Come Fly with Me: Summer Travel Preview

I don’t need a survey to tell me that people don’t like to be seated next to, near, or even in the same airplane cabin with crying children.

However, a recent poll claims travelers were even more judgmental about being seated next to those afflicted with…how to put this delicately?  B.O.

Public education – maybe an e-mail to ticket holders before they leave for the airport – can help remedy the “stinky traveler” problem by pointing out both the social and personal hygiene benefits of a shower, strong deodorant or some decent perfume (but not too “musky,” please!) before boarding a plane.  But a kid is a kid is a kid, and they tend to cry a lot when travelling, especially during take-off and landings:  Their ears hurt.  They sense their mother is terrified of flying so they are too.  They’re hungry.  Or bored, and they want you to know that they’re as tired and cranky and unhappy about being on that plane as you are.

The flight from Hong Kong to Dulles Airport outside of Washington, D.C. is just shy of 17 hours long.  That’s a lot of movies to watch, time zones to cruise through, drinks and meal carts to wait for, magazines to read, memos to prepare. 

When we brought our daughter home from China, she cried the entire trip home.

That's right. 

Everyone in our cabin hated us. In fact, no one on that plane had any empathy for us or our distraught child.  Fellow travelers glared at me, but they especially disliked my poor husband, because he walked up and down the length of the plane for hours – literally -- trying to quiet our daughter.  He failed.

And if you've ever traveled a lot, you know that these most recent survey findings reveal just a few of the basic truths about air travel in the 21^st Century:  Babies cry.  Parents sulk.  Talky seatmates are a nuisance.  Business travelers drink too much.   Flight attendants are rude when treated rudely. Economy seats are too small, especially when you’re seated next to someone who is obese.  Business class is too expensive.  Holiday travel is the worst. And airplane food (even if you have to pay for it) still stinks.

Personally, I’ve got to hand it to the person with B.O. because he or she probably doesn’t really give a #@$! so they settle back, and just try to enjoy the ride.  A little lack of self-awareness can be a good thing.... 

So as we kick off the 2013 summer travel season, I wish you a bon voyage and a reminder to not sweat the small stuff if you possibly can.  As for my family, we're driving on our vacation this year -- less aggravation and expense!

I'll be back on Tuesday.  Happy summer solstice!