In the last year, I have made ten trips that required air travel. I have flown something like 100,000 miles and spent roughly the entirety of my adult life in layovers. If I had kids, I would have forgotten what they looked like. I am registered to vote in The Sky because I spend more than 50 percent of my time there. I am literally writing this on my phone from gate E4 of Miami International Airport.
In my travels, I have come to realize that many people seem to expect flying to be a tolerable—even enjoyable—experience. These people are wrong. Flying sucks, but it’s the price we pay to be able to get anywhere in the world in a matter of days. Let’s be honest—if the fastest way to get to Europe was twelve hours in a wooden crate with holes poked in it, people would still do that, and then they’d tell their friends that they’ve always found JetBlue to stack crates more efficiently than United.
With that in mind, here are some ways to make the whole experience a little smoother. I’m not talking about better food or more leg room—remember, flying is shitty, and we’re not going to fix that. We’re just trying to get through the whole process without murdering each other. Continue reading
