Airlines rant =P

Okay, for the final time I'm saying this: I will NEVER again take an American domestic airline to go on an overseas trip that takes longer than 6 hours. ESPECIALLY if I need to be alert the next morning. I should have learned this when I went to London last year and wasted an entire day in a coma because I couldn't sleep on the plane. I should have learned this when I went from the Philippines to the U.S. on Northwest Airlines and was cranky and in coma, also due to lack of sleep. My total traveling time was 24 hours, 14 of those on a flight from Sydney to SFO...and I didn't sleep for more than an hour. I couldn't sleep. I was in between two people in United's tiny cramped seats (odd that Asian airlines seem to have more room, even when Asians are smaller) and spent 14 hours watching the tv that was 5 rows up from the gap between the seats in front of me. Yeah, when you have a flight that lasts longer than your normal sleeping pattern, having your own personal TV is nice. I'd venture to say, it'd be worth the extra money to find an Asian airlines to fly on (nevermind that Asian airlines also have: better food, better seats, nicer flight attendants, more amenities and are sometimes CHEAPER)It absolutely boggles my mind why a Frontier Airlines (btw, I was very impressed with them) flight from SFO to Denver (2 hour flight) has Direct TV that people actually paid $5 to use...and a 14 hour international flight on United never has the option. I'll never fly United on a trip longer than 6 hours. It's just not worth the discomfort and wasting a vacation day sleeping. Thank god I'm just coming home, so my 14 hour sleep binge was not a big deal. Bah, no wonder there were no American airline companies on the Top Airlines ranking list (interesting list, even tells you which airlines have the best food =D). I guess being spoiled by having flown internationally on 4 of the top 7 doesn't help my situation either, I suppose I never complained about airlines until I started flying out of the country and seeing that flying didn't have to be a crappy experience.

I just don't get what the deal with American companies are--why are they as expensive (I started flying on Asian airlines initially because they were actually cheaper and more direct), yet have worse service, worse food, and worse planes than other countries' companies? You can't say it's because Americans care more about cost than quality, that might have some truth, but then why are all the low-cost carriers the ones with the best service? How on Earth does United make money (well, they aren't actually, are they?) Someone seriously explain this to me because the difference in service and quality on United or Northwest is staggering compared to Thai Airlines (which isn't even the "classy" Asian airline to take.) What are European airlines like? I've heard they're usually better too. I'd really, really, like to fly Emirates sometime...isn't that odd? Hearing a person say they're actually looking forward to the experience on a plane? Weird. ;) But when two entire days are taken up by traveling back and forth overseas, it matters. It's unfortunately part of your vacation, so you might as well enjoy it...

Anyway, enough whining about stupid planes. I'm back in Indianapolis for 12 days. Then it's off to Chicago for a pre-departure orientation. I leave for Japan on the 24th from Chicago and arrive in Tokyo. I leave Tokyo for Shimane-ken on the 27th. I have some really mixed feelings about being sent to the countryside... I worry about stronger racism, being bored out of my mind, and having NO ONE wanting to visit me. :( Please, please visit me... come see the Japan tourists rarely see, and honestly, they SHOULD see it. Having been to Shimane before, it's not like visiting Iowa...it's more like visiting a place untouched by the ugly concrete urban sprawl of Japan, seeing wildlife, taking a dip in a hot spring, and going to thousands of year old temples deep in the mountains. I know I'll have a nice time, but you know me...I'm not a nature and wildlife kinda girl... ^^; To those who wanted to visit me--it's a bit out of the way, but please come. You can stay at my house for free and see all the prettiness that people coming to Japan rarely see...then we can take a trip to Osaka and have our fill on the crowded masses. =D

I'm also worried about my level of Japanese...having to give a speech makes me so nervous...my Japanese has gotten so bad... T_T I need to study. =( I'm so tired and jetlagged though... *shakes fist at United*