"Up in the air"

Since a couple of months I am a true frequent flyer - twice a week, quite the regular on the Munich - Basel route or Basel - anywhere else in Europe for that matter. :) I am amazed though how I managed to always pick the troublesome flights. And I start to wonder if trains are really as bad as we all always think. At least in Germany they are often late and transferring is a hassle because trains usually don't wait even if you have a reservation. So I used to like traveling by plane. Everything is taken care of. You get free goodies such as newspapers, drinks and in the lounges even food, lounge access and if your flight is delayed or you won't make your connection, they figure it out for you. And anyway: the power that puts you back in your seat when the plane takes off still gives me a thrill. Up in the air you have a great view of either the landscape or in most times some awesome clouds. Not that I don't prefer an aisle seat, but for some routes it is better to be close to a window to enjoy. All this seems to let you forget about all the late departures, the luggage messes and the travel to the airport which in most cases and especially in the case of Munich airport takes about 1h from the city center. And although the airlines do take care of you in case of a delay, there is still the lost time waiting in lines, sitting around, checking announcement boards for updates, the temptation of buying yet another book or two which you won't read in a couple of years because the pile of books bought out of boredom becomes higher and higher and the time to read them less and less. This might trigger the question, why I don't read the books I already bought instead of buying new ones. But there the answer is a very easy one. The stores are inviting and when you sit around, waiting for nothing, the book you have in your bag is not as interesting as the backcover promised, then you buy another one... All in all, after only a few months of being a regular flyer, I can say that airlines are even worse with keeping their schedules than trains. So "Sänk you for trävelling wis Deutsche Bahn" I apologize for having proclaimed that airlines are better in keeping the time. They are still cheaper though in many cases and therefore they will keep winning in my poll. So long... I have to board through Gate 35. :)