Hi

Problems travelling by air are not restricted to the USA.

We have them over here in the UK too.

As I have a house in Spain and my wife's sister lives there we have been very regular customers of the airlines.

In all honesty we haven't really had many problems with delayed flights as such. Last year we did have a Monty Pythonesque experience when we were called to the plane and all sat waiting to go and the captain called and appologised for a delay. Apparently " someone had parked a plane at the rear of ours, and he could not back off the stand until it was moved." No problem you would think......but they couldn't find who owned it or had left it there !!!

Our problem with flying is that over the years we have see the flight times reduce from three and 1/2 hours down to just over two, but the time we have to get to the airport before the flight has risen from a half hour to sometimes three hours!!! So we spend more time in the airports waiting to fly than we actually spend flying.

In the drive to reduce fares the services have almost disappeared. As elder statespeople we hate the rush and scramble for seats that occurs on the cheaper airlines. We try to use others but I am afraid that they are all going the same way.

Add to that, dreadful flight times and you get a two hour flight that actually takes about six and we end up all stressed out.

So this year we changed our plans. We went to North Wales which is about an hour and a half down the road.

We avoided all the sqeezing and cramming of filling the suitcases.
We used suit and dress hangers with covers and small bags for toiletries and shoes etc.

Left home at ten and were having a drink in the bar having unpacked and changed by mid-day. Great !!!

Same in reverse coming home. Added to that we had the children and grandchilden come to stay with us for a couple of days in the hotel.

Going again next week. Flying....who needs it??

Cheers

MikeL2