Comments on: Andy Rooney: I'm Staying Home

Andy Rooney Explains Why He Is Not Flying The Friendly Skies This Summer

[phairphysiology]

You won't suffer the inconvenience of flying in order to see your grandchildren? Wow. I sure am glad I don't have to explain that one to my daughter.

[An-Historian]

Travelling on long distance trips by train or ship has definitely become a *much* more attractive option with each passing year, ever since 9-11.

Travelling "commercial air" these days is an experience best reserved for genuine masochists.

[cruppt]

Andy, time to retire. You were so far off base on this one. I still can't figure out what your crying about. You will be flying non-stop in first class. What do you care if it's cramped in coach? More expensive to stay home? The normal American does not live your lifestyle.

[bjo1109]

I agree with Andy. I have heard numerous horror stories about the airlines and their callous disregard for their passengers. I think they have gone WAY overboard since 9/11, treating everyone as a criminal, and throwing common sense out the window. I will not fly again until customer service has improved to reach the level of, at least, common courtesy.

[inachu1]

Andy is 100% right!
For that reason I will not see my wife in China.

[bloomberg2]

Andy,
You are way off the mark on this one! It is us, the passengers, that keep security lines slow, and travelling frustrating! Did you see the woman in line, on your segment, with the stroller, HUGE box of what appeared to be a toy and 1 to 2 children?? Now THAT is what holds up the lines. I travelled to Mexico a few months ago and you should have seen the loads of boxes people were shipping back to Mexico on the plane I was riding on...good grief!! It's ridiculous! The airlines are more accommodating than ever! And it is US, the customer who is demanding our $69 one way tickets and our comfortable seats, etc. And it's just bad form to moan and complain about delays when the airlines only have our safety in mind. I believe airlines should raise ticket prices to what they should be $400-$500 period! Additionally, if you add the cost of travel by auto, flying is actually more affordable (given gas, hotel and food costs, not to mentiion time). If the airlines made flying more exclusive and special again, we would not have all these problems. Pilots would actually be able to get paid what they deserve (I still don't understand why pilots responsible for hundreds of lives get paid so poorly) and travelling would be much more enjoyable.
Sorry, Andy, but you need to re-examine this one!

[Slrman]

Good job, Andy. You always bring the nut jobs and the age- prejudiced out of the woodwork and from under their rocks. Too bad they have no sense of humor to appreciate what you say.

Keep on working until you decide it's time to sit back and laugh at the rest of us. Wait! Aren't you doing this now? Heh Heh

[longtree-2009]

andy rooney is entitled to his opinion. we all are in the usa. there are many that find him entertaining regardless of his age. don't know how old he is but if he can still hold down a job in the media with a sizeable audience and his employers are happy with his performance, that's all that matters. those of us who don't find him entertaining can just tune him out, not read his material. don't always agree with andy but enjoy reading, listening to what he has to say and admire him for having the spine to take a position, popular or not. each person should decide when they want to retire, each person. if you are old and retired, it is your choice to stay retired so let andy make his own choice. life is about choices, andy is entitled to make his own. it's his life, not yours. keep on keeping on andy. you have an audience of people of various age, age groups.

[jbeckett5]

Andy often hits the mark, but he has this dead wrong. Airlines do a spectacular job of transporting people and luggage over long distances safely. Airlines get an amazing number of details right, charge a small fraction of the price we paid in more-regulated days, and tolerate the abuse of the occasional nasty customer. They keep us safe, too: I've seen a crew operating in an emergency, and their professionalism was awesome. I'm flying on vacation this week, and delighted to have the opportunity.

By the way, I have no connection to the airline industry.

Andy, if you can't find something useful to say, please step away from the microphone.

[DE58]

Great Job, Mr Rooney. Your comments are right on target. So much so that people are offended. Why should we pay hard earned money to be hassled, insulted and treated rudely. I feel for the people that will be burdened with the decrease in travelers but if they were more customer friendly....or instill friendliness into their fellow employees, maybe we would not resent having to travel.