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As I reluctantly walk up to the stern faced gate agent and make my request, I hear the ever so familiar “ma’am that will be a $50.00 change fee to get you on an earlier flight”. Forlorn I pay the fee and hustle to the gate only to be greeted by the all too common “delayed” sign next to the flight number that ironically matches mine, number for number. I exhale, shoulders slumped, head down, and drag my carry on to the gate. I take a seat and wait. An hour and a half later I am relieved to hear “ladies and gentlemen we will begin our boarding process shortly”. Tired, and contemplating why I paid a $50.00 fee to make it to my destination at the same time as my initial flight, I make my way to my assigned seat and squeeze my 115lb body in a seat that was made for a 9 year old child, squished like a sardine between two 250lb gentlemen.

The flight attendants do their normal drill that hasn’t changed for years and wonder why nobody is listening. (side note) I think the first question the flight attendants should ask “is this anyone’s first time flying?” If so, the monotonous hum drum “in order to securely fasten your seat belt slide the flat end into the buckle…” should be directed towards them. I mean seriously, if you can’t buckle your seat belt you should probably get the hell off the plane! Okay so I have digressed, back to  the boarding process. The doors close and we back away from the gate. But wait! We have been told we can not take off due to an air traffic control issue at our destination. So we sit and wait, no apologies or offerance (I made up that word) of a drink or refreshment. As a matter of fact, after we have sat on the tarmac for over 30 minutes and finally take off, we don’t even get a full soda! You get a cocktail glass stuffed full of ice ½ filled with your drink! If someone asks for anything more than their peanuts or ½ drink, the flight staff acts like they have been asked to donate a kidney. Finally I arrive at my destination, 2 hours later than planned, 30 minutes after my original flight and $300.00 dollars is all I had to pay for this adventure…plus a $50.00 change fee.