“The Department of Homeland Security has issued a warning at the threat level of Martha Stewart Pewter. If you see an unattended bag please report it immediately to authorities….” “Remember, it is three one one. Three ounces of liquid, one bag, one quart, one big stupid hassle. We will begin our boarding process in a few minutes. If you are weak and disabled you will be trampled by the stronger and evolutionary gifted so step aside for them, as I am too lazy and uncaring to go by rows or sections. If you are on this plane- RUN! Run right now and get on the plane!!!” “Uhmmm. Yeah I know that I was going to keep updating you, but I had no clue really why this plane was delayed. So whatever I said in the last 4 hours as you missed your connections to your pre-paid nonrefundable vacations – well I made it all up. The hydraulic manifold extractor that I said we needed is not real. I just made it up. Oh yeah. By the way, the flight has been cancelled. I have to go on my smoke break so no questions. If you need something run right now to customer service in the concourse that is the farthest possible away from here to wait in a line that will be longer than lines at Pinkberry.”
Yeah, travel in the post 9/11 era. Terror threats, bankruptcies, lost pension plans, angry employees, nonexistent customer service except from outsourced employees, dirty planes, etc…It is all so difficult. Add to that the airlines like the Cosa Nostra are plotting to start extorting from you. Check a bag in? $25. Check two bags in? $75. Ask for water? $1. You are overweight? Buy extra seat. Want headphones? $3. Want a stale sandwich? $6. Want to use bathroom? $5. Want a window seat? $10 Want an aisle seat $10. Want to sit on the floor? $5.
As you can see flying is not a fun past time. We do it because we have to – whether for business or for vacation. One of the biggest things that can make a difference in flying is legroom. Just a few inches of legroom makes a big change towards a bearable long flight. Everyone knows there is great legroom in an exit row, but more and more these seats are being reserved for their elite status customers. But on every plane there are other rows that have good seats too- sometimes even better than an exit seat. One invaluable tool is Seatguru. Seatguru is a website that has all of the major airlines and each plane they fly. 
They list each seat on the plane and give you the pros and cons of each seat. They provide you with details such as, “This seat is a good seat but can be noisy during meal service,” or “This is a good business seat, but flyers have complained about the overhead fan.” Seatguru is a priceless service for any flyer, whether you are a frequent business flyer sitting in first class, or a family with small children trying to sit together on your way to Disney.