Fly the Friendly Skies: 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023
Fly the Friendly Skies: 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023 - 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023
The Rise of Ultra Low Cost Carriers
The airline industry continues to evolve, and 2023 is seeing the rise of a new breed of airline: the ultra low cost carrier (ULCC). I flew several of these emerging airlines over the past year, including Frontier, Spirit, and Allegiant. ULCCs offer basic one-way fares that can be shockingly cheap - I paid just $39 to fly from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on Frontier. However, you really do get what you pay for. These airlines nickel and dime you for everything, from seat assignments to carry-on bags. I once paid nearly as much in fees on Spirit as I did for the ticket itself! You'll also find bone-bare cabins, mediocre legroom, and minimal amenities onboard. Despite all this, ULCCs have found a market, especially among leisure and budget travelers willing to sacrifice comfort for cost. The key is to read the fine print and know what you're getting into before booking that $19 fare. Pack light, expect full flights, and be ready for cramped seats - that's the tradeoff for dirt cheap airfare.
Turbulence Isn't as Scary as It Seems
If you're an anxious flyer like me, turbulence is always a nerve-wracking experience. But after 90 flights this past year, including some bumpy ones, I've gained a new perspective. While turbulence can be alarming, it's mostly just uncomfortable. Modern planes are engineered to withstand far worse than anything you'll encounter at cruising altitude. Turbulence very rarely, if ever, leads to crashes or serious incidents. The plane will shake and rattle, drinks will spill, and babies will cry, but you'll be just fine. Focus on your breathing, grip your armrests, and remember this too shall pass. The crew is used to it and you'll be back in smooth skies before you know it. Of course, always follow the captain's instructions and keep your seatbelt fastened when those seatbelt signs are on. But try not to let mild to moderate turbulence ruin your flight - it's all just part of the journey.
Pack Light But Bring Entertainment
Over the past year, I've become a master at packing light. When you're hopping between flights, every pound counts. I've learned to get by with just a small carry-on and personal item like a backpack. But just because you're traveling light doesn't mean you have to be bored on long flights. I always make sure to download movies, e-books, podcasts and playlists on my phone or tablet before leaving for the airport. Noise-cancelling headphones are a must for drowning out in-flight noise. A neck pillow and eye mask help me sleep. And I always bring a book or crossword puzzles as a backup. With enough entertainment options, even the longest hauls breeze by. The key is planning ahead so you have something to keep you occupied during idle time in the air. Trust me, you'll be glad you packed that inflight entertainment.As a frequent flyer logging 90 flights last year, I've become an expert at packing light. Lugging bulky suitcases around is exhausting, and most airlines now charge for checked bags. I've learned to get by with just a small carry-on and personal item like a backpack. It takes discipline, but it's worth it to breeze through security and avoid baggage claim.
The key is sticking to essentials only - I bring just enough clothes for the length of the trip, forgoing bulky sweaters and jeans for versatile fabrics like merino wool. To save space, I roll rather than fold clothes. I'll wear bulkiest items like jackets and boots through security. Space-saving packing cubes keep everything neatly organized. I also forgo most toiletries beyond a toothbrush, deodorant, and medication - anything else can be purchased if needed.
The only liquids I pack are a refillable bottle for water and contact solution. Byrunning a tight ship, I can pack about 5 days worth of outfits into a carry-on compliant bag. I'll then use a small backpack as my personal item for electronics and in-flight necessities.
Just because you're traveling light doesn't mean you have to endure boredom on long haul flights. I always come prepared with entertainment to make the hours in the air breeze by. Before leaving for the airport, I download playlists, e-books, movies and podcasts onto my phone or tablet. Noise-cancelling headphones are essential for tuning out in-flight noise and distractions.
An eye mask and neck pillow allow me to sleep comfortably on redeyes. I also always bring a paperback book or crossword puzzles as a backup in case of dead electronics. On flights with seat-back screens, I'll browse the on-demand movies and TV choices. When available, in-flight WiFi allows me to stream content from Netflix or Hulu on my devices.
Other veteran travelers have their own tips and tricks. One said she always packs a portable charger and multi-plug adapter to keep devices powered. Another swears by adult coloring books as an absorbing inflight activity. Some frequent flyers stash a pack of playing cards in their bags for passing time with seatmates. The key is having engaging options so you'll never be bored or antsy at 35,000 feet.
What else is in this post?
- Fly the Friendly Skies: 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023 - 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023
- Fly the Friendly Skies: 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023 - In-Flight WiFi Still Has a Long Way to Go
- Fly the Friendly Skies: 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023 - Not All Airlines Are Created Equal
- Fly the Friendly Skies: 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023 - Sometimes Taking the Bus is Faster
- Fly the Friendly Skies: 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023 - Airline Apps Are a Traveler's Best Friend
Fly the Friendly Skies: 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023 - In-Flight WiFi Still Has a Long Way to Go
As someone who spent around 300 hours in the air last year, I was hopeful that inflight WiFi would help me stay productive and connected. Unfortunately, I found that connection speeds and reliability still leave much to be desired. Of my 90 flights in 2023 on a mix of US and international carriers, only around 20% had functional WiFi. And even when available, it was finicky at best.
On a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Singapore, I eagerly connected to the inflight WiFi, hoping to chip away at emails that had piled up. After buying an hour of access for $20, I found speeds so sluggish that even loading Google was a chore. Every site took minutes to respond, if at all. I accomplished next to nothing during that hour of "connectivity."
Other travelers reported similar issues on carriers like Delta, American, and British Airways. One said he shelled out nearly $50 for WiFi on a transatlantic flight, only to find it useless for anything beyond text messaging. A frequent flyer who logs over 100,000 miles a year said maybe 1 in 5 of her flights have WiFi stable enough for basic web browsing and email. Streaming video or video calls? Forget it.
The most functional WiFi I experienced was on foreign carriers like Singapore Airlines and Emirates. But even then, reliability was spotty once you ventured beyond email. And shelling out $30 for a few hours of dodgy Internet can feel like a rip-off.
Clearly, inflight WiFi still has a long way to go before matching speeds and stability travelers enjoy on the ground. Airlines promote it as an amenity, but the reality is often frustration as you mentally will your email to load for five minutes. Sure, new satellites and technologies promise improvements down the road. But for now, I've learned to curb my connectivity expectations once boarding begins.
Fly the Friendly Skies: 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023 - Not All Airlines Are Created Equal
When it comes to air travel, not all airlines are created equal. This is a truth I learned across 90 flights last year on over a dozen different carriers. Each airline has its own strengths, weaknesses, and unique attributes that impact the passenger experience. You can't paint them all with the same broad brush.
For instance, I found that legacy network carriers like Delta and American offer the most comprehensive route maps and flight frequency for domestic U.S. travel. Their scale means they can get me just about anywhere with minimal fuss. However, their aging fleet interiors, mediocre food, and lackluster service left much to be desired. As one frequent business traveler put it, "Getting from A to B is easy on these carriers, but it often feels very cookie cutter."
In contrast, international megacarriers like Singapore Airlines and Emirates lived up to their reputations for luxury by offering impeccable service, cutting-edge suites, and lavish amenities like onboard showers on certain long-haul routes. But their focused hubs mean limited options for domestic U.S. travel. As a Singapore based flyer explained, "I can enjoy a five star experience in the air, but Singapore Airlines can't get me to as many destinations within the U.S."
Then you have ultra low-cost carriers like Spirit and Allegiant, which offer tantalizingly cheap base fares but nickel and dime travelers for things like seat assignments and overhead bags. Their no-frills experience is ideal for budget-minded leisure travelers who pack light and don't mind waiting at remote gates. As one college student put it, "I got from Florida to New York for under $50 round-trip, so I can't complain about the cramped seats and lack of legroom."
Increasingly, it pays for travelers to look beyond convenience and price when selecting an airline. Seek out carriers that align with your priorities for things like service, amenities, routes, and cabin experience. Leverage online resources like airline reviews and forums to identify the standout players for your needs. Be willing to trade-off factors like price for comfort on long hauls or vice versa for short hops.
Fly the Friendly Skies: 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023 - Sometimes Taking the Bus is Faster
While less glamorous than jetsetting, buses have some underappreciated advantages. With direct point-to-point routes and the agility to navigate local roads, they can shave precious hours off certain trips, especially between cities spaced a few hundred miles apart.
Fellow savvy travelers have discovered the same. One overnight bus devotee explained how he shaved nearly five hours off the Los Angeles to Las Vegas route. The flight may only take an hour in the air, but adding in airport transit, security lines, boarding, baggage claim and traffic can turn it into an all-day slog. His luxury coach left downtown LA at 11 PM and had him in Vegas by sunrise, refreshed and ready to start his day. He was already hitting the blackjack table as bleary-eyed fliers were still disembarking at McCarran.
Others find buses excel for multi-city itineraries. A college student detailed how she used Greyhound's bus network to hop between Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans on a Southern road trip. The buses ferried her directly city-to-city along the route. Had she flown, she would have wasted hours backtracking through airport hubs. The flexibility to hop on and off also allowed her more time in each destination.
Buses also reach places flights can't. A national parks enthusiast explained how he relied solely on coaches to explore Utah's Mighty Five parks in a week. The buses dropped him steps from stunning red rock vistas too remote for airports. He woke up one morning to moose outside his national park lodge window – an experience he could only access by bus.
Fly the Friendly Skies: 10 Truths Learned from 90 Flights in 2023 - Airline Apps Are a Traveler's Best Friend
As any jetsetter can attest, a quality airline app is indispensable for streamlining travel in this digital age. While the 90 flights I took last year were booked through various channels, airline apps became my control center for everything from check-in to flight changes to bag tracking. Savvy travelers worldwide have discovered the same.
A marketing exec living in Dallas explained how American Airlines' app allows her to breeze through airports: "I use it to check-in, access my mobile boarding pass, get flight updates, and even order food for pickup at my departure gate. It makes traveling so much smoother when I have all that info at my fingertips."
A New York consultant described how Delta's app has saved him from weather headaches: "When a snowstorm canceled my Detroit flight, the app rebooked me on the next available nonstop automatically. It even informed me via push alert before I'd realized there was a cancelation. The whole process took seconds without needing to call an agent."
Parents of young children swear by family boarding notifications, which alert them when their group is called to avoid missing a preferred seat. Dance teachers rely on barcode boarding passes in airline apps for quick security clearance on trips withmultiple students. Even road warriors not loyal to a single carrier find value, using airline sites as a one-stop shop to manage upcoming bookings.
Travelers agree the beauty of airline apps is putting key functions like check-in, gate changes, and boarding passes right on your phone. No more fumbling for paper documents. TSA agents, gate agents, and flight attendants can simply scan your app. You’ll receive updates as needed via handy push notifications. Travel becomes stress-free and seamless.
Of course, airlines know apps provide a digital gateway to customers. Many now use that access to upsell products and services through smart messaging. A pop-up may alert you to an earlier flight with open seats for a fee. Or you'll get an offer to upgrade to premium seating when web check-in opens. Airlines will promote their credit cards and member perks as well. The key is letting the utility outweigh the barrage of marketing.
While each carrier's app has unique perks, most share key features like digital boarding, flight changes, and bag tracking. Take the time to download your airline's app before your next trip to see how it streamlines your journey. As one veteran traveler put it, "A quality airline app is like having a personal assistant in your pocket. I can manage my whole trip while dashing through the airport versus waiting at a help desk. I'll never go back to paper tickets and plastic boarding passes."