Let the journey begin! I think the worst part of any trip is the packing and getting to the departure point. I started packing for this trip a week in advance and was still making changes 8 hours departure. One day I want to take a trip where I don’t pack anything- I just get up and go. Forget all the clothes, layers, accessories; all the cords and charging devices; all the STUFF!
When I finally got to the airport at 4 AM, I rushed to catch the shuttle bus from the remote parking (not really “budget” parking at $10/day). It wasn’t until boarding until I realized in my haste that I may have forgotten to lock the car- at least I have the keys with me.
Everything with Delta has gone fairly smoothly. I flew from Greenville (GSP) to Atlanta (ATL) and am on my flight from Atlanta as I write this. I have a couple of general observations about flying these days:
- First, what a huge role technology plays - from boarding passes and inflight WiFi to tracking baggage and check in. Technology can present unpleasant challenges as well. Getting connected to the WiFi on the plane was a pain and what happens to those that are technologically challenged like the elderly?
- Secondly, the class of passenger standards just aren’t what I grew up with. My father worked for Delta for 40 years. From my earliest years I remember everyone being dressed up to fly. The vast majority of today’s passengers look like they just crawled out of bed or something worse. What happened to the prestigious privilege of flying?
- My third observation is the problem the greedy airlines have created with paid baggage. It seems half those flying brought a month’s worth of carry on and the airlines do nothing to enforce carry on regulations. I’m all for bargain flights, but this has reached the level of ridiculousness.
- Finally, airlines boarding procedures are the absolute best example of economic segregation today and unfortunately that is only going to get worse. Yes, I am almost always the last to board and have to fight for storage space. Fortunately, I’ve learned that paying for checked bags reduces my baggage-battle fatigue.
More to come once we land in LA and I get to my hotel.
