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Full Upright and Locked Position

The Insider's Guide to Air Travel

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

"Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight," our pilots still intone. But who are they kidding?

Former FAA chief counsel and senior aviation policy official Mark Gerchick unravels the unseen forces and little-known facts that have reshaped our air travel experience since September 11, 2001.

With wry humor and unique insight, Gerchick takes us past the jargon, technicalities, and all-is-well platitudes to expose the new normal of air travel: from the packed planes and myriad hassles of everyday flying to the alchemy of air fares, the airlines' endless nickel-and-diming, and the elusive hope of escape from steerage. We find out what pilots do in the cockpit, what's really worth worrying about when it comes to airline safety, and why we get sick on planes. Meanwhile, Gerchick ponders the jarring disconnect between our quaint expectations of "service with a smile" and the grim reality of cramped seats, no-free-lunch, and "watch-yer-knees."

With sympathy for both fliers and airlines, Gerchick shows how the new "business-all-business" airline industry has finally learned to make money, even in the face of crushing fuel costs, and get millions of travelers where they're going every day safely and quickly.

From his singular vantage point as former aviation regulator and policymaker, Gerchick gives us a straightforward insider's view of how hard it is for government to improve the traveler's lot by explaining the vagaries of consumer protection rules as well as the political realities and the economic forces at work. While Gerchick offers reasons to hope for a better future in air travel, he presents an unvarnished look at what we can expect—good and bad—when we take to the skies. Some of it will reassure you, some will make you cringe, but all will open your eyes to what it means to fly today.

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      April 15, 2013
      Former FAA counsel Gerchick’s lucid and horrifying overview of air travel in America does its job too well: after reading this book, you’ll never want to set foot on a commercial flight again. After an overview of the current state of flying and its discontents, Gerchick conducts a point-by-point dismemberment of the business—the hidden charges, the pinching seats, the bacteria, and delays. Important episodes in his history include the rise of the low-cost airline in the ’80s, the tragedy of 9/11, and the explosion of jet-fuel costs that followed. It is a grim but illuminating tale. What saves the book from being an unmitigated downer is Gerchick’s bemused, avuncular tone. He’s the guy in the coach seat next to yours (on the aisle, of course) who’s seen it all before. While the economy flyer may shudder to learn that the flight crew refers to him as “self-loading freight,” Gerchick cushions the blow with jokes, asides, and fascinating data. Despite his impressive range of knowledge, Gerchick never bores the reader with mere pedantry. While his book can’t save readers from airport purgatory, the insights provided will make the turbulence a little easier to bear. Agent: Rafe Sagalyn, Sagalyn Literary Agency.

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Languages

  • English

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