One of the things that struck me as I was headed out to New Home 2.0 last week was simply the amount of time and energy and I have spent on air travel in the past five years.
What turned into regular trips back to visit my parents started in July 2020; since then I have been in the air at least once a month for almost every month since then. As of this coming July, it that would make almost 60 months of some form of air travel, not counting trips to amazing places like Costa Rica, Greece, Turkey, Japan, and Switzerland/Germany.
I love a good adventure as much as the next person. But adventuring via "Please make sure your tray tables are in the full upright and locked position" does not quite have the luster that it once had.
Fortunately, it seems like this phase may be coming to a more manageable close. I have one more trip scheduled to New Home 2.0 and after that, an unknown period of time before I will be returning. And trips to The Ranch to check on things have become much more manageable time trips of an hour or two, the sorts of things that can be managed in a single day if need be.
Learning I have had over these years:
1) If possible, get a direct flight or as close to a direct flight as you can. Hopping on and off planes, stalking back and forth between gates, enjoying the overpriced hospitality of airport food - even when pretty good (and there is some pretty good food out there) is just an additional wear and tear on the body and additional travel time. I am to the point that I will pay a bit more to get a direct.
2) When making travel plans that may involve transfers, by all means check which airport you are transferring through. Depending on the location/time of year, it can almost inevitably result in delays (Chicago or Denver in Winter, for example). And other airports - such as Las Vegas - are inevitably crowded and just not really great places to spend time.
3) While I value the ability to get out of the airport quickly, I think I value the fact of boarding more quickly, to the point that more often than not I will check my bag rather than fly with it. Part of that is simply that I like to get to my seat as quickly as possible. The other thing is I do not want to be one of "those people" struggling to get my bag into the overhead, wrestling it in and out of place, holding everyone up.
(As a side note, I will view with interest in the coming months the fact that Southwest will start charging for bags. I can honestly see a day where all airlines ban anything larger than a backpack simply to make onboarding and offboarding a quicker process.)
4) I has said it before, but most air travel is just not fun anymore.
Once upon a time, air travel was both rare and (frankly) more of an experience. But over the years that has changed and air travel is now something that is commoditized, much like any other form of transportation. Domestically anymore, it has little difference with any other form of mass transit (with the exception that it costs more): lines, close quarters, a victim of schedules beyond our control.
Is it amazing that within 8 hours (more or less) I can travel anywhere in the continental U.S.? Absolutely - and I have benefited greatly from that over the years, even this weekend when I could get home within 6 hours to see my daughter graduate.
But it comes at a cost - financial, personal, even stress levels (in no way have I ever arrived at my destination "more relaxed").
Much like many other sorts of "modern" conveniences, it does make me wonder if a sign of status will not be quickly one can get there but rather the amount of time that one can take to get there. Yes, driving can make for long days - but the act of driving in this day and age is a testimonial to the fact that one has the option to take the time and always be "in a hurry".
Will I ever stop truly traveling by plane? Unlikely, given the location of my family at this point and some of my interests. But I look forward to the day when travel becomes less of "how quickly can I get there" and more about the place that I am going to.
If you have a connection, try to use the same airline. I have found that no one is responsible if the first flight comes in too late.
ReplyDeleteTImbotoo - We are fortunate that for most of the time, we are able to make that happen. Only once or twice - mostly international - have we had to split airlines. In those cases, we leave a great deal of time between arrival and departure just in case the unimaginable happens.
DeleteAnd don't forget you're also five years older now....(heh heh heh)....:) Flitting about in a metal tube in the ether what with the problems that the FAA is experiencing...well........
ReplyDeleteNylon12 - Yes, that is true as well (as is, perhaps, the fact that my patience is much less for such things as well).
DeleteRecent "issues" with flying are also in the back of my mind.
If given a choice, I prefer to drive for domestic travel these days. Airports and airplanes just wear me out mentally and physically. I like being able to stop and check out the proverbial roses whenever I want too.
ReplyDeleteI will add that whenever I fly, especially overseas, I actively avoid any U.S. based airlines. The service and experience is SO much better on foreign based airlines, especially some of the Asian rim based ones. They do still remind me of those days of yore when flying was exciting.
Ed, that is not a bad philosophy and something my parents practiced for many years before they simply could not make those trips. It is what The Ravishing Mrs. TB and Nighean Bhan are doing when they leave tomorrow to bring her car out here (well, obviously not flying that, but taking a leisurely drive). I would guess a passable drive to New Home 2.0 would be 6 to 7 days at this point; I look forward to having the opportunity to drive that slow.
DeleteLike you, I have noticed the same difference on overseas travel versus U.S. based airlines. The most egregious example I can think of recently was flying back from our trip to Vietnam, where the purser almost sounding angry when they were making the standard announcements. I get that dealing with the public is not great and I have no idea what kind of day that person was having, but it certainly did not set the right mood in my mind.
Imagine the days before airplanes. Before cars even. It took years to cross the USA. By time you got there you were the children of the people who left for the trip. 😂 Ok, stole that line from a comedian.
ReplyDeleteSandi, I have thought about crossing the great mountain ranges as I have flown over them. Looking down at them and seeing the valleys that lead to nowhere and the narrow passes that are now freeways, it shocks me that anyone left home at all.
DeleteBob, same sort of thinking here. The convenience of four to six hour trip between New Homes 2.0 and 3.0 is pretty amazing; the before and after of such a trip not so much - but it beats a multi-day drive.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the charging for checked bags was a self enforced error. Even with being on their A-list (I have been for years), next year might be my last (due to earning enough this year) as the incentive to use them diminishes if I have to pay for luggage - adding $50 to $100 for luggage now makes them just like a great many other airlines.