Modern flying

Flying has become a drag, and yes I know, I do all the good things to make it less so
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However with security and interminable waits.
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Coupled to cramped seating in economy.
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With pay for everything on all local flights.
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What a relief to get on a long haul flight with one of the three.
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Qatar, Ethihad or Emirates

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New planes, smiling crews, good food, excellent entertainment.
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And usually punctual, with leg room and wider seats.
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Contrast with old planes on the so called legacy carriers in Europe.
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Poor, tired service.
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And that's good compared with your Ryan air and Easy jet.

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Pay for everything.
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Scrum at the gate.
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Fight your way to grab a seat.
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You wonder why if they have computerised ticketing, which they all do.
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Then what's the magic in assigning seats?
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Somehow it seems that this is part of the challenge of flying with them.
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And it's not about money the software is easy, all the others use it.
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Loading the aircraft is no quicker particularly if you use trickle boarding.
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Yes, yes I know exactly what some of you are thinking “here he goes grumbling about flying.” 
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And you are right, I should stop moaning but sometimes it is nicer not to.
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It’s the whole experience I am coming to dislike. 
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Not just the fact that I am 35,000 feet in the air breathing in everyone else’s bad wind. 
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I am coming to dislike flying because it turns the nicest people into selfish bastards. 
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I'm not kidding………..most passengers morph into total shits the minute they’re handed a boarding pass. 
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Let me explain what is so irritating.
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When queuing ….sorry…………..lining up…………. at check-in, why do people always ensure they leave it until the last second to get out their documents from their carry on?
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Why do people always run to get to their seat on the plane as if it might get full otherwise.
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………….. unless you are flying Ryanair in which case your life is already at the bottom of the barrel?
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Once seated why do people immediately buckle their seatbelt and sigh loudly every time they have to unbuckle and stand up to let me get to my seat. 
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Oh and how annoying is it when people take an eternity putting their bags in the overhead locker, standing all the while in the aisle blocking everybody else. 
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And why do I always sit next to passengers who remove their shoes even on short flights.
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Why do passengers always recline their seats to its fullest extent, particularly when my meal is being served. 
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Then there are the interminable in flight announcements about what we can buy on the plane.
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As if hours wandering around airport shops has not put you off enough.
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Definitely undo your seatbelt the second the plane lands even if the light is still switched on which will mean you get home faster.
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And that is not to mention getting to and from the airports.
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Just allow a day to go anywhere in Europe today.
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Not any longer
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I can go from London to Paris in a comfortable train in just two and a quarter hours.

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Down-town to down-town
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No baggage restrictions.
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Comfortable seats, with easy leg room.
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Bookable seats.
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Minimal security hassle.
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Arrive at the station twenty or thirty minutes before departure.
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Costs a bit more but when you factor in the time to get to and from the airport.
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The bullshit that goes with the flight.
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It's a no brainer.
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Shame I don't go to Paris more often!
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Never mind 'flying days' have become days to write off that's all.