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Do You Remember Your First Flight?

April 12, 2014

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STORIES

I was too young to remember my first flight. It was probably on People’s Express from Newark, New Jersey to Columbus, Ohio back when you could get tickets for $30. But, I do remember the first time that I flew by myself: I was 12 years old and boarded a Continental Airlines flight from Columbus, Ohio to Newark, New Jersey to visit family. I paid $164 for my own ticket with my earnings from my paper route.

The jog down memory lane was prompted by a video I just watched in which two elderly women fly for the first time. Their thoughts on flying are very interesting, as is what they do to prepare. But once they’re airborne, the magic of flight is captured on their faces. If you’re vaguely sentimental, grab a tissue. You won’t take flying for granted ever again.

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Miss Your Flight? Here’s What You Should Ask.

February 6, 2014

inGeneral, Stories, Travel Secrets

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Have you ever been running so late that you’ve missed your flight? I cut it very close the other day on the United Airlines 6:35pm departure from Newark to Milan. I wasn’t able to complete online check in because I was randomly asked to have a United Airlines ticket agent double check my passport before issuing my boarding pass. I got into a cab at 5:05pm – the middle of rush hour – and didn’t make it to Newark until 6:10pm, well past the one-hour-before-departure cut off for international check in. If I had my boarding pass it would have been plenty of time. But I still had to check in, so I quickly scanned the ticket agent faces and looked for someone who seemed friendly and potentially sympathetic. I found one and politely asked her if there was any way that she could get me onto the flight to Milan. She initially, with a lot of regret in her voice, said no, but then I asked the magic question which had me sitting on the plane 10 minutes later:

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Taxi, Taxi

September 10, 2013

inGeneral, New York, Stories

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Driving a cab in New York is a tough, stressful, 12 hour a day job. And, if you’ve ever been in the back of one of those yellow taxis, you might also think riding in one is just as intense. I often find myself, just like Jerry Seinfeld joked, in a backseat flying down the road at 90 miles per hour on bald tires – but I’m sure they know what they’re doing.

Linda Kemp • September 10, 2013

Great story!! I’m enjoying your posts! Keep them coming!!!
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Wandering New Yorker

Stories

Do You Remember Your First Flight?

Miss Your Flight? Here’s What You Should Ask.

Taxi, Taxi