cityplanner.ca
Discussing big picture urban/city planning and design issues.
May 31, 2010
I remember regularly taking the train in my university days. On early morning and late evening trips the staff on board would warn me that although they would do their best to wake me up at my destination, they had a whole train to look after and would not be responsible if I missed my stop. Now the same thing appears to be happening on airplanes...
There have been two stories reported in the last couple of weeks about individuals being left alone on locked airplanes: one was visually impaired and waiting for assistance when the doors were closed; another had fallen asleep during the trip, and had slept through the commotion of everyone else exiting the plane.
My advice, if you are traveling between cities for work or conferences, bring a good watch and set the alarm 15 minutes before you reach your destination. Having your cell phone battery charged up is also important in case you ever did get trapped somewhere - on a plane or elsewhere - and needed to make a call.
Another challenge facing travelers, of course, is the baggage restriction. Each airline has different rules and fees for bringing luggage with you, so you should read the policies before you travel, especially if you tend to fly with a variety of airlines.
I find it cumbersome to wear dress clothes on a plane, especially for long flights, but it couldn’t hurt to at least wear or bring a collared shirt and a decent light sweater or jacket on board, just in case your luggage gets lost before that big meeting. Been there, and so comfortable shoes and pants that can go either dressy or casual are also a good idea. Once I got caught with a T-shirt and jeans before an important event when my luggage was misdirected, and I had to purchase dress clothes in a new city in an expensive part of town (downtown) on short notice.
If it happens to you too, you might also be able to get the airline to pick up the tab or issue you a credit if you save your receipts. :-)
There have been two stories reported in the last couple of weeks about individuals being left alone on locked airplanes: one was visually impaired and waiting for assistance when the doors were closed; another had fallen asleep during the trip, and had slept through the commotion of everyone else exiting the plane.
My advice, if you are traveling between cities for work or conferences, bring a good watch and set the alarm 15 minutes before you reach your destination. Having your cell phone battery charged up is also important in case you ever did get trapped somewhere - on a plane or elsewhere - and needed to make a call.
Another challenge facing travelers, of course, is the baggage restriction. Each airline has different rules and fees for bringing luggage with you, so you should read the policies before you travel, especially if you tend to fly with a variety of airlines.
I find it cumbersome to wear dress clothes on a plane, especially for long flights, but it couldn’t hurt to at least wear or bring a collared shirt and a decent light sweater or jacket on board, just in case your luggage gets lost before that big meeting. Been there, and so comfortable shoes and pants that can go either dressy or casual are also a good idea. Once I got caught with a T-shirt and jeans before an important event when my luggage was misdirected, and I had to purchase dress clothes in a new city in an expensive part of town (downtown) on short notice.
If it happens to you too, you might also be able to get the airline to pick up the tab or issue you a credit if you save your receipts. :-)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Myron Belej, MCIP, AICP at myron@cityplanner.ca to:
- invite Myron to speak at a conference or event
- feature a version of this article in another publication
- inquire about Myron's consulting or coaching services
- request more information
Learn more about 'How to Hire Myron'.
Contact Myron Belej, MCIP, AICP at myron@cityplanner.ca to:
- invite Myron to speak at a conference or event
- feature a version of this article in another publication
- inquire about Myron's consulting or coaching services
- request more information
Learn more about 'How to Hire Myron'.