Airports...
Logan (Bos) vs. Hartsfield Jackson (AtL)
Airports. No matter where you fly in the United States, the procedure for doing things is basically the same. For example: if a passenger's carry on is too big, the staff will check your bag, when you board a plane a flight attendant will go over the safety guidelines in case of an emergency, and when a plane lands in a new city they welcome you to the new area, etc. etc. Once I enrolled at Emory University, I signed myself up for many trips back and forth between Logan and Hartsfield Jackson airport. I have noticed that, though this procedure is the same, the attitude in the airport workers varies on whether you are north or south of the Mason-Dixie Line.
As I was walking up to the ticket counter at the Atlanta Airport with my heavy backpack swung over one shoulder, and my purse on the other, I dragged my colossal suitcase with my free hand. I struggled to get my suitcase on top of the weighing scale, but thankfully, the nice gentleman working on the counter helped me. Many airline companies have this rule about the weight limit of your suitcase. It CANNOT go over 50 pounds. I looked at the scale, a little nervous, since I basically packed my whole dorm room into my bag. Aw shit. It was 51 pounds. Anytime my suitcase went over the 50 pound limit in Boston, it did not matter how long the line was, I was told I had to remove luggage from my bag and either squeeze it into to my carry on, or put it in some "magical spare suitcase" I did not have with me. I looked up at the man at the counter. "Ah don't worry about it. What is an extra pound anyways? Happy Holidays and have a safe flight". I think my jaw dropped for a second and I walked away with a huge smile, feeling like I had practically cheated the system. Another big difference about the two airports is how the people at the terminal counter approach boarding passengers on the plane. In Atlanta the worker at the booth with generally announce to the passengers, usually in a sweet, southern accent "Hello and thank y'all for flying with us today. In a few short minutes we will be asking you to board the plane, and calling you up by your zone number. We request that you get in order once your zone is called. Thank you so much". In Boston it is not so sweet. The the worker will say in a kind of edgy but monotone voice "Get ya ticket and get in ordah or the plane is leaving without ya. Have a safe flight". Passengers line up and start to get their ticket scanned before boarding the plane. Chances are if you mess up the order, the worker will give you some kind of snarky comment, and then let you go through. Maybe this is not true for everyone, but I find both ways kind of endearing. |