A recent flight on a well-packed Alaska Air run makes me wonder if I can afford first class travel from now on.
The planes are really getting packed in. In my recent flights I've simply been lucky to not be the poor shmoe stuck in the center seat. Yesterday the dude in the middle was a large fella, overflowing into my seat (aisle) and leaning over the woman at the window. I told him he could have the entire arm rest to himself.
Other than being cramped in a full cabin, my Alaska Airlines San Diego to Seattle flight went more smoothly in other areas - we were fed warmed ginger cookies, for one thing. The flight left on time, arrived on time. I know other airlines are having horrific problems.
This was a relief after the chaos in the San Diego terminal. En route to the airport I passed a sign proclaiming "heightened security". Great. The security check-in line was long, slow and tense. Airport security officials kept shouting about gels, liquids and shoes, loudspeakers announced not to leave your luggage or carry luggage for anyone else, and flustered travelers kept forgetting to remove their jackets.
I've seen calmer airplane check-ins. San Diego is usually a very pleasant airport. This day had everyone on edge. I even forgot to empty the water from my MSR aluminum water bottle. Damn it. I know better! I was pulled aside; my bags were hand searched. The guard told me she could not empty my water out, that I would have to go back into the check in area and empty it there...and then go through security all over again. I told her to just keep the bottle instead. I liked that aluminum bottle but at this point was in danger of missing my flight.
