It is no surprise to me how badly airlines are doing as an industry. I fly only infrequently, but the new airport security measures since that fright in the UK a few months ago, the expense of tickets and the racket of surcharges if you need to make a reservation change make me want to drive, no matter how far I’m going. If I fly I’m supposed to get to the airport 3 hours before my flight leaves, carry no more liquid than 3oz travel-sized containers in a 1‑quart zip-top bag that I have to dig out of my carry-on, along with my laptop and whatever else they want to look at. And of course there is the shoe-removal, coat-removal, etc. Then, if you make it past security quickly, you’re stuck for 2.5 hours twiddling your thumbs. And if security is running slow, you might stand in line for the 3 hours and miss your flight. There is not one redeeming quality to the experience.
I’m flying to NYC today. My plane leaves at 3:40, so I have to get to Hopkins at 1. It doesn’t arrive in NYC until 7:02. A 6 hour trip time flying, when I could drive to NYC in 8. Driving wouldn’t cost me $500, I could have my car filled with nail clippers and bottles of water, and could pack my bag any way I chose. In retrospect I should have driven. Less stress and hassle on the open road.