Airplane! 2007

by Cheryl Baumgartner Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance

I remember flying when I was young. Not to date myself but we are talking about the days when they wheeled a set of steps up to the plane for you to enter and exit. When you were seeing someone off you went to the airport and sat in the waiting area with them. Children who may have been with you were fascinated by watching the planes land and take off which was easily seen through the large windows facing the runway. A trip to the airport was an "outing" for the whole family.

Fast forward to today. What was once a treat has become a terror. In the past you heard the horror stories about getting through security on international flights. People dreaded going through Customs. Now the horror stories are just from getting through airport security. One of the most asinine issues is liquids. You mean to tell me security can't identify a tube of toothpaste or deodorant? I guess it magically changes to something else when it's over 3 ounces since they will take it out of your carry-on and throw it in the trash. But if you put it in your checked luggage it's just a tube of toothpaste. I wonder how many trash cans have exploded due to overweight items like toothpaste and bottles of water?

So what's the big deal put it in your luggage and check your bag. After my experience of musical planes this past weekend, I'll be surprised if all those checked bags reached the same destination as their owners. On one plane then off, rerouted through a different city with different layovers, You may get to your destination and your luggage is no where to be seen. Of course it could arrive after you on the next flight. So you still have the same problem, you still have to buy toothpaste and deodorant. It is available in the little shops on the concourse at a 100% mark up.

Lets say you make it through security intact. After you put your shoes back on, and a prayer the person in front of you did not have foot fungus, it's off to your gate. Pray for a major miracle, that your plane is on time. Otherwise you will be running to another gate to try to get on another plane going in your direction on standby. If you are lucky they will realize your plane is too late for you to make your connection and send you on over. If you aren't so lucky they will load you on the plane then decide you won't make your connection. Now you have to pull all your carry-ons out of the overhead bin, go back to the concourse find your new gate and sometimes wait for hours for another plane to take you through.

From now on I just think I'll drive. By the time I factor in the wasted time and the cost of a plane ticket as opposed to the cost of gas for my car, there's no comparison. I'll get there faster if I drive!