Much as I like KLM, I am failing to see whatever syou see in the salt and pepper shakers.

If anything, the left one looks like a prize out of a box of breakfast cereal, whereas the one on the right looks rather nice...

Goddammit!

Randy said what I wanted to say.

Like, huh?

Maybe it's a metaphor for the inexplicable fascination some feel for a certain world capital....

OK, translucent is somewhat more useful....

(Years ago I flew in first on trips to Thailand and Oz, and was given neatly-boxed toys and trinkets along. I've saved them unopened in the Kid's Toy carton, and look forward to opening them what some friend brings a child over to visit.)

I've heard good things about Lufthansa as well.
The only international flight I've taken on Delta was OK; I'd certainly take it over American Airlines.

You do realize those little KLM things are filled with liquor?

No airline ever gives me salt shakers. Just peanuts and half a can of Bloody Mary mix.

Question......did you ask before you "kidnapped" them?

The way you phrased it sounds an awful lot like you liberated them without permission. YMMV

I've heard good things about Lufthansa as well.

I fly on grant money from federal sources so I have to ride on a US carrier out of the country. Fortunately, United has a code-share with Lufthansa so I fly to Frankfurt or Munich when I'm Europe-bound for business. Lufthansa is marginally better than a U.S. carrier: free wine international and butter instead of margarine. However, it's clear the Germans who fly it regularly hate it, so the rule of thumb that the worst airline is the one you fly the most holds true for them as well.

Once on Lufthansa when they were bringing around the drink cart after dinner, my husband asked for Baileys. The steward glared at him and went up to business class. He came back with Baileys in a glass, at which point he proceeded to pour half of it in a plastic cup and give to my husband. It's still one of our funnier travel stories.

How can you not see this?

Also, if...

Fine.

But, tiny...

Illiterate.

So arrhythmic... So tonedeaf....

I suspect the Delta salt shakers appeal to Engineers, and other analytical types I find them delightfully cubist, and symmetric.
OTOH the KLM ones look like a Japanese plastic toy.

Aesthetic opinions, are necessarily subjective opinions.

My favorite airline ammenity? A half empty plane, with a row to myself on an overseas flight. I am flying to Japan next month. All I really want is some leg room, and no line at the bathroom.

My worst flight ever? Souda Bay Naval Air station, to Rhein Main AFB Germany in a C130 jump seat. EIGHT hours. Your face burns. Your feet freeze. NO bathroom, no food, no drinks, the the load master is usually downright surley.

> My favorite airline ammenity? A half empty
> plane, with a row to myself on an
> overseas flight.

SING IT, SISTER.

Happened to me in Papua New Guinea. Hundreds of seats, and me and maybe one other guy. I couldn't see him. The stewardess liked me.

Souda Bay Naval Air station, to Rhein Main AFB

Isab,

I'll take that bet and raise you. Try starting from Philly to Osan AB, ROK near XMas using the "Freedom" bird.

You have to fly out of Philly about 1PM on Tuesday. You arrive at LAX about 2PM Tuesday with a 16 hour layover until the bird leaves at about 7:15 Wednesday. Unless you stake out a seat in the USO by 6PM you're on you're f'ing own. You crap out in the LAX International terminal at about 11P to sleep, fitfully, until about 6:30AM.

Then you get on the "Freedom" bird to Osan. It is a completely full 747. The airline is some no name charter bird that serves you total crap for food. Then the attendants completely disappear after the first food service. You then fly to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska with a 45 minute layover. The few passengers that get off in Elmendorf are replaced by about half the passengers. You then land in Kadena, Japan about 5:30AM. You can't launch again until 7AM because of noise restrictions. So you finally land at Osan about 10AM on Wednesday.

You have been in "motion" for over 48 hours, but are expected to be somewhat coherent to meet your new commander. I actually envied the Army guys that had a two hour bus ride up to Seoul. They got a chance to sleep.

And this was all pre-TSA.

Wow, Jim. I didn't do this personally, but a co-worker did: He had to fly to Shemya Island in the Aleutians. It involves flying from here to Atlanta to LAX to Anchorage. Once you get to Anchorage, you lay over until the weather clears enough at Shemya for the plan to get in there. His layover was two weeks. The entire time, he had to be available to go at a moment's notice, because weather windows at Shemya often last only an hour or two.

Jim, I will be flying the Patriot Express from Seattle to Misawa in late January. I guess it loops around Seattle-Misawa-Osan once a week.
Somehow a full 747 with a bathroom and food doesnt sound that bad compared to the C130.
I have done the trip from Frankfurt to Crete three times round trip on the cargo props. The worst flight ever we got caught in a thunderstorm in the med, lost an engine, and had to abort the entire trip at Sigonelli.

Steve Jobs would have picked the KLM shakers.

Bill Gates would go for the Delta shakers.

Wow, Jim. I didn't do this personally, but a co-worker did: He had to fly to Shemya Island in the Aleutians. -- Cousin Dave at December 11, 2012 6:38 AM

The big difference is that if you are on Elmendorf for a long time, you are in a "sterile" area the whole time. So if you leave the terminal you are not subject to the TSA bullshit. Even if you have to wait in the vbase temporary lodging -- you can move about the base, and sleep in a "real" hotel room.

Somehow a full 747 with a bathroom and food doesnt sound that bad compared to the C130. -- Posted by: Isab at December 11, 2012 1:21 PM

I flew on C-130's as my first USAF job. You have to remember the loadmasters and crew chiefs are working stiffs -- not servants. As long as you try to do your own work -- you will do okay.

As for flying on a no-name charter bird -- the flight attendants will make the LM look like a good friend.

Jim, I have been on charters before, just not recently. I am really hoping that since this will be the off season, and the Christmas break rush over with, that the plane will not be full.

My FIL, (formerly) and my BIL (now) are both C130 pilots. I tease them a lot about how uncomfortable the planes are.

My FIL, (formerly) and my BIL (now) are both C130 pilots. I tease them a lot about how uncomfortable the planes are. -- Isab at December 12, 2012 8:26 AM

I won't disagree the ride sucks without a comfort palette. Though you should consider the C-130 has been in continuous production for 50+ years and the loss rate is in the 5% range. But they will get you to your destination in one piece.