Travel Today

I just read an article about rudeness on the airlines. Peggy Post, great-granddaughter-in-law of Emily Post, is quoted saying that traveling "used to be a treat and people got dressed up. Today people say it's a cattle car. So they view it differently. That's understandable. But rude behavior is never okay." http://www.usatoday.com/travel/experts/mcgee/2010-07-06-travel-etiquette_N.htm

I don’t dress up for the airplane; I wear my sweatpants and probably look pretty goofy. But, I definitely still view travel as a treat, even after doing a lot of it.

Some of the readers’ comments discussed their dislike for airplane travel and complained about how rude people can be. So I did something I have never done before. I posted a comment:

One of my favorite things to do is travel. I realize that many people feel the same way but they dislike the process of getting to their destinations. I find comfort in the process. And I have taken probably 250 airplane rides over the past 6 years. I bring a good book and headphones and I wait. Because that is all I can do. At home I am distracted by the dirty dishes and the emails I have to respond to. At the airport and on the plane I don't feel bad neglecting those tasks because I have no other option. Maybe it's my attitude - and the fact that I like being there - that has allowed me to be open to interacting with others in a positive way. I recently had an upbeat and hilarious conversation with a flight attendant about chocolate eclairs. I heard the TSA guy say I had a nice smile in my license picture (which reminded me, on an occasion where I didn't want to be at the airport - I had just said good-bye to my boyfriend - that I should smile more in real life). I have gotten on earlier flights out, not because I expected the employee to do me the favor but because I was nice and I respected that they don't have to do this for me...they may even risk getting into trouble...but they wanted to help because they could empathize. Someone commented that airlines used to care about their passengers and go the extra mile to make travelers' needs better. I say make them care. It's not a right to have someone care about you. It doesn't happen automatically. I work in the travel industry and I will absolutely help the people more who aren't rude or passive aggressive to get what they want.