Angela Killian

There are so few things I love more than cheap coffee, trashy magazines, people watching & duty free browsing at the airport. I rarely purchase anything duty free because I don’t want to carry anything extra onto the plane. It amuses me that carry-ons are strictly monitored by airlines, but people are permitted multiple duty free bags. Another spectacle is to watch people anxiously line up the instant gates are open for boarding even when their group hasn’t been called. I personally would like to be on the aircraft the least amount of time possible, so I wait until final call to board. Sure, there might not be overhead space left, but I travel light anyways. I have the same thought every time I’m forced to walk through the business and first class cabins, “next time”.

Once onboard the flight you have unlimited inevitably bad movies to watch & various free beverages, snacks & frozen meals. To some, this may sound like their own personal hell, but to me it is home. I’m not one of those travelers who makes friends on the airplane. I could care less why you’re going to Southeast Asia or about where you’re from. I know, it’s crazy that I live in Phuket, but we don’t have to discuss it. I’m never going to see you again & I’m stuck sitting next to you for the next 15 hours. Let’s pace ourselves.

The worst seat on the plane is obviously the middle one, unless you’re sitting next to friends. The next worse ones are aisle & window. Aisle seats are at the beck & call of middle and window passengers for bathroom use. The window seat passenger holds all the power, forcing middle & aisle sleepers to get up anytime they feel the need to walk around, brush their teeth or use the bathroom. The only good seats are the exit & baby bassinet rows. Trust me, the gamble of sitting next to a screaming baby is worth the extra legroom.

Most passengers don’t take advantage of the amenities on international flights. Although they do not boast it, there is unlimited, (yes unlimited) wine, beer, water, juice & soft drinks onboard for all passenger classes on every airline I have ever flown. I’m always polite & have never been denied extra red wine or ginger ale. I have even seen passengers receive unscheduled snacks throughout flights. I’m always surprised by how many different items are served with the frozen airplane meals. They nearly hit every single food group, which is more than I can say for my typical diet.

After a couple of well-rounded meals, free wine and light snacks, you arrive at your final destination where your luggage is unloaded onto the conveyor belt for you to retrieve at your leisure. There is simply nothing I love more than travelling.