A positive spin on airline travel
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I've always loved traveling. I never minded flying. In fact, I can remember several enjoyable trips across the country or across the Atlantic. This was all before two things happened; 1.) I had children, and 2.) airlines got cheap. Now I sit in a cramped plane, juggling small children (yes, I am THAT parent and I am sorrier than you will ever know). But I will take these airline lemons and make complimentary lemonade because in reaching their penny-pinching goals, the airlines have gone green.- Crowded flights. No empty seats means that there are fewer planes in the skies. Fewer planes means less fuel used and less carbon emitted.
- What napkins? The last time that I flew I thought it was a fluke when I did not get a cocktail napkin under my complimentary beverage. Then the same thing happened on the next flight. In fact, I saw the flight attendant habitually reach for one and correct herself. No napkins mean fewer trees sent to the paper mill and less bleach used on the pulp. [I really miss my napkin though, especially with all of the spilling that my children cause.]
- Bye, bye food. Ok, airline food was usually pretty bad unless you were flying overseas. Sometimes the vegetarian meal was palatable but quite often it was vegan as well which meant that my brother get to eat milk chocolate while I saw there and drooled ... but I digress. Under pressure from environmentalists, the airlines switched from plastic to reusable utensils years ago but there was still a lot of waste in the single serve containers, condiments, etc. Now nearly no one serves food in coach so there is NO FOOD WASTE -- even better.
- One bag rule. The "one checked bag" rule means that the planes are traveling lighter and using less fuel. Good for airlines, good for Mother Earth [that is as long as people don't have 100 lb. carry ons].
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