Air travel always seems to expose disappointing etiquette. My friend found this to be true last week when she boarded two flights en route to London. Her first flight, from Texas, went very smoothly. Even though she was running late for her flight, the ticket agents were friendly and accommodating, and did not scold her. The gate agent was also friendly, telling her she had time to eat or shop before boarding.
The next flight was from Newark, New Jersey. Once she exited the plane she found the airport to be confusing and inefficient. The gate information screens were few and far between, and a hastily placed sign told her where to connect for her next flight. When she followed it, she discovered she had left the terminal area and would have to re-enter security. This meant she had to throw out the $10 bottle of salsa she had just purchased in Austin. Instead of smiling or greeting her, the staff loudly socialized with each other, and one could even be seen sleeping in his transport cart.
My friend says the two experiences couldn’t have been more different. She told me she would try to avoid connecting in Newark in the future. Perhaps her experience was a fluke, but you’d think a major airport would strive to be better. Traveling is no picnic, so why make it worse?