I travel.  A lot.  And there are so many small, unneccessary travel hassles that could be corrected or avoided if these companies would just adopt a user-centered approach.  For instance, last night, after an hour and a half delay thanks to mechanical and weather issues, I sat down in seat 6A with a stack of papers that needed reading and editing and found that my overhead light only illuminates a tiny portion of my seating area.  The entire lefthand side is in the dark.  Do you know how frustrating that is?  It's a stupid, small thing, but I wasted four hours of uninterrupted think time for want of a light.  Even an adjustable light would have worked.  But the light was behind a panel and could not be adjusted.

This morning in Seattle, living now on Pacific time but working on Eastern time, I get up to take a 6 a.m. phone call to be followed by a 6:30 call.  So I could have used some caffeine.  I found a pot to heat the water, but the selection of tea bags consisted of three herbal flavors.  (Now, keep in mind, these wimpy tea "flavors" are sitting right next to a strong bag of Starbucks coffee.)  I was desperate so I brewed one -- Passion.  And it was pink.  Not a little pink. A lot pink.  Dark pink, Deep pink, Change your tooth color pink. 

Who thinks this up?  Who decides that pink tea is what people want to wake up to?  When I called the front desk to get real tea (black tea -- make note!), I was transferred to Housekeeping, which, conveniently for Housekeeping, wasn't in and not answering the phone.  Out of frustration, I called Room Service and ordered a breakfast I really didn't want simply to get a decent cup of tea.  (Note again:  The kitchen and presumably Housekeeping had black tea, in fact, a good brand of black tea.)  Forty-five minutes later, I get an egg, bacon, wheat toast (no butter, no preserves) and tea for almost $20.  I think I just bought a $20 cup of tea.

And while I'm at it... why, oh why, are public places like airports so overcooled?  It makes travelers uncomfortable and it costs the operator money.

Don't get me started on airport security.

It's the little things that frustrate travelers.

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