2021 was yet another year of hectic travel—more canceled flights and staff shortages… Oy! Despite the troubles, though, many people still managed to fly in 2021. Did you?
If you did fly on a plane in 2021, did you do so just once or more than one time? Tell us where you went in the comments, especially if it was somewhere warm and tropical. We want to live through you!
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I haven’t flown on a plane for 6 or 7 yrs and one of my goals for the rest of my life is never to fly on a commercial plane again!! With all the security requirements at airports plus crowded airplanes with lousy service, it just isn’t any fun anymore. Since my wife was a travel consultant for many years we use to fly all the time, but now we going RVing instead and can take our pets with us.
One time. Round trip. My wife’s aunt’s 100th birthday. It would have been a 2 day drive, and we didn’t have that much vacation time available.
I fly more now that we are fulltime. Sometimes no choice. Drs back home I have to see. I fly 2 to 3 times a year.
My wife and I haven’t flown on a commercial plane for 6 for 6 to 8 years now. With all the security requirements, long lines, time to get to the airport way ahead of time and time to get out at the departure, crowded planes, poor service, and the hassle of ground transportation, it just isn’t any enjoyable anymore. Remember when flying used to be something to look forward to? Remember when everyone used to dress up to take a flight? Remember when most flights served food? Remember when most people checked their luggage and there was plenty of space for carry on’s? Remember when there were never fights on planes? Ohhhh, for the good old days!
Yes I do remember. Also would pick a ‘special’ outfit to fly so I looked nice. Those days are gone.
You are SO right!
I flew for work. One of my goals in retirement was to never get on a commercial flight again. I once commented to an Eastern Airlines gate attendant that I don’t dislike flying. I dislike airlines. Since that comment, it has only gotten worse.
Flew from FL to Milwaukee for the Ryder Cup Golf tournament.
Nice! Now that is an awesome reason!
I haven’t had a need to fly for years and I don’t miss it, other than with a friend flying his own plane. The only reason to fly commercial now would be hoping to see a side show featuring entitled people yelling screaming pointing fingers. No promise of that so I wont waste my money.
We have always had a rule if its east of the Mississippi we drive. Our area is poorly served by the airlines and so we have to drive for hours just to get to a major airport. Then the airlines are a horrible mess. They do not keep customers informed during delays, they make little effort to rebook flights. Executives throw their employees to the wolves. The media goes on about the problem being masks but we had to take several flights in 2021 mostly for medical reasons. We have found people are angry for other reasons centered around poor service and nickel & diming. In the past year I have twice paid for premium seats only to have the plane downsized and be delegated to the back of the plane, We boarded a flight in Atlanta and set on it for an hour then de boarded into the airport with no plan on how to get to our destination and no information. Major airports close at 9 so you cant even buy a $5 bottle of water. Americans complain loudly but airlines don’t listen.
I haven’t flown since 1971-72, and those two times were for training classes for the company I worked for since they were over 600 miles away. The rest of the time the classes were within 250 miles miles and I drove. With the rampant virus problem now, there is no way I would fly. I don’t care how safe they say it is.
No way would I fly again. Lunatics, self privileged people and Karen’s abound. And I have little patience with all the aforementioned. Rules are in place for the common good and safety but these groups are convinced rules do not apply to them. I have thousands of air miles accumulated from years as a Defense Department consultant for over 13 years
Not once did I witness foolishness that we hear of almost daily now. If I can’t get there by driving i do not need to go!
For several years I flew about 10 times a year for work. I got tired of all the hassle. Being 3 hrs from the airport didn’t help. But mostly it was the “cattle call” squeezing together, tight seating, and it all got worse after 9-11. Almost 10 years ago I decided to never fly commercial again. And I don’t see myself flying privately, either. I’d much rather drive. Anywhere.
I’m pretty sure- unless some kind of family emergency comes up- that I will never fly again. Absolutely hate every aspect to it.
same here
Costa Rica twice for vacation and dental work, Scottsdale, AZ for golf and visiting friends. We love CR and it’s pretty hard to drive there.
Air travel during this pandemic has been WONDERFUL!
Particularly during 2020 when most folks were SCARED of any type of travel.
No center seat passengers, cheap tickets, half full planes, even less people in the airports, cheap hotels, easy to reserve and cheap rental cars.
Reminds me of travel in the 1980’s!
Personally I am pleased to hear about all you folks that no longer want to travel by air. Makes for a much better travel experience for those of us that like and continue to use air travel.
All I can tell you is Be Careful on the road driving as your chances of injury and death are EXPONENTIALLY higher than flying in commercial aircraft!
Being a Private Pilot and airplane owner, I fly at least once a week. But I’m sure you meant commercially.
Cheers.
… haven’t flown commercially since TSA was implemented.
Can’t take 3 Dalmatians with us so nope!
My husband does for work he is in the airplane window biz!! But he has a TSA pass and flys first class. But it’s still a hassle!! He told one of his golfing buddies
Why the “ F” would I fly when I got a bus!!
When they were planning a golf trip to Arizona
Flew to SC for my Grandsons college graduation. I ate a whole bag of pretzels so I could be without my mask on for most of the flights .
wow what a good way to spread the problem , get away/around masking mandates……
Actually a Southwest pilot told passengers they needed to wear their mask unless actively eating and they should have bought the big bag of chips at Costco instead of the small bag at Hudsons in the airport.
I flew home to see my family and doctors. It was nice to not have a person crammed in beside me. I have an immune system disease so I stayed masked in the airport and plane.
Round trip DFW-RNO for the air races. Nice flight, nice crew, no problems. Got around the mask mandate by sipping coffee most of the flight.
Twice. Jacksonville FL to go to a wedding on Amelia Island and to Key West.
Nope but my wife did twice. Maine and Michigan.
I have not flown in a plane since 2005. Have no need to, we RV to wherever we want to go.
I did numerous times in my personal Cessna. Have not flown commercial in years.
love, absolutely love airplanes. i hold a Sport Pilot certificate and there is nothing better than flying! OTOH…I avoid the airlines like the black plague. unless a true emergency I will not fly commercial.
I did not, but I rarely do. I prefer to drive wherever I can. I usually enjoy most, if not all, of the drive and I do not have to rent a car when I reach my destination. Although my car (Jeep Grand Cherokee) does not have unlimited storage space, I do usually travel with more baggage than airlines allow without additional charges. If I travel with little luggage, then I at least avoid lugging a bag through the terminal or awaiting its arrival at baggage claim.
No but after Seattle traffic once, my wife flew the second time and I stayed in Idaho with the trailer.
Actually, I’ve never flown on a plane – never had a need or desire to do so.
Yes, my wife and I flew on 2 trips. In August 2021 round trip to Las Vegas, then in November 2021 to London, U.K. got on a cruise ship at Southampton to Ft. Lauderdale, FL then flew home. We have 3 trips scheduled in 2022 1 via driving and 2 involve flying(1 international flights) both also involve cruising. With all modes of travel masks and proof of vax w/booster shot required.
I flew roundtrip from Mesa AZ to Lansing MI with a stop over in Detroit. It was a solo trip but for one of the most important to me. I went to take care of the 2 grandbabies, ages 2 & 4, while the parents had a trip. It was a joy that filled my heart.
Florida to New Hampshire and back. Had limited time so had to fly. Had been vacinated and masked still got covid from the flight.
LAX to Alaska and back. Rented a motorhome in Anchorage and spent 3 weeks on the road. And saw the Aurora! But yes, I would like to tow my trailer there instead.
Took four days to drive the RV and Jeep out to the midwest, so my wife could stay and help a family member for a few months. I flew back home from there.
Love flying, hate airlines! I flew a lot when the airplanes had those big fans on the front of the wings and actually had service in the cabin.
Flew to Orlando in Sep to meet my son, dil, grands, her mother, sister and brother (and their significant others) and my sister and fiancé for my grandsons first birthday. All flew in except my sister and her fiancé who drove down from GA. Flew to MT over Christmas to be with son, dil and grands.
The return to LV from MT was delayed an hour. It was an hour late leaving Phoenix because the manifest and seat count didn’t match. After several people tried the count they determined that someone with a “lap child” had put that child in a seat. From now on they will probably make an announcement on flights that aren’t full that those children need to be in your lap unless you want to pay for another ticket.
The last time I was in a plane it was a Cessna back in the late 1970s. Truth is, I’d rather drive to where I’m going, especially now that I have a motorhome.
December, vacation in Cancun, Mexico
Sure, why not? Just back from a trip requiring 4 different flights. Headed out in March for 4 more flights.