I actually love flying. I love airports, and the steady stream of people crossing paths. So many have a sense of urgency, they're each one a 'story.' Also, enclosed spaces don't bother me...if anything it's the opposite and I find them comforting. At least I used to feel that way about flying. While I'm in no way scared of it, a lot of the magic is gone in these days of TSA heightened security. You no longer get to see people step out of the gate to a greeting by their family members or friends. TSA lines are now unpredictable in their size. They can be 1 minute long, or an hour and a half. This creates a situation where you either show up just in time and are stressed the whole time, or you get there incredibly early and just sit at the now cordoned off gate bored out of your mind. The new baggage fees and the trend to charge for carry ons is also annoying and just makes you frown. Contributes to the overall feeling of being nickled and dimed to death as you're shoved into a tube. Ha. Maybe I'm just bitter because I had a terrible experience this past week flying Spirit back from Las Vegas. Sleeping in an airport hallway will do that to you I guess :) Shame on me for flying Spirit again though, when I swore I never would.
or you get there incredibly early and just sit at the now cordoned off gate bored out of your mind
I am chronically early for flights. I often find myself sitting there for an hour prior and I love it! There aren't many times I get to be by myself, listen to music and do the kind of people watching that airports provide. Airports are wonderful places. People are at heightened levels of both joy and misery. Long planned trips to see loved ones, flying home for a funeral, their dream vacation in Paris etc. You can see it on their faces. I've written some of my best stuff while in airports. I also love airport bars. Airport bartenders know that they'll never see you again. There's no pretense, its awesome. Food and drinks come fast. I love airports. I love listening to some good music and going through the crazy tunnel at McNamara in Detroit, or sitting in the rocking chairs in Charlotte or putting a $20 bill in a slot machine in Vegas (only money I'll gamble while there). Airports are great.
| I also love airport bars.| I love the idea of them, yet every time I'm actually in an airport and could go to one, the thought of consuming alcohol then getting on a plane turns me off for some reason. The two don't quite go together. I love the idea of drinking in an airport bar when you don't have to fly, but sadly, you can't do that anymore since they are beyond security checkpoints.
Airports and consuming alcohol just seems like such a natural thing to me. I don't "get drunk" when flying, but I do like to have a beer or a drink prior if I have time. As for the checkpoints and greeting and seeing off people, I agree 100% with that. The RDU airport is nice because you can park your car for up to an hour for free and though you can't be "at the gate", you can be at the other side of the checkpoint waiting, which is close to as good. Close.
It was a fucking nightmare and I will NEVER fly it again if I can help it. The only situation where I will is if no other airline offers a flight at a proper competing time. I have to fly out to NYC and Vegas at different times during the year under pretty tight constraints as far as what days and what time of day I leave, but outside of that I will happily pay extra. You end up paying either way since they charge you for carry ons (40$ per bag), inconsistently apply their 'personal item' rule (had my personal item changed to a 'carry on' and charged by staff when I've taken the same container on multiple other flights and stashed under seat). As you mentioned, I've run into delays on more than one occasion, and they space their seats closer together in coach than other airlines. I could go on. Definitely my bad though. Ugh.