I hadn’t seen you for a long time. I suspect we both knew that this first encounter after such a long break was going to be a little awkward. Looking back on it now, and even though we’ve known each other for decades, it was naïve to think we would just be able to slip…
It was a world of pre-departure cocktails, in-flight spa treatments, and post-arrival shower facilities. There was Fast Track and “Sir, Welcome Back”. Various lofty words, gemstones, and precious metals confirmed my superiority; I was “Envoy”; I was “Sapphire”; I was “Gold”. Occasionally, the Utopian combination of “Executive Platinum” would announce my arrival in the highest…
It’s something I’ve done hundreds of times. Sitting in my preferred window seat, I watch as the aircraft makes a ninety degree turn, lining up with its back to the lights that will guide its return. There is a slight pause. The dull throb from the engines turns to a roar as their full power…
Abrupt U-turns are rarely an indication that something has gone exactly as intended. They are the change of direction caused by each missed turning, each botched product launch, each political policy failure. In the air, unless you’re part of an aeronautical display team or are pulling an advertising banner above a sporting event, you can…
A few weeks ago I posted an article about the modern flying experience and its participants. In “The view from seat 23E”, I took a mostly lighthearted look at some of today’s flying rituals and suggested ways in which we might extract some enjoyment from the whole process. But all is not well inside our…
Journeys And 