Travel today

A family friend who has always traveled a great deal told me recently that she has decided to put that part of her life behind her. Flying is too much of a hassle now, she says. I agree with her that waiting in long lines to check in and then facing even longer lines to go through security can be daunting. We all want to be safe, of course, but we do need patience when flying anywhere these days. Especially when asked to remove our shoes. Young people don’t mind, in fact they find it fun, but older people who are not provided with chairs to put their shoes back on have been heard to mumble rather loudly that they deserve more respect.

          On two international trips I had to go through security at a few different airports, and I must say that those charged with our safety take their job very seriously. I doubt that anything dangerous could slip by. I had to throw away a metal nail file because it was seen as a possible weapon. 

          While going through airport security can be time consuming and tedious, it’s a new reality in today’s world. Unlike my friend, I doubt that it will lead me to give up flying anytime soon. All we need to do is allow enough time before flying so as to not be stressed at the security check point. And not be shy about asking the airline to provide assistance if needed.

           A couple of a certain age I know always reserve wheelchairs inside airports so they’re not tired and stressed when going through security. Wise planning since airports are getting bigger and bigger all the time it seems. And you’d better not have sore feet when having to walk from one end of an airport to the other to catch a connecting flight.

           I’m sure that like me you no doubt yearn for the old days when you could get to the airport twenty minutes before a flight and get on without problems. I did it many times myself, but that’s in the past. Like so many other changes that have occurred over the years, we must now live with time-consuming security-conscious flying.

           It could be worse. We could still be traveling by horse and buggy!