The Joys of Air Travel

Later this month I will be taking a trip that will require me to get on an airplane. This isn’t something new to me. I really love to travel, I love to go to new places, and old, and see different things, etc. etc. What I don’t love is getting there. While I can totally appreciate the convenience of air travel and can see how far we’ve come in the last 100 years, it’s still a rather miserable experience.

The first thing that makes it miserable is the cost of a ticket. Sure you can find cheap tickets but at a price that isn’t monetary. A cheap ticket usually means you have to leave really early in the morning (before 6 a.m.) or late at night (after 10 p.m.) and you will most probably have a layover. That layover can be 30 minutes (which means there is a pretty good chance you’ll miss your connecting flight) or 3 hours or more (have you been to the airport in Atlanta?).

And let’s not forget the hidden costs. With the exception of Southwest Airlines, you now have a fee to check a bag (anywhere from $15 to $50). With Frontier you have to pay to watch any of the in-flight entertainment and with some airlines you have to pay extra for the food (which, less face it, is pretty subpar food). But now thrifty Southwest Airlines feeling the economic crunch and is offering the option of paying a fee to get place in the boarding line. I’ve never flown on Southwest Airline but from what I understand there are no seat assignments, it’s pretty much get in line and find a seat when you get on. But now, for only $10, you can reserve a space in line. Not an actually seat but a place in line to get a seat. Guess it’s kind of like slipping the host/hostess a tener at a restaurant to get a table. Anyway, here’s the story:



I have never understood why people crowd around the gate entrance when they start boarding the plan, especially when you have a seat assignment. Why would you want to sit on a plane any longer than necessary? Do you think they’ll give your seat away if your butt isn’t in it within five minutes of the gate attendant calling your row?

Now the really miserable part is when you actually get to your seat. Unless you are 5 feet 5 inches or shorter and weigh less than 100 pounds those seats are so not comfortable. There isn’t enough leg room, the arm rests are too low and forget putting the tray table down if the person in front of you has the seat reclined all the way back.

Yes, I’m so not looking forward to five hours on an airplane. And don’t get met started on those people who whip out their cell phones the minute the plan touches the ground.