Today, at long last, I head to sunny Florida for a three-day theme-park trip with my bestie. We’ve had this trip planned since May. We both loved the Harry Potter series and we live in Northern climes… a last escape for three days of summer before the snow flies always feels like a guilty treat.
But mostly, we get a few days together to just have a good time. In my old life, this is not something I would have done. Work is work and work, honestly, came first. Part-time me? Umm… that’s one of the reasons why I bought TSA precheck. 😊
The other thing I did for this trip is I focused on convenience. That’s my new gig. I used to be so fixated on efficiency and exceptionally cost conscious. These days? I’d rather do less things more conveniently then do more things more cheaply. It’s kinda like shoes: I quit buying cheap shoes a number of years ago to save my back. Today, even my back thanks me for the focus on convenience.
Translation to air travel: those airline seats are no joke.
As a member of the professional flying public, let me say that the focus now on convenience is less about being showy and a lot more about reducing my anxiety. Let’s start with pre-check. A total game-changer, honestly, when you’re flying in and out of big airports. Now, for my little airport in Buffalo which has a whopping 29 gates, pre-check isn’t that big of a deal. But LAX, JFK and O’Hare? Big deal. Big, big deal. I can still get to the airport an hour before my flight and be fine. And, as we plan our honeymoon to Antigua this spring, Darryl and I are also upgrading to Global Entry. Candidly, I’m hoping that we use our Global Entry passes more and more over the next few years.
Then, there’s the early boarding and the seat selection game. Yep, it totally irritates me that the airlines have taken to nickel-and-diming me on everything possible related to air travel. But let me be real: I hate the whole queuing up to board first in my group as much as I hate the anxiety over whether or not I’ll have space for my bag. So yes, I’m one of the suckers paying to board early and I also hold one of the airlines’ magic credit cards to get the so-called “free” upgrades such as early boarding. Still, it eliminates two of my flying anxieties: the queue and the bin.
Finally, I’m all about the upgraded seat these days. I used to think those folks were fools. Flying first class? Why? We all get to the same destination at the same time. These days? My back says that those airline seats weren’t made for someone who is 5 feet, 2 inches tall. So, instead of trying to make the seats fit, I go for a bigger one. Why, you ask? Here’s the deal, folks: my feet don’t touch the ground. Doesn’t seem like a big deal, right? Okay, you fly for over two hours with your feet dangling. By the time the trip is over, my back is killing me. The angle of my feet dangling means that it puts pressure on my hips which in turn puts pressure on my low back. Yes, it sucks to get old. But no, I’m not going to deliberately suffer. So, instead of sucking it up, I upgrade and when I need to, I can adjust and sit cross-legged in my seat, which takes the pressure off of my hips and back. The real-life implications? For times when I travel to see clients, I’m in a much better frame of mind to work when I arrive at their location after hours of travel. For when I travel for fun? Same thing – a better mood equals a better time.
The last thing I do for my own convenience travel: stay in the right place. Again, this used to not be a big deal for me. Does it really matter where you lay your head? Ummm, yes. By staying where it’s convenient, a lot of the travel headaches go away. I don’t have to think about how I’m getting from one place to another (I emphasize walkability) and I don’t have to wake up early, arrange an Uber or any other nonsense.
The one rule of travel I’m breaking today is going on a budget airline. I have to admit – I keep trying to quit ‘em and I keep coming back. But if I’m honest, the last two times I’ve flown a budget, it’s been for my convenience. This time – the airline had the best-time direct flights to and from my destination. If I went my traditional airline route, I would have had a layover or stupid early times that would have had me leaving for the airport at around 4:30 a.m. The last time I took a budget? Same gig: even though there was a layover, they had the best flight times. In the end, it appears that flight times trump the irritation caused by the budget airlines.
Anyway, I’m off today. In about two hours, I’ll had back to the airport. In about six hours, I’ll be in sunny Florida for three glorious days.
And when I get back? Well, the late fall/winter season can happen. I’ll be okay with it. I stole three extra days of summer this year. We’re all good.
The Yuppie Homesteader 