Flying Commercial

By TLS

Inspired by a recent trip.

Flying. What a miserable experience it is anymore. Livestock being shoved down the chute to the back alley slaughterhouse. That’s probably about the best, and most accurate, description of what flying has become.

I’m just old enough to remember when flying was actually an enjoyable event. My first commercial flight was back in 1990. I remember it being exciting, interesting, and enjoyable. The planes were rarely full and that infamous middle seat, often luxuriously empty. One could actually see the cockpit and even, from time to time, talk to the pilots (while in the air!).

I remember my grandparents coming back from some trip and the picture slide show we would sit through looking at all the trip pictures, but also all the out the plane window pictures. It was quite the celebrated event.

Walk into an airport today and it’s like a mixture of panic, chaos, frustration, and Orwellian dystopia, with heavy doses of prisoner transfer and INS deportation. All seamlessly rolled into one crap experience.

It’s no surprise we arrived here. Market pressures, increased travelers, terrorist attacks; all pushed us inevitably to where we now stand.

Can things get better, from a traveler’s perspective? Probably not, at least not for quite some time. The direction the freight train we’re on is already set and the train has most definitely already left the station.

What can travelers do to improve their experience? Precious little unfortunately. There are a few gimmies however, arrive early, pack wisely, know travel rules, and above all…be patient. One other thing, upgrade seats. Coach seats are absolutely horrendous these days, and first class is little better than coach was a few decades ago. There are better levels of ‘suck’ in coach but they’re extremely limited. These and first class unfortunately will be available to only a few and have little effect on the rest of the travel experience.

So, should people still fly. Yes, of course, since there really isn’t any good alternative. Simply understand that flying is not really part of the (enjoyable) experience anymore. It’s more something one must simply endure, and it only seems to be getting worse.

Good luck to us all!

Flying is no longer the dream it once was. It’s a necessary evil, endured rather than enjoyed. But the conversation doesn’t have to stop there. Share your worst (or funniest) flight story in the comments, and let’s see if misery really does love company.

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<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/multiethnic-group-tourists-travelling-commercial-flight-with-international-airways-service-flying-with-plane-sunset-arrive-airline-destination-feeling-scared-about-takeoff_31195947.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=25&uuid=af05585a-6eff-4119-8ca4-b574128203b2">Image by DC Studio on Freepik</a>