Why Long Haul Flights and Airports Are Actually Awesome

The flight to Korea is a whopping 14 hours long. With that many hours on a plane, combined with the time difference, I will arrive in South Korea a mind-bending FULL DAY AND FOUR HOURS LATER than when I left Chicago. Flying West also means that we are flying in the opposite direction of the earth’s rotation, meaning that although I am on this plane for a full “night,” it is glaringly bright outside for the entire flight.

Many people dread the idea of flying. Whether it be the fear of heights, the fear of flying, or just the general agitation that security and airports so often provide, many people just loathe the entire experience. Not me. I actually love to fly. I love (almost) everything about it.

Here are the Reasons Why Flying and Airports are Awesome!

1. The people watching!

I could spend hours in airports just watching people come and go. Of course, you don’t get as many of those tear-jerking greetings we used to observe when friends and family were actually allowed to wait inside the terminal at the gate (can you BELIEVE that used to be allowed?) It’s so fun to guess why people are going to where they are going. You see young men dressed in full Army garb. You see the inevitable family walking through O’Hare airport in the middle-of-winter, hair-braided, flip flops on, fried red everywhere but their blaring white bathing suit straps and where their sunglasses used to be. You see the 50-year-old woman still smiling cheek-to-cheek, wearing Mickey Mouse everything, and carrying a giant, almost life-sized stuffed Minnie Mouse (do they need to buy an extra ticket for those things?) Maybe that woman had always dreamed of going to Disney World, and she finally made it!!

2. The stores!

Filled with glossy beautiful magazines, all of the latest and hippest books, all those little travel gadgets you never knew you needed, those last minute souvenirs of wherever you just were. Forgot to buy that Gatlinburg shot glass for your Aunt’s sister-in-law’s collection? No problem! It’s all here in this little gift shop! Ok, sure, most of the shops are the same. And yes, okay, they are totally over-priced. Of course, you could have bought all of these things in Walgreen’s or with your 40% off Borders coupon. That’s not the point! There is nothing better than having a little extra time before your flight, and browsing through the latest gossip or news magazines. Even if I already have two books in my bag for my trip, it is always hard for me to resist the temptation.

3. Food

What is it about airports that suddenly makes fast food and chain restaurants appealing? For some reason I get great pleasure out of eating in airports. I might be alone on this one.

4. Layovers.

Again, others may not agree, but I really enjoy layovers. Being in airports is cool! Sometimes they have shops. Sometimes I’ll walk around scoping out all of the fine dining options. Sometimes I will just park my butt near my gate and people watch, eat, absently stare at CNN on the flat screens, or catch up on emails.

5. The Excuse to Relax

You know what’s really awesome about flying? You can’t do ANYTHING. That might frustrate some people. But for me, it is a welcome excuse to sit and do nothing.

6. NAPS

You can take naps. Whenever. You. Want. You can’t do that at work! If you’re on a date or in class, and you are really tired, it is NOT okay to fall asleep. That’s not true on a plane. Because no one is expecting anything of you, in fact, they’d prefer if you’d sleep! It is perfectly okay to pass out in the middle of a movie, or after you read the same paragraph in your book five times. Feel like sleeping? You go right ahead. And I always encourage drooling on your neighbor.

7. No Distractions

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the plane can be that place where you can actually focus 100%. Whether you need to write that paper, type up that report for work, catch up on your blog writing (ahem), or cram in the last 100 pages of this month’s book club book, you can do it here. There is no Facebook, TV, texting, or phone calls.

8. Killer Views

You can see amazing aerial views. Have you ever flown into New York, Chicago, or Miami at an angle where you can see straight down onto the whole city? It’s so cool! You can see the desert, mountains, ice caps from a view only possible from a plane. Just make sure you get the window seat.

9. Meeting Strangers

You often have random conversations with complete strangers. You can get some interesting stories from that old guy sitting next to you. Now, this is not to be confused with the chatty Cathy that initiated conversation and will not shut up. You know those naps and doing nothing I mentioned before? These people can totally interfere with that. Some of them will not stop talking until you land. I find that the best time to cut these conversations off is when the plane takes off.

10. Movies

You know that movie you wanted to see a month ago in the theaters, but you just never made it? And now it’s in that awkward void between the theater and DVD/Netflix release? It’s here! This is where it went! You know that movie you were too embarrassed to admit that you wanted to see? It’s a foot in front of your face. Do not worry, you can watch shamelessly in the comfort of your very uncomfortable coach seat. I won’t tell. (What?? There were no other options!)

11. Being Waited On

You get waited on hand and foot! THEY bring the food and drinks to YOU. They don’t WANT you to get up! This is the perfect opportunity to embrace your laziness EVEN MORE. International flight bonus: Multiple free meals, free wine, free slippers, moist towelettes, endless movies to choose from in your own private entertainment system.

Some Perks Specific to Today’s Flight to Korea:

I’m flying Korean Air, and it has been a totally pleasant experience so far. With most US based airlines cutting out any frills to survive (I have to pay for peanuts now, seriously? And you are going to charge me to check a bag?? No blankets?? I digress.) being on a nice airline is a positive change.

They give you a choice of a western or Korean meal. Of COURSE I chose Korean! This is Korean Air! And I’m flying to Korea! And what did they serve, but one of my favorite Korean dishes – bibimbop. It is a bowl of vegetables that you mix with rice, red pepper paste, and sesame oil. It came with an instruction card in how to prepare it. So fun! It also came with seaweed soup and kimchi (of course).

I have also been pretty productive this flight. I have done some work, written this blog, started my book, and read almost the entire Korea Lonely Planet.

We are flying above the North Pole! Right now! Maybe it’s not technically the North Pole (I didn’t see Santa, so it obviously wasn’t), but if you look out, it is white ice as far as the eye can see. I have never seen that before! Very exciting.

Alright, time for one of those naps.