Out the Airplane Window and onto the Highway

Out the Airplane Window
BWI-PBI
April 30, 2026

 Happy May Day

Flying used to be fun.

I remember my first flight. I was in high school and I flew from Rome, NY, to Ithaca, NY, in a turboprop aircraft on Allegheny Airlines. I had gone to Griffiss AFB, in Rome, NY, for a series of tests which ultimately resulted in being awarded a four-year AFROTC scholarship. My parents drove me to the air force base, I believe it was a Thursday afternoon, and I flew back to Ithaca on a Saturday afternoon. I had never flown, yet I knew I wanted too be a pilot in the Air Force. My first flight, after the testing, confirmed my desire to slip "the surly bonds of Earth." 

Flying can still be exciting, but more and more it has become a series of mundane patience tests and wasteful waiting. I wrote of my most recent flight yesterday, but read that perhaps Southwest has also noted that they have extinguished the fun of flying through some of their new policies. Their approach to solving one problem is a bit draconian, but maybe it will smooth the boarding and deplaning issues. Southwest will be strictly enforcing the carry-on size limits and requiring payment for oversized baggage that is checked at the gate.

I also read about people on late-arriving flight who, because they were seated in the back of the airplane, took 30 minutes to deplane and almost missed their connecting flight by 2 minutes. The gate attendant knew they were coming, but did not hold the gate open. Someone with a brain, apparently, created a phantom mechanical issue which forced the gate to reopen and the party was able to board. 

Lamborghini on the Road
West Palm Beach, FL
April 30, 2026

The fun of flying is gone. It's a business and don't forget it!

Southwest used to be fun to fly. No more.

I did get a great image of the clouds yesterday. That was the view out the window for most of the flight.

Once we were out of the airport terminal and on the road, Chris and I spied a really hot Lamborghini. It was hard to miss in the vibrant green color. The car brightened our day.

The good news is that we are going to be home for almost a month before hitting the airways again. I hope our next experience is better. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL