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Full Upright and Locked Position: The Insider's Guide to Air Travel Reprint Edition, Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 165 ratings

"Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight," our pilots still intone. But who are they kidding?


Former FAA chief counsel and senior aviation policy official Mark Gerchick unravels the unseen forces and little-known facts that have reshaped our air travel experience since September 11, 2001.


With wry humor and unique insight, Gerchick takes us past the jargon, technicalities, and all-is-well platitudes to expose the new normal of air travel: from the packed planes and myriad hassles of everyday flying to the alchemy of air fares, the airlines’ endless nickel-and-diming, and the elusive hope of escape from steerage. We find out what pilots do in the cockpit, what’s really worth worrying about when it comes to airline safety, and why we get sick on planes. Meanwhile, Gerchick ponders the jarring disconnect between our quaint expectations of "service with a smile" and the grim reality of cramped seats, no-free-lunch, and "watch-yer-knees."


With sympathy for both fliers and airlines, Gerchick shows how the new "business-all-business" airline industry has finally learned to make money, even in the face of crushing fuel costs, and get millions of travelers where they’re going every day safely and quickly.


From his singular vantage point as former aviation regulator and policymaker, Gerchick gives us a straightforward insider’s view of how hard it is for government to improve the traveler’s lot by explaining the vagaries of consumer protection rules as well as the political realities and the economic forces at work. While Gerchick offers reasons to hope for a better future in air travel, he presents an unvarnished look at what we can expect—good and bad—when we take to the skies. Some of it will reassure you, some will make you cringe, but all will open your eyes to what it means to fly today.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Aviation consultant Gerchick (former chief counsel of the FAA) has crafted a user-­friendly, nuts-and-bolts survey of contemporary commercial air travel. From the revelation of our new flight-related services purchasing ­experience—whereby airlines no longer sell customers a flight but a whole litany of separate items, such as seat assignments, drinks, snacks, legroom, etc.—Gerchick proceeds to safety topics (older jets, pilot training), costs (fares, fees, and other games), and in-flight illnesses (blood clots! SARS!). In discussing the unmitigated dread of being trapped on a runway-parked aircraft for hours, he covers high-profile and hair-raising events that resulted in regulatory action and a passenger bill of rights. One can quibble with some of Gerchick’s conclusions (anonymous quotes seem cherry-picked to confirm the author’s points) and wonder about the overt, as in circa 1970, sexism in the cockpit he describes, but it’s hard not to nod your head in agreement with his overall picture of the flailing industry. We all hate to fly these days; Gerchick shows us just how valid that negative reaction is. --Colleen Mondor

Review

"Mark Gerchick demonstrates a comprehensive grasp of the aviation system: economics, safety, politics, and the passenger experience. His grasp of aviation safety (i.e., what should you worry about?) is especially compelling. Any air traveler will find Full Upright and Locked Position lively, interesting, and informative reading."
Carol J. Carmody, former vice-chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

"Anyone who wonders why they are always in the last boarding group―regardless of seat assignment―should read
Full Upright and Locked Position."
Patricia Harris, Boston Globe

"I fully expect that some day soon I’ll be on a flight where every passenger is reading the same book:
Full Upright and Locked Position. It won’t make the plane seem any less cramped, or the pricing or schedule policies any less maddening, or the security any easier to deal with. But Mark Gerchick’s clarity, knowledge, and humor will give everyone a better sense of how American air travel became such a joyless (though safe) ordeal, and what hope there is ahead."
James Fallows, author of China Airborne and national correspondent for The Atlantic

"Intriguing… Resonant… a narrative that is part lifting of the veil and part condemnation of commercial airlines’ loss of soul."
Christine Thomas, Miami Herald

"A spellbinder on the state of aviation and its discontents."
Gerry Wingenbach, Flyertalk.com

"Illuminating…The insights provided will make the turbulence a little easier to bear."
Publishers Weekly

"A thorough disclosure on today’s airlines and the passengers who use them―best read while still on the ground."
Kirkus Reviews

"Fact-packed and engaging."
Wall Street Journal

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B007Q6XL1Q
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; Reprint edition (June 10, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 10, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 365 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 039334939X
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 165 ratings

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Mark Gerchick
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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
165 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides insightful and interesting information about air travel. They describe it as a good read for anyone who flies or books flights for others. The writing style is well-written in plain English with a witty and conversational tone. Many readers consider the book worth the cost, especially the chapter on how airlines manage pricing. The book is also described as fun and amusing, with some anecdotes that are quite amusing.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

39 customers mention "Information quality"35 positive4 negative

Customers find the book provides a good overview of issues and problems encountered by the airline industry. They appreciate the author's knowledge and insight into the subject matter. The topics are well-covered, and readers enjoy learning about the everyday operations of airlines and airplanes.

"...It explains all facets of airline and airport operation and gives the reader methods for obtaining the best price and service...." Read more

"...Mark Gerchick does an excellent job explaining the ins-and-outs, the whys-and-why nots, of today's travel...." Read more

"...airline ticket price justification, as well as, helping the reader understand government regulations and the process that creates change...." Read more

"...He compares the amenities, including sleeping arrangements in business and first-class sections, on extended flights, such as overseas trips...." Read more

19 customers mention "Readability"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and informative. They recommend it for travelers and those who book flights. The topics are well-covered and the content is good, though some readers have issues with the content not lining up properly.

"...This book is superb reading for anyone who flies or for anyone who books flights for other people...." Read more

"...Both books are very good and give the interested reader a view from both the cockpit (excuse me, "flight deck") and the business end of flying...." Read more

"...the best I've ever read concerning air travel and is one I strongly urge people to read, whether they're flying to visit the grandparents or going..." Read more

"I fly around 180K miles a year and greatly enjoyed this book. One of the other reviews says that every frequent flyer knows all of this already...." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing style"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They appreciate the author's witty and conversational writing style that keeps their interest. The book provides an insightful look into the aviation industry in plain English.

"...It is well written and reads well." Read more

"...He's a good writer - as is Patrick Smith - and both their books are worth reading." Read more

"...I skipped through some parts, but for the most part the author held my interest...." Read more

"A fascinating look into a fascinating industry written in plain English but hitting some high level aspects of a complex industry...." Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They find the chapter on how airlines manage pricing useful. The book provides methods for obtaining the best price and service, and helps readers understand the impacts of fuel costs, overbooking seats, and aircraft.

"...of airline and airport operation and gives the reader methods for obtaining the best price and service. It is well written and reads well." Read more

"...said, the book does highlight on a few interesting topics about airline ticket price justification, as well as, helping the reader understand..." Read more

"...convenience, amenities, her fuel prices, airborne terrorism, cost of flying (for both the consumer and airlines), fees, baggage handling..." Read more

"...Reading this book, you will come to understand the impacts of fuel costs, overselling seats, aircraft design and airline operations...." Read more

4 customers mention "Enjoyment"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it fun and informative.

"...I found it to be fun and instructive at the same time. Plenty of humor for a road warrior to enjoy, too!" Read more

"Fun and Informative Read, I know where to sit, tuck, ask for a stewardess, laugh and pray. Clear the isles." Read more

"Entertaining and insightful" Read more

"Enjoyable..." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find the anecdotes amusing.

"...Some of the anecdotes are quite amusing (e.g., the escapades of the inventor of the autopilot) while others are tragic or disturbing...." Read more

"...I found it to be fun and instructive at the same time. Plenty of humor for a road warrior to enjoy, too!" Read more

"Well written for the flying public. Good information delivered with sense of humor." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2014
    Anyone who has flown in the past 10 years knows that the experience has become a nightmare of long security lines, extensive screening, high fares, cattle class seating and luggage that may or may not get where it is supposed to with you. The author tries to explain just why all of these things occur and why flying has become such a hassle.

    To fully understand airline travel today, you have to have a little knowledge of what airline travel was like in the 1950-19780 era. That was the time when passengers were treated to an amazing experience, when people still dressed nicely to fly and when it was still a luxury experience. Since that time, it has become a simple method of getting people from one spot to the other, while generating as much profit as possible.

    One method used by the airlines to increase profits are called fare buckets. Fares are adjusted constantly to fill seats at the best price for the airline. Booking months in advance will get you a good discount, but booking a day or 2 before the flight will cost a fortune. The airlines use various "buckets" on each flight and put seats into the various buckets to insure the flight is as full as possible. As the author states, more than once, a seat carrying a low paying passenger is still better than flying that seat empty.

    There are also luggage charges, which make up the majority of the airlines profits in any given year. Prior to the advent of charges for luggage, any small change in costs, such as the run up in fuel prices cripples airlines and ate away at any possible profit.

    This book is superb reading for anyone who flies or for anyone who books flights for other people. It explains all facets of airline and airport operation and gives the reader methods for obtaining the best price and service. It is well written and reads well.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2013
    Mark Gerchick's new book "Full Upright and Locked Position", is an insider's look at the airline industry in the past ten or so years. A lawyer, Gerchick has worked as counsel for both the FAA and the DOT. Now he's an consultant to airlines which are struggling to stay ahead of the economic and legal and safety problems which have plagued the airline industry. Mark Gerchick makes reference to another recent book - by pilot Patrick Smith - who looks at the industry from a slightly different point-of-view. Both books are very good and give the interested reader a view from both the cockpit (excuse me, "flight deck") and the business end of flying. Smith's book is a more passionate, personal book while Gerchick's is more measured emotionally.

    I'm a former travel agent and probably a bit more "into" the business end of the airline industry than most readers. When Gerchick writes about fare manipulation by smart flyers and talks about "hidden cities" and buying two cheap round-trip tickets and throwing away half of each, I "get" what he's talking about. Hell, in my career twenty years ago, I was considered the "queen of point-afters" by my clients. But after the airlines quit paying commission to travel agents, the business model of travel agents using airlines as a source of income cratered and was hurt further by the internet and travelers becoming their OWN travel agents. That was in the mid-1990's and the airline business never looked back. Perhaps they should have, but that's for another book. Gerchick's book is about the years post-2000

    Many people think the airlines tales-of-woe began post 9/11, but they really began a bit earlier. The economic downturn beginning in the early 2000's was exacerbated by the attacks of September 11th. Onerous security measures put into place by the US government at airports and on airplanes made flying - already a drudgery - that much worse. Business travelers began to cut their travel plans and the airlines were losing passengers at a pretty good clip post 9/11. Fuel prices were climbing with the declining economy and flying old, fuel-inefficient metal proved too much for many airlines. Bankruptcies were common as the airlines tried to ameliorate fuel costs and souring employee benefit/wages. The old-time legacy carriers like United, Delta, Northwest, Continental, American,and USAir found the going rough against the upstart airlines like Southwest and AirTran. These newer, sleeker carriers didn't have either the actual and/or proverbial "baggage" the older carriers were saddled with. By 2014, the first four on that list had merged into two carriers - Delta and United - and the last two are in the process of merging.

    Gerchick is very good at explaining these economic woes and the steps managements took to get their airlines back in order. Fees for checking bags and no-food-in-coach played a big part of this.

    But why do people still hate flying? And you better believe they do. Crammed into a coach seat with a screaming baby on one side and someone who smells like he hasn't bathed in a week on the other side, AFTER having gone through the rigors of the TSA, is an unpleasant way to spend four hours. Added to that, there's a chance your charged-for checked bags will go astray and bad weather may hold you on the runway for hours after landing. Disgruntled flight attendants and other airline employees mad at their airlines for economic reasons add to the general surliness of the average flyer's journey. The way to alleviate some of that unpleasantness is to fly a whole lot on one airline and get "status". You might not be sitting up in First, but the Coach "experience" is a whole lot better if you can board early and find a place for your carry-on in the cramped overhead compartment. Better to be a "Gold" or "Platinum" than to be with the unwashed masses.

    Mark Gerchick does an excellent job explaining the ins-and-outs, the whys-and-why nots, of today's travel. He knows both the government and the airline industry's view of the on-going problems of traveling today. He's a good writer - as is Patrick Smith - and both their books are worth reading.
    31 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2013
    For a novice traveler, this book helps expose some of the 'secret' craft of the industry. For those of us who travel all of the time; most of the text is just a refresher of the information we are already all too aware -Understanding airline miles, seats, service and day to day travel is something most road warriors pride themselves on. That being said, the book does highlight on a few interesting topics about airline ticket price justification, as well as, helping the reader understand government regulations and the process that creates change. I enjoyed reading it, not because I gained much new insight; but, because I found myself nodding my head in agreement as if I was in an echo chamber.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mark Cribb
    4.0 out of 5 stars I didn't want to know that...whilst flying!!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2015
    Bit of a technical journal but interesting for all that. Don't read it at the airport though.

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