When Airlines Were Luxury

Years ago, one booked a flight, (when they had choice) on the Airline which gave the most.  British Overseas Airline Company, BOAC was number one.  No matter where on the plane you were it is first class.

Your meal was 5 Star hotel, you had endless drinks, and always little gifts and snacks.

I recall complaining about American as the food was really bad, and the hostesses weren’t as polite as those on BOAC.

AirJamaica wasn’t bad; I always ordered vegetarian and would get asparagus spears and stuff like that, and be the envy of my seatmates.

Now, for the past few years, you’re lucky if you get a bag of potato chips.  And if you spill your coffee, you ain’t getting another.

If you are absolutely starving you could buy an extremely overpriced meal, while your seatmates try to suppress their growling stomachs.

To fly from Kingston Jamaica to New York is on par with taking a minivan from Kingston to Mobay.  One horrible journey where you’re lucky to have a seat.

The difference is, if you take the minivan they won’t be searching your luggage and your body and treating you like a member of ISIS as they do when you try to board a plane.

As a person who normally hates to fly my discomfort was a little assuaged way back in the days before 9/11 with the nice treatment I used to get on the plane.

Now, my hatred of flying is so great that outside of surviving the take off and landing I have little good to say about the extraordinary rendition air travel is today.