I know what you’re thinking. I’m insane. Who enjoys sitting on a plane for 8 hours or more? There’s hardly any space, you’re possibly subjected to sitting next to someone you don’t know who could be the rudest person you’ve ever met, you don’t have a ton of options for food, you have to use a bathroom with barely enough space to turn around, and you’re just simply…stuck. Sounds delightful, right? Hear me out.
YOU HAVE MORE LEISURE TIME.
I hate being rushed any time in life. Whether I’m getting dressed, finishing an important task at work, or crossing the street, I hate feeling like I don’t have enough time to do what I need to do. The same applies when flying. I enjoy knowing that I will have time to do all the things I need to do while in flight. I’m almost always tired when I’m flying. Blame my horrible ability to procrastinate. I know that I’ll be able to secure solid sleep when flying. Don’t hate me because I’m able to sleep anywhere! When I take long flights, I know I’ll have time to watch that movie I was too busy to catch in the theater or read that book I’ve been trying not so diligently to finish. Short flights don’t give me the same freedom.
THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ARE NICER.
If you’re a flight attendant reading this, don’t be offended. It’s just that in my experience, flight attendants tend to be a bit more cheerful when they aren’t rushed for time either.
THE FOOD TASTES BETTER.
We’ve all taken a domestic flight where we’re barely served a soft drink, given a bag a peanuts and then told to go about our merry way. When you take longer flights, you’re usually served gourmet (ish) food that makes for a much more delightful in flight experience. On my way to Tanzania, KLM served chicken teriyaki, a warm roll, yogurt parfait, cheese and crackers, and an egg soufflé. This sounds like it could be a bit dicey, but I was pleasantly surprised by how satisfied I was. And the food is usually better on European and Asian airlines, but that’s a different post for a different day.
THE BOOZE IS USUALLY FREE.
Let’s not forget the name of this blog! I enjoy a good cocktail any day of the week, especially when it’s free. If you’re flying for more than 8 hours, you’re most likely crossing continents. This probably means that the booze is free and you’re able to enjoy some of your favorite cocktails, at no extra cost. WIN, WIN.
Am I alone? Let me know if you think I’m completely off-base and comment below!