as a bit cavalier... It's not hard to imagine a scenario where 10 years later whatever chemical they use is linked to some form of cancer and then a class action lawsuit follows.
- hkmurakami 10y ago
  Generational and regional for sure. I've been flying US and Japanese carriers since the late 80's, and (a) Japanese Carriers were always higher quality, but (b) US carriers are much much more crammed than they used to be.
tallanvor 10y ago
It's because most airport security in the US is theater - they're trying to reduce the perception of risk. I'm an American and I travel back to the US as seldom as possible, in large part due to the bullshit you have to go through to travel there. Every time I go back I feel like I'm treated like a criminal, with my only crime being that I need to get on a plane. And as bad as the normal procedure is, it's much worse if you have to book a flight on short notice - two of the last three trips I've taken to the US were because either a family member had died or was dying. Honestly, when you're just off a 10 hour flight and you don't know whether or not your mother died while you were on the way, the last thing you have patience for is yet another asshole border control guy asking you question after question. Yeah, I'm a bit bitter about airport security in the US.
- KKKKkkkk1 10y ago
  I flew in yesterday and there was some kind of a "nation-wide computer-system outage", so there was a 1.5 hour line at border control. Apparently the CBP officers were getting a bit frustrated with all the travelers. My officer made a couple of offhand jokes about the idea of sending me back where I came from. Apparently he didn't like that my visa type was too fancy for my job title. If the airport did not have American flags all over, I would have thought that I'm in a third-world country.
- hueving 10y ago
  If you're American, you dont really have to tell anything to the US border control.
  - Taek 10y ago
    Meh. I'm sure it's worse for non-Americans, but US border control is more of a hassle for me than any of Europe or China. Africa was pretty bad (they confiscated my passport...?) but otherwise the US is generally the worst.
    - ajdlinux 10y ago
      The US charges $100 to sign up for Global Entry, while Australia is trying to force as many people as possible to use SmartGate with no fee and no registration required...
rconti 10y ago
It's actually pretty quick in the US, too, despite the bad rap it gets. I have perhaps twice hit 30min security queues at SFO and almost missed my flight, because I like to cut it close and live dangerously. Typically I arrive about 30-45min before boarding begins and it's no problem whatsoever. I agree most countries I've travelled to have the security lines figured out a lot better in the US, and I just recently got TSA PreCheck so I don't have to take off my shoes and take out my laptop, but it's more about the convenience than the speed.

inopinatus 10y ago

Seconded. Terrible airlines aren't a problem unique to the US, but my experience of travel with major Australian and Asian airlines is consistently good, whilst with US carriers almost universally dismal as given in the GP.

geff82 10y ago
When I hear American and European airline bosses whining about the harsh competition from the "Gulf" airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways or Etihad, a voice in my head always yells "why don't you just try to give their level of customer experience in the first place before begging your government to help you provide abysmal service".
- AlphaSite 10y ago
  Because they don't get special deals on the fuel and huge government loans to get started off (and good locations for hubs).
  - snrplfth 10y ago
    And because foreign airlines are generally prohibited from providing domestic service inside the US, which is the substantial majority of the overall market.

ldp01 10y ago

I have to agree. And it's a similar experience in Europe and South East Asia. Maybe this is a generational thing? I've only been traveling for the past 3 years and to me everything seems normal. Edit: There is one thing that really bugs me: The insecticide spray they release into the cabin on some routes. What's next? Barnaby Joyce personally raiding the cabin looking for traces of Pistol and Boo?

ajdlinux 10y ago
There are very few things I agree with ol' Barnaby about, but the need for strong enforcement of our biosecurity laws is one of them ;)
- ldp01 10y ago
  That's fair enough, biosecurity is indeed important. But the cabin spraying specifically has always struck me as a bit cavalier... It's not hard to imagine a scenario where 10 years later whatever chemical they use is linked to some form of cancer and then a class action lawsuit follows.
hkmurakami 10y ago
Generational and regional for sure. I've been flying US and Japanese carriers since the late 80's, and (a) Japanese Carriers were always higher quality, but (b) US carriers are much much more crammed than they used to be.

tallanvor 10y ago

It's because most airport security in the US is theater - they're trying to reduce the perception of risk. I'm an American and I travel back to the US as seldom as possible, in large part due to the bullshit you have to go through to travel there. Every time I go back I feel like I'm treated like a criminal, with my only crime being that I need to get on a plane. And as bad as the normal procedure is, it's much worse if you have to book a flight on short notice - two of the last three trips I've taken to the US were because either a family member had died or was dying. Honestly, when you're just off a 10 hour flight and you don't know whether or not your mother died while you were on the way, the last thing you have patience for is yet another asshole border control guy asking you question after question. Yeah, I'm a bit bitter about airport security in the US.

KKKKkkkk1 10y ago
I flew in yesterday and there was some kind of a "nation-wide computer-system outage", so there was a 1.5 hour line at border control. Apparently the CBP officers were getting a bit frustrated with all the travelers. My officer made a couple of offhand jokes about the idea of sending me back where I came from. Apparently he didn't like that my visa type was too fancy for my job title. If the airport did not have American flags all over, I would have thought that I'm in a third-world country.
hueving 10y ago
If you're American, you dont really have to tell anything to the US border control.
- Taek 10y ago
  Meh. I'm sure it's worse for non-Americans, but US border control is more of a hassle for me than any of Europe or China. Africa was pretty bad (they confiscated my passport...?) but otherwise the US is generally the worst.
  - ajdlinux 10y ago
    The US charges $100 to sign up for Global Entry, while Australia is trying to force as many people as possible to use SmartGate with no fee and no registration required...

rconti 10y ago

It's actually pretty quick in the US, too, despite the bad rap it gets. I have perhaps twice hit 30min security queues at SFO and almost missed my flight, because I like to cut it close and live dangerously. Typically I arrive about 30-45min before boarding begins and it's no problem whatsoever. I agree most countries I've travelled to have the security lines figured out a lot better in the US, and I just recently got TSA PreCheck so I don't have to take off my shoes and take out my laptop, but it's more about the convenience than the speed.