The “HATES” Of Air Travel We Now Fondly Miss

Posted on January 29, 2021

The realities of modern air travel are far removed from the jet setting days of the early 1960s and the glamorous image portrayed in films like “Catch Me If You Can”.

Although air travel is now much cheaper and available to most of us, the experience often involves long waits at the airport, stressful lines at security and finally being crammed into tiny airline seats. These seats are not much bigger than the ones you used to sit on in primary school.

We may complain about the discomfort and minor annoyances of air travel but if we had the chance. We would gladly get on board a plane and jet off to somewhere exciting without any hesitation.

So let’s revisit our post, the ‘hates’ of air travel and reminisce about those things we now fondly miss.

1. Overpriced Airport Hotels

Usually, a bit worn around the edges and the worst example of a hotel chain. However, we really miss sitting in the airport bar with the anticipation and excitement of the trip to come.

2. Other Passengers

Remember the novelty of talking to a stranger and sitting within 6 feet of them. Hopefully, that person who used to sit behind you snorting will finally realise that it is unacceptable behaviour.

3. Check-In

Self-service machines, paperwork and that extended family with 26 bags to check-in but how we miss it. The relief of getting rid of the bags and heading through security to the ‘nice’ part of the airport. However, it would be nice to avoid those queues by travelling business class, but at the moment, we’ll take anything.

4. Airport Security

Those miserable men with their X-ray machines, we miss you too. Saying that the UK airport staff we’ve met have all been very helpful. Especially, when compared to the US airport security staff we’ve had the misfortune to encounter.

US staff think shouting and being rude makes the procedure more secure, surprisingly, no it doesn’t. Although, we’ll gladly get shouted out again to get a chance of a couple of weeks touring the USA.

5. Duty-Free – Running The Gauntlet

The duty-free staff will no longer pounce on you as leave the security area. The free samples of alcohol have also disappeared from the shelves. Where are you going to get that free squirt of aftershave or perfume now?

6. Airport Bars

We would be grateful for any bar to be open at the moment and we promise not to complain about that £8 glass of wine. Although, we would definitely avoid the bar if it was a ‘Weatherspoons’.

7. The Gate Call

You know it’s going to be the last gate in the airport but no worries, we’re going on holiday. Also, we promise not to complain when they call everyone to the gate at least half an hour before the plane is actually ready. We miss riding on those moving walkways as well, (we really miss those little things).

8. The Bus Transfer

We promise not to complain about the bus transfer again. You still have a bus ride despite the 5-mile walk to the gate. Anyway, it’s another step closer to take-off, so that’s a good thing. Remember when the doors of the bus opened? We shot out towards the plane like excited greyhounds from their traps.

9. Boarding

Remember the joys of being battered to death by the people with oversized carry-on bags? Yes, we would even put up with that to fly again. Also, the excitement you get when you find out there’s a spare seat next to you when you hear the words “boarding complete”. We even have fond memories of the safety demonstration.

10. Airline Food

We’ve saved the best until the end. We do actually miss the delights of airline food. What’s going to arrive on those little plastic trays and what lies beneath those tin foil lids? Thai Airways even opened a plane themed restaurant in Bangkok where you can enjoy the inflight experience on the ground instead of at 35,0000 feet.

So those are our 10 ‘hates’ of air travel which we now fondly mess. Hopefully, we will be able to fly again very soon and promise not to complain. Well not for the first 10 minutes anyway!