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Airline geeks and airplane freaks
Inaugural Flights Draw Airline 'Geeks'
By Del Quentin Wilber
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 29, 2007; A01
Andrew Gibbons will spend the next 38 of 48 hours on airliners -- for
fun.
The 29-year-old Northern Californian, who admits to being an airline
geek, simply couldn't pass up the chance to fly on United Airlines'
inaugural flight from Washington's Dulles International Airport to
Beijing yesterday.
Gibbons won't even leave the Beijing airport because, he says, he
doesn't want to miss the inaugural return flight. He has done this
kind of thing before. In October, he took United's inaugural flight to
Kuwait, spent a few hours on the ground and hopped on the return leg.
"I know it doesn't make a lot of sense," said Gibbons, director of
operations for SmugMug, a photo-sharing Web site, who giddily took
video and photographs of an elaborate ceremony before yesterday's
flight. "My friends don't get it. They think I'm a geek."
Gibbons is part of a subspecies of frequent fliers who chase inaugural
flights because they adore airlines, airplanes, even airports. They
seek to be part of airline milestones. Among their ranks are those who
like the prestige of being the first passengers on the world's longest
flight, or the first or last travelers aboard a specific type of
airplane. Some want to be the first passengers to take a short hop on
new routes offered by low-cost, low-frills carriers.
These airline maniacs are like spurned lovers -- maintaining their
affection for an industry that continually conspires against them with
increases in flight delays, packed planes, lost luggage, and cutbacks
in food and service.
Gibbons was not the only inaugural flier on United Flight 897 -- a
nearly 14-hour, 6,920-mile haul with 346 other passengers on a Boeing
747. At least two other people were aboard just to notch another first
flight.
Members of this super-elite crowd enjoy traveling -- no, flying -- so
much that they don't always need hotel reservations. Like Gibbons,
others said they have taken inaugural flights and simply returned,
never setting foot outside an airport.
Most have difficulty explaining why they take these quixotic journeys.
Some are enamored of the romance of flight. Others are addicted to
airplanes. A few said they like escaping cellphone calls and e-mail
for a few hours.
They usually sit in business or first class, using frequent flier
miles to upgrade from cheaper coach seats. Several mentioned they
liked the attention and status that comes with such luxury seats.
They are also motivated by the possibility of earning massive amounts
of frequent flier miles.
But that isn't always the case. Gibbons, for example, cashed in a
substantial number of frequent flier miles and spent more than $1,000
to get his business-class tickets and Chinese visa for his two-day
aviation marathon, he said.
Fran Jelley, a 59-year-old consultant, flew from her home in Australia
-- through China -- to be on the Dulles-to-Beijing flight yesterday.
Jelley will fly back to Washington on Tuesday, then quickly return to
China before heading back to Australia.
She says she took the United flight to be part of history, noting the
significance of linking the two capitals with nonstop air service.
United battled three other U.S. carriers in a heated competition to
win the rights to a daily direct flight to China.
"I had this tremendous dilemma about which inaugural to take," Jelley
said before boarding the flight yesterday. "Washington-Beijing or
Beijing-Washington. I figured the true inaugural was the first one, so
I chose that. This is very symbolic -- capital to capital."
Robert Cole, a 34-year-old from New Zealand, spent about $6,000 to
take a series of flights over several days in 2004, including
Singapore Airlines' inaugural nonstop service between Singapore and
Newark. He waited a few hours in Newark before boarding the return
flight -- the longest scheduled flight in commercial aviation, at 18
1/2 hours, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Inaugural flights are not limited to international routes. Adrian
Leung, 30, has taken at least 10, most of them between U.S. cities.
Last year, he took Southwest Airlines' first flight from Dulles to
Chicago.
He posted photographs -- including a few of the airplane's lavatory --
and a written description of the experience on the Internet. Just last
week, he took Horizon Air's inaugural flight from Seattle to Santa
Rosa, Calif., because it seemed "like fun." Then he took the
continuation of the flight to his home in Los Angeles.
"I'm an aviation freak," said Leung, a sociologist who hopes to write
a book about the interaction of people, airlines and airports.
Not everybody understands the enthusiasts' passion.
At Dulles yesterday, some passengers raised their eyebrows when told
Gibbons and others were taking the flight for kicks.
"I've flown there before, and [the flight] really is not that much
fun," said Rodney Sanders, 46, who was going to China to pick up an
adopted child.
Gibbons admits that he has a hard time explaining his unusual pastime.
He says he loves United because it has a large presence in San
Francisco and he grew up a huge fan of the airline's theme song,
George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." After his inaugural Kuwait trip,
he posted video clips of the flight on YouTube with theme music.
After arriving at Dulles early yesterday on the red-eye from San
Francisco, Gibbons dashed off to a nearby gym, then showed up early at
the United gate. He didn't want to miss the inaugural ceremony and
party, which included performers, music and a spread of Chinese food.
Gibbons videotaped the drummers at the ceremony, then hurried over to
a podium to take video and snapshots of United's top executive, Glenn
F. Tilton, and Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. Gibbons even got a
United spokeswoman to take his picture next to Tilton, which he wants
to post on his Web site.
Gibbons said he planned to edit his video, watch movies and listen to
music aboard the flight. And sleep, of course.
If all goes as planned, he will return to Dulles at 7:45 p.m. today.
An hour later, he will be on another flight home.
"I will probably be tired of airplanes by then," he said.
Maybe not.
Just before boarding, Gibbons told another passenger that he was
bummed that he couldn't work another upcoming inaugural flight into
his schedule: On Sunday, United kicks off service between Dulles and
Rome.
By Del Quentin Wilber
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 29, 2007; A01
Andrew Gibbons will spend the next 38 of 48 hours on airliners -- for
fun.
The 29-year-old Northern Californian, who admits to being an airline
geek, simply couldn't pass up the chance to fly on United Airlines'
inaugural flight from Washington's Dulles International Airport to
Beijing yesterday.
Gibbons won't even leave the Beijing airport because, he says, he
doesn't want to miss the inaugural return flight. He has done this
kind of thing before. In October, he took United's inaugural flight to
Kuwait, spent a few hours on the ground and hopped on the return leg.
"I know it doesn't make a lot of sense," said Gibbons, director of
operations for SmugMug, a photo-sharing Web site, who giddily took
video and photographs of an elaborate ceremony before yesterday's
flight. "My friends don't get it. They think I'm a geek."
Gibbons is part of a subspecies of frequent fliers who chase inaugural
flights because they adore airlines, airplanes, even airports. They
seek to be part of airline milestones. Among their ranks are those who
like the prestige of being the first passengers on the world's longest
flight, or the first or last travelers aboard a specific type of
airplane. Some want to be the first passengers to take a short hop on
new routes offered by low-cost, low-frills carriers.
These airline maniacs are like spurned lovers -- maintaining their
affection for an industry that continually conspires against them with
increases in flight delays, packed planes, lost luggage, and cutbacks
in food and service.
Gibbons was not the only inaugural flier on United Flight 897 -- a
nearly 14-hour, 6,920-mile haul with 346 other passengers on a Boeing
747. At least two other people were aboard just to notch another first
flight.
Members of this super-elite crowd enjoy traveling -- no, flying -- so
much that they don't always need hotel reservations. Like Gibbons,
others said they have taken inaugural flights and simply returned,
never setting foot outside an airport.
Most have difficulty explaining why they take these quixotic journeys.
Some are enamored of the romance of flight. Others are addicted to
airplanes. A few said they like escaping cellphone calls and e-mail
for a few hours.
They usually sit in business or first class, using frequent flier
miles to upgrade from cheaper coach seats. Several mentioned they
liked the attention and status that comes with such luxury seats.
They are also motivated by the possibility of earning massive amounts
of frequent flier miles.
But that isn't always the case. Gibbons, for example, cashed in a
substantial number of frequent flier miles and spent more than $1,000
to get his business-class tickets and Chinese visa for his two-day
aviation marathon, he said.
Fran Jelley, a 59-year-old consultant, flew from her home in Australia
-- through China -- to be on the Dulles-to-Beijing flight yesterday.
Jelley will fly back to Washington on Tuesday, then quickly return to
China before heading back to Australia.
She says she took the United flight to be part of history, noting the
significance of linking the two capitals with nonstop air service.
United battled three other U.S. carriers in a heated competition to
win the rights to a daily direct flight to China.
"I had this tremendous dilemma about which inaugural to take," Jelley
said before boarding the flight yesterday. "Washington-Beijing or
Beijing-Washington. I figured the true inaugural was the first one, so
I chose that. This is very symbolic -- capital to capital."
Robert Cole, a 34-year-old from New Zealand, spent about $6,000 to
take a series of flights over several days in 2004, including
Singapore Airlines' inaugural nonstop service between Singapore and
Newark. He waited a few hours in Newark before boarding the return
flight -- the longest scheduled flight in commercial aviation, at 18
1/2 hours, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Inaugural flights are not limited to international routes. Adrian
Leung, 30, has taken at least 10, most of them between U.S. cities.
Last year, he took Southwest Airlines' first flight from Dulles to
Chicago.
He posted photographs -- including a few of the airplane's lavatory --
and a written description of the experience on the Internet. Just last
week, he took Horizon Air's inaugural flight from Seattle to Santa
Rosa, Calif., because it seemed "like fun." Then he took the
continuation of the flight to his home in Los Angeles.
"I'm an aviation freak," said Leung, a sociologist who hopes to write
a book about the interaction of people, airlines and airports.
Not everybody understands the enthusiasts' passion.
At Dulles yesterday, some passengers raised their eyebrows when told
Gibbons and others were taking the flight for kicks.
"I've flown there before, and [the flight] really is not that much
fun," said Rodney Sanders, 46, who was going to China to pick up an
adopted child.
Gibbons admits that he has a hard time explaining his unusual pastime.
He says he loves United because it has a large presence in San
Francisco and he grew up a huge fan of the airline's theme song,
George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." After his inaugural Kuwait trip,
he posted video clips of the flight on YouTube with theme music.
After arriving at Dulles early yesterday on the red-eye from San
Francisco, Gibbons dashed off to a nearby gym, then showed up early at
the United gate. He didn't want to miss the inaugural ceremony and
party, which included performers, music and a spread of Chinese food.
Gibbons videotaped the drummers at the ceremony, then hurried over to
a podium to take video and snapshots of United's top executive, Glenn
F. Tilton, and Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. Gibbons even got a
United spokeswoman to take his picture next to Tilton, which he wants
to post on his Web site.
Gibbons said he planned to edit his video, watch movies and listen to
music aboard the flight. And sleep, of course.
If all goes as planned, he will return to Dulles at 7:45 p.m. today.
An hour later, he will be on another flight home.
"I will probably be tired of airplanes by then," he said.
Maybe not.
Just before boarding, Gibbons told another passenger that he was
bummed that he couldn't work another upcoming inaugural flight into
his schedule: On Sunday, United kicks off service between Dulles and
Rome.
Gawd...what a bunch of freaking losers!
inaugural flight wrote:
>Inaugural Flights Draw Airline 'Geeks'
>
>By Del Quentin Wilber
>Washington Post Staff Writer
>Thursday, March 29, 2007; A01
>
>Andrew Gibbons will spend the next 38 of 48 hours on airliners -- for
>fun.
>
>The 29-year-old Northern Californian, who admits to being an airline
>geek, simply couldn't pass up the chance to fly on United Airlines'
>inaugural flight from Washington's Dulles International Airport to
>Beijing yesterday.
>
>Gibbons won't even leave the Beijing airport because, he says, he
>doesn't want to miss the inaugural return flight. He has done this
>kind of thing before. In October, he took United's inaugural flight to
>Kuwait, spent a few hours on the ground and hopped on the return leg.
>
>"I know it doesn't make a lot of sense," said Gibbons, director of
>operations for SmugMug, a photo-sharing Web site, who giddily took
>video and photographs of an elaborate ceremony before yesterday's
>flight. "My friends don't get it. They think I'm a geek."
>
>Gibbons is part of a subspecies of frequent fliers who chase inaugural
>flights because they adore airlines, airplanes, even airports. They
>seek to be part of airline milestones. Among their ranks are those who
>like the prestige of being the first passengers on the world's longest
>flight, or the first or last travelers aboard a specific type of
>airplane. Some want to be the first passengers to take a short hop on
>new routes offered by low-cost, low-frills carriers.
>
>These airline maniacs are like spurned lovers -- maintaining their
>affection for an industry that continually conspires against them with
>increases in flight delays, packed planes, lost luggage, and cutbacks
>in food and service.
>
>Gibbons was not the only inaugural flier on United Flight 897 -- a
>nearly 14-hour, 6,920-mile haul with 346 other passengers on a Boeing
>747. At least two other people were aboard just to notch another first
>flight.
>
>Members of this super-elite crowd enjoy traveling -- no, flying -- so
>much that they don't always need hotel reservations. Like Gibbons,
>others said they have taken inaugural flights and simply returned,
>never setting foot outside an airport.
>
>Most have difficulty explaining why they take these quixotic journeys.
>Some are enamored of the romance of flight. Others are addicted to
>airplanes. A few said they like escaping cellphone calls and e-mail
>for a few hours.
>
>They usually sit in business or first class, using frequent flier
>miles to upgrade from cheaper coach seats. Several mentioned they
>liked the attention and status that comes with such luxury seats.
>
>They are also motivated by the possibility of earning massive amounts
>of frequent flier miles.
>
>But that isn't always the case. Gibbons, for example, cashed in a
>substantial number of frequent flier miles and spent more than $1,000
>to get his business-class tickets and Chinese visa for his two-day
>aviation marathon, he said.
>
>Fran Jelley, a 59-year-old consultant, flew from her home in Australia
>-- through China -- to be on the Dulles-to-Beijing flight yesterday.
>Jelley will fly back to Washington on Tuesday, then quickly return to
>China before heading back to Australia.
>
>She says she took the United flight to be part of history, noting the
>significance of linking the two capitals with nonstop air service.
>United battled three other U.S. carriers in a heated competition to
>win the rights to a daily direct flight to China.
>
>"I had this tremendous dilemma about which inaugural to take," Jelley
>said before boarding the flight yesterday. "Washington-Beijing or
>Beijing-Washington. I figured the true inaugural was the first one, so
>I chose that. This is very symbolic -- capital to capital."
>
>Robert Cole, a 34-year-old from New Zealand, spent about $6,000 to
>take a series of flights over several days in 2004, including
>Singapore Airlines' inaugural nonstop service between Singapore and
>Newark. He waited a few hours in Newark before boarding the return
>flight -- the longest scheduled flight in commercial aviation, at 18
>1/2 hours, according to the International Air Transport Association.
>
>Inaugural flights are not limited to international routes. Adrian
>Leung, 30, has taken at least 10, most of them between U.S. cities.
>Last year, he took Southwest Airlines' first flight from Dulles to
>Chicago.
>
>He posted photographs -- including a few of the airplane's lavatory --
>and a written description of the experience on the Internet. Just last
>week, he took Horizon Air's inaugural flight from Seattle to Santa
>Rosa, Calif., because it seemed "like fun." Then he took the
>continuation of the flight to his home in Los Angeles.
>
>"I'm an aviation freak," said Leung, a sociologist who hopes to write
>a book about the interaction of people, airlines and airports.
>
>Not everybody understands the enthusiasts' passion.
>
>At Dulles yesterday, some passengers raised their eyebrows when told
>Gibbons and others were taking the flight for kicks.
>
>"I've flown there before, and [the flight] really is not that much
>fun," said Rodney Sanders, 46, who was going to China to pick up an
>adopted child.
>
>Gibbons admits that he has a hard time explaining his unusual pastime.
>He says he loves United because it has a large presence in San
>Francisco and he grew up a huge fan of the airline's theme song,
>George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." After his inaugural Kuwait trip,
>he posted video clips of the flight on YouTube with theme music.
>
>After arriving at Dulles early yesterday on the red-eye from San
>Francisco, Gibbons dashed off to a nearby gym, then showed up early at
>the United gate. He didn't want to miss the inaugural ceremony and
>party, which included performers, music and a spread of Chinese food.
>
>Gibbons videotaped the drummers at the ceremony, then hurried over to
>a podium to take video and snapshots of United's top executive, Glenn
>F. Tilton, and Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. Gibbons even got a
>United spokeswoman to take his picture next to Tilton, which he wants
>to post on his Web site.
>
>Gibbons said he planned to edit his video, watch movies and listen to
>music aboard the flight. And sleep, of course.
>
>If all goes as planned, he will return to Dulles at 7:45 p.m. today.
>An hour later, he will be on another flight home.
>
>"I will probably be tired of airplanes by then," he said.
>
>Maybe not.
>
>Just before boarding, Gibbons told another passenger that he was
>bummed that he couldn't work another upcoming inaugural flight into
>his schedule: On Sunday, United kicks off service between Dulles and
>Rome.
hahahahaha wrote:
>
> Gawd...what a bunch of freaking losers!
>
Yep, a bit like the guy who would repost the whole thing to add a one
line comment.
>
> Gawd...what a bunch of freaking losers!
>
Yep, a bit like the guy who would repost the whole thing to add a one
line comment.
"Mike Hunt" aka Michael Voight wrote:
> hahahahaha wrote:
>
> > Gawd...what a bunch of freaking losers!
>
> Yep, a bit like the guy who would repost the whole thing to add a one
> line comment.
Flying somewhere today in order to "molest" anyone, LUSER...???
--
Best
Greg
> hahahahaha wrote:
>
> > Gawd...what a bunch of freaking losers!
>
> Yep, a bit like the guy who would repost the whole thing to add a one
> line comment.
Flying somewhere today in order to "molest" anyone, LUSER...???
--
Best
Greg
