From the magic of takeoff to the chaos of boarding, a frequent flyer reveals the airlines’ right and wrong decisions.
How to stay positive during a stressful summer travel flight
Travel experts share tips on how to stay positive and relaxed during busy summer travel and make flying a fun part of your trip.
- Travel writers find joy in the emotional aspects of flying, such as the people-watching and the thrill of aviation.
- The actual flying experience from the airport to the flight is many people’s favorite part of the journey.
- Airlines could improve the passenger experience by addressing the chaotic boarding process, which is often fraught with rule violations.
Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have a suggestion for a future topic? Fill out the form or email us at the address at the bottom of this page.
As we head into peak summer travel, many of us are trying to get on planes to one of my favorite places: somewhere cool.
In many ways, flying is my happy place. Despite all the stresses that can come with flying, such as delayed flights and annoying people sitting next to you, I still consider flying to be a time to relax and unwind.
It may sound strange, but fellow travel writers assure me I’m not alone.
For many of us, airline tickets have an intangible magic that keeps us coming back for more, even as ticket prices rise and airport congestion swells.
I talked to a few of those friends about what I liked about flying and what I thought airlines could do more for their passengers. While the best parts for everyone seem to be more emotional and thrilling, the parts that have room for improvement revolve around customer service. Here’s what our fellow experts have to say:
good points
▶ people are watching
My friend Chris Don, a freelance travel journalist, said he still gets excited every time he takes off and likes to imagine his fellow passengers feel the same way.
“The idea is to meet other people at the airport or on the plane and see their excitement,” he said. “It’s like looking at the people around you who are flying with you, whether it’s people going on business or visiting family.”
Don said seeing other travelers excited reminded him why he loves writing about travel and finds each trip interesting and new.
▶ flying
Surprisingly (or maybe not, given my friendships), two of the people I interviewed said their favorite part of flying was actually flying.
For Victoria M. Walker, travel journalist and writer of the newsletter Carrying On, the flying experience is a wonderful and important part of travel. Even the hustle and bustle of the airport is a signal to your body that a wonderful journey is about to begin.
“I’ve always really enjoyed traveling. I’ve always enjoyed being on the plane. I enjoy getting to the airport and going to the lounge and even getting a snack beforehand, rather than checking in my luggage. I even enjoy sitting by the gate. I’ve always been a person who enjoys the process of traveling,” Walker said. “Getting to your destination is just as fun as actually traveling.”
She added that she also enjoys flying economy, which I can relate to. It may not be the most luxurious seat on a plane, but it’s still a way to experience the miracle of flight and reach amazing destinations.
Rich Henderson, a flight attendant and co-author of the blog Two Guys on a Plane, agreed that getting to your destination is (sometimes more than half) the fun.
“For me, it’s the actual aviation part, and I’ve always been fascinated by airplanes and the magic behind the process. There’s nothing like sitting in a window seat and watching planes take off and land and thinking about how amazing it is to be able to experience this as a human being,” Henderson said.
For Henderson, the actual act of taking off and landing a plane feels like a special kind of alchemy.
“You can sit down, stop, look out the window and reflect on the good things in life,” he said. “I feel like that moment resets me.”
That’s why I wish U.S. airlines would follow the lead of many other airlines around the world and force passengers to keep their windows open during takeoff and landing.
What airlines can do better
▶ Boarding
Henderson and Walker assert that they were interviewed separately.
“My least favorite thing is boarding. I think boarding is a nightmare for everyone involved. I don’t think they’re making it easy for anyone,” Henderson said. “I think they could find a way to make the process a little bit easier. Honestly, I think boarding times could be longer just to give everyone more space to get settled and position themselves.”
But he acknowledged that such a change was unlikely because it would mean more free time on planes, which would be costly for airlines. Henderson similarly said it would be great if airlines gave passengers some extra leg and elbow room, but that’s unlikely.
“Obviously it would be nice to have more space, but they’re not going to do that,” he said.
Walker agreed that the boarding process leaves a lot to be desired by passengers.
“Boarding is still a mess, mainly because no one seems to be following the rules. People who aren’t in the group are boarding, people who aren’t in first class, concierge keys, or Delta One are boarding first. I think there should be a little more oversight about overhead luggage and luggage being placed in the wrong cabin,” Walker said. “People give up all kinds of common sense at the airport when they’re flying, but they probably wouldn’t do it anywhere else.”
Part of the improvement could be through better enforcement of airline rules, she said, but passengers themselves also need to behave better.
Hogging overhead bin space or cutting the boarding line slows down the process for everyone.
“Anything that can go under the seat can and should go under the seat,” Walker said. “Not only more oversight in that regard, but also self-regulation by travelers themselves” would make a big difference.
▶ customer service
For Dong, the overall customer service atmosphere could be friendlier.
“A lot of the complaints from travelers are that it feels like an impersonal experience, and there are little things airlines can do to make it feel more hospitable and welcoming when you’re in back economy,” he said. “Whether or not a flight attendant greets you at the door or a little bit of customer service attitude can make a huge difference in the overall experience. I think this is the kind of culture that airlines as a whole, and especially in the U.S., need to do better.”
I also agree with my friends, but at the end of the day, for me, I’m happy to get on a plane and fly like everyone else.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and can be reached at zwichter@usatoday.com.
