From: scott@asd.com (Scott Barman)
Subject: Re: Braniff experiences?
Organization: American Software Development Corp., W. Babylon, NY
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 18:59:04 GMT

In article <ku46kdINNdvb@news.bbn.com> rnewman@bbn.com (Ron Newman) writes:
>Has anyone flown the latest version of Braniff Airlines?
>Any good or bad experiences to report?
>
>(They are offering $29 each way from Boston to Newark, which
>is cheaper than a train.  I'm thinking of trying it...)

I flew Braniff r/t from Islip, NY to Ft. Lauderdale on a trip I had to
book at the last minute.  This was at the beginning of March.  They
charged me $149 for the flight and the others wanted $400-$500!  Both
trips (going and returning) were full.  However, I found the plane very
uncomfortable for some reason.  It was a 727-200.  I have flown these
planes (mainly with US Air) and have not felt as uncomfortable.

I know Braniff is coming off (or still in) bankrupcy, but the interior
of the plane looked well worn.  It wasn't dirty, but it looked like
another few flights and everything was going to fall apart.  One of the
tray tables on the flight to FLL broke and had to be taped in place for
the landing.

Braniff reservations was almost non-existant.  I could not get through
their toll free number and ended up having to stand on line TWICE at
McArthur Airport (Islip, NY) for tickets (one to get the information and
fares so I could go to the phone and call my s.o. and ask her what she
wanted to do and the other to actually pay for the flights).

The plane was late getting to Islip for the trip down.  However, the
plane landed on time!  The flight was uneventful with the exception of
the hard bounce on the runway on landing.  A pilot once told me that
happens when it is windy, they try to make sure the plane gets on the
ground before braking.  OK, if that's true a little jolt for safety is OK!

The return trip was a Sunday night.  Just before they announced the
approach (put up those tray tables...) I could feel something was wrong. 
We were below the clouds and could see the lights of Long Island out the
windows as I felt the plane rock and sway, drop suddenly (my calculator
sitting on the empty seat next to me became airborne!), before something
happening to cabin pressure.  Now I admit to having bad sinuses (more
allergies than I care to admit to) but I have never experienced anything
like this: a shooting pain behind my eyes and it felt like my sinuses
were going to blow up!  I have been in a plane where we landed in those
masks that do drop from the overhead pannel (with lines long enough to
hit a male in the wrong area if not sitting "correctly") and I have very
healthy frequent flyer accounts on several airlines, but never have I
felt that the I was not going to make it to the landing.

Because I was sitting near the rear of the plane, they opened the rear
doors to try to get me out quickly (my nose started to bleed).  They had
problems opening the door.  But once opened I could feel a rush of wind
LEAVING the plane.  Almost instantly, the pain and bleeding stopped and
I felt a million times better.  Later, a doctor told me that the only
way that this could have happened to me  was by a significant drop in
cabin pressure.

A week ago, my cousin (travelling from FLL->ISP also) had something
similar happen to her.  She did not feel the cabin pressure problems but
the rocky ride in did not sit well with her.  Neither she nor I will fly
Braniff again.

Next weekend I fly USAir LGA->CLT.  I almost look forward to it
(eventhough I think the airline has gone down hill since the merger).
-- 
scott barman			|            LET'S GO METS!
scott@asd.com			|            LET'S GO METS!
				|            LET'S GO METS!
 (I can barely speak for myself, you expect me to speak for my employer??)