Many years ago I looked forward to flying. I loved the new experiences – perhaps a city, restaurant, stadium I have never been to before. I couldn’t wait to get there. For every vacation I would leave Friday right after work returning the last flight on the following Sunday always turning a week vacation into basically 9 days. Speed up to years later, it just isn’t the same. Flying isn’t as much fun! It could be because I am getting older, less patient, or not happy with constant airline delays.
Whatever the reason or reasons – it just isn’t as much fun. I don’t avoid flights, if I have to be somewhere I will go but probably not stay as long as I used too. Years ago I would chat to the person sitting next to me. I don’t really do that anymore, I choose to listen to music and kind of wonder into my own little world hoping the flight doesn’t have too much turbulence and no one is kicking my chair the entire time!
What about you?
- Is flying fun these days?
- How do you occupy yourself during the many delays?
- What bothers you the most about flying?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Patti Schluesselheim says:
No kidding! In a previous life, I traveled 20 days of 30 for my job and I loved it. I loved seeing new places and meeting new people and enjoying the luxuries of flying. Now, I dread every single flight….the lines, the fees but mostly, the incredibly rude airline people who act as if I should be grateful they let me on their plane. American, by far, is the worst. Overcrowded flights, $4 for a $1 can of Pringles…..$65 to check my bags. YUCK.
I fly out of Pittsburgh and American was my only option for the last 3 years up until the Wright Amendment expired. So on a recent trip back to Dallas, I flew on Southwest for the first time and, to be perfectly honest, that almost felt like the old days of flying. No fee to check my bags, free snacks, free WiFi, live television streaming and super nice people on the flight. And, while the flight was crowded, everyone around me was nice. So, maybe it’s not the flying itself that is the issue, perhaps it’s the airline.
And, for the delays and all the long, drawn-out waiting, I am so grateful for an iPhone with unlimited data 🙂
Not to sound like an ad for SWA, but I am a fan. They know how to do this and do it right. From the lack of fees to the boarding process, they rock.
Fee Sepahi says:
Hi Merrill,
Can’t agree with you more. I also think that we grew up in an era where the securities that are in place today, were not part of the travel agenda. I feel since NY, the sneaker incident etc., we’ve been trained to be more fearful of our fellow person. In my day hijacking a plane was the standard and now it’s not only taking the plane but also killing everyone aboard.
Anymore all we want to do is get to where we’re going without any hassles.
Our world has changed for sure. It’s not just you.
Happy New Year!
Fee
Ginger Blazier says:
I agree. It’s not as much fun. These days flying is similar to taking a cab/shuttle with wings! I can remember the old times when you actually got a decent meal, a movie, and a pillow & blanket, all complimentary, in the economy section. (showing my age!). Knock on wood, I have been pretty lucky lately when it comes to delays. I hope I don’t have to eat my words. Tomorrow I leave for Florida for enjoy some vacation time.
What bothers me the most about flying is having really loud people near me and the fact that I can never hear the pilot’s announcements during the flight, even when it’s silent in the cabin.
Laura Drews Freund says:
I still love to fly BUT…I make sure I arrive early & have plenty of time because being tardy is what causes travel stress for me. I go into my day EXPECTING delays & lay overs… that way I don’t get frustrated.
I make sure bring my work laptop and a book. I must admit though the only thing that I truly hate about flying is the stress & peer pressure from the line of people behind me to get all of my stuff into the gray bins as fast a humanly possible.
S. Ryan Wood says:
As a kid, flying was fun because:
1. Your parents made all the travel arrangements (of which there were fewer then)
2. Regulations weren’t near as bad
3. Security wasn’t near as thorough
4. You could get your baggage to your destination without taking out a loan
5. You were smaller and took up less space in an average seat (which has shrunk)
6. You were too fascinated with your window view to be annoyed by the snoring fat guy or screaming child that you were stuck next to (afterall, you fell asleep 15 minutes after take-off, right?)
7. You could enjoy free snacks or even a free MEAL at no charge.
8. You had room for carry-on luggage and your legs before most airlines crammed more occupancy into their planes.
Hmmm… Train travel sounds more and more fun now…
Tom Littlejohn says:
HI Merrill,
Flying is still very enjoyable to me.
I’ve been in the air consistently since I was 2, but really only doing so professionally for the past 5 years, (now on average I’m probably taking 3-4 round trip flights a month) and before that I was on international flights between Europe and California about 4 times a year.
Really, for a frequent flyer I think it’s actually more convenient now than before: TSA pre and global entry which are very affordable and easy to get, make it so I am now bothered if I’m waiting in a security line more than 5 mins; it’s very easy to track a lot of delays even before the airport and adjust if it’s due to weather conditions or at least show up later to the airport; and on the few occasions I do have an unexpected delay (it really doesn’t happen to me that much, but maybe that’s a product of living in Los Angeles) I’ve got internet in the airport to catch up on work if I want to or I can get a massage at one of those places that seem to be popping up everywhere now.
The fees for checking bags irk me, but to be honest I rarely have to pay them since generally I fly the same airline and am a rewards member and for my back up I have a Credit Card that offers checking for free. I’d also rather have it be a separate fee than just rolled into the ticket prices under the assumption that i will use it.
I hear the bad customer service complaint a lot, and I’ve had it happen to me, but it’s very rare for as often as I fly and I see far more examples of airline workers going out of their way to make the trip more enjoyable. Really, I think the flight attendants are great, especially considering some of the people I see them put up with on a consistent basis.
To me, the biggest inconvenience are the people I’m flying with (I know that sounds bad…). I am annoyed by the people who are putting their personal bags and coats in the overhead when they know space will be an issue and they can put them under the seat in front of them; also not a fan of when someone brings their meal with them and it has a strong smell.
The one thing I really do miss from the good ole days is being able to bring a few bottles of wine with me on the plane. Now that I need to check them, it really affects my trips to wine country…
Ed Sugar says:
Things always change. The days when the majority of the airlines annually posted loses in the name of competition are long gone. With the recent mergers of the existing legacy airlines (once there were 12, now there are 4) has created an oligarchy, where the major carriers are focused strictly on profitability, while passenger satisfaction has taken a back seat.
A number of folks above have cited additional/increased fees as a source of displeasure. Well yeah ain’t seen nothing yet, as in the next few months most of the major carriers will be revamping their frequent flyer mileage programs, basing them on the actual $ spent, rather than the traditional miles flown.
Today the cost of a barrel of Brent Crude is $37, while a round trip ticket, 60 day advance ticket from NYC to LAX will still run one $400+ fees. Once the US economy improves and drives up the demand for service for under served markets, new carriers will emerge to fill this demand and create competition for the current oligarchy that controls the US skies.
The best things passengers can do to make their flights most comfortable are to:
1. Bring your own entertainment (reading material, music, videos)
2. Bring your own snacks
3. Register with the TSA and get TSA Pre Check Clearance or enroll in the Department of Homeland Security’s Trusted Traveler Program (these both remove a bit of the hassle with security lines).
4. Be patient. Once you pass through security, realize that your day/evening are now in someone else’s hands and there will be limited options for you should there be a faulty piece of wiring or Mother Nature decides to throw a curve ball.
As bad as air travel is today, it sure beats walking or hitch hiking.
Happy New Year!
Kelley Styring says:
Yes things have changed. Yes so have I. Yes it’s not fun. That’s probably why these are called work trips and not vacation. But… Ed has listed some excellent travel strategies. I’d like to add two: exercise and work on the plane.
Whenever I have a flight delay I walk the terminals at a brisk pace. You’d be amazed at how many offer excellent walking routes if you pack light. I check a bag and have a biz case in wheels. I travel in track shoes for this reason. One hour delay? I set my alarm for 22 minutes and off I go. When it goes off I walk back and arrive 15 min before boarding. This helps me feel less angry about delays and it’s time I’d spend on the treadmill at my destination.
I bring work for the plane because the time passes more quickly. I love my work and can fully engage in it. Unlike media where so multi screened and easily distracted. Work and the flight ends quickly for me.
Happy New Year