D'oh, thank you
413 karma · joined October 11, 2006
I am indeed talking about ground effect–that's why I included a link for "flying close to the surface reduces aerodynamic drag" which explains how it works.
I also specifically addressed how algorithms differ from memes in footnotes 4 and 14.
Curious to get your thoughts.
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1) The parallels between anxious ideas and immune system threat prediction (discussed at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22475370)
2) The game theory of determining which imagined threats are worth our attention (discussed at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22760540).
Thoughts and feedback welcome as always :)
I agree, however, that planning is often helpful for reducing anxiety, insofar as it reduces uncertainty.
Southwest offers a lot of flights between SFO and LAX, but it's not true that the big carriers don't. I did a search on June 25 one-way SFO-LAX. Southwest has 12 non-stops. Delta has 11, and United has 16.
Admittedly Kayak has one flight for $870 and a few for $896, but they involved two stops.
As to whether airlines will be inspired to install more wi-fi, consider this: all the major US airlines that don't already have wi-fi on their entire fleet have announced plans to install it on a lot more of their fleet this year. They're hoping people—especially business travelers—will make their purchasing decisions on the basis of wi-fi.
Don't hate the player, hate the game.
As to the question of "niceness," I disagree wholeheartedly. All the advice here is to use resources that are provided to all passengers.
Moreover, the person who makes it to the front of the line in the status quo has no moral superiority over others that somehow makes them more deserving of a convenient flight. Indeed, the reason someone would make it to the front of the line is typically a function of luck (they're seated nearer to the front of the plane, or they know exactly where the counter is because they fly through the airport often, or they're alone and in good health and therefore able to sprint to the counter faster than the elderly, disabled, and families).
By contrast, you actively do a service to your fellow passengers by using this article's methods: you don't take up a space in line that makes everyone else wait longer.
But if you're a believer in generalizability instead, consider this: If everyone followed this article's advice, everyone would be equally likely to get the best remaining seats (which seems ultimately the most fair allocation). But nobody would have to wait in long lines.