2 min read

The Best of Flights, the Worst of Flights

Picture of Tyler Wilcox Tyler Wilcox : October 6, 2017

Where digital meets travel + lifestyle … A collection of can’t-miss news from this week. Sign up to get the TURNER Weekly Download in your inbox every Friday.

The Marvelous Airport

Most of us want to get through our airport experience as quickly as possible. But try slowing down and looking at it from a pilot’s point of view. In Slate, 747 pilot Mark Vanhoenacker details the joys of the modern airport. “After all,” he writes, “if you’re going to fly anyway, then why not make the terrestrial bookends to your next journey across the vault of the heavens a little more interesting?” A few of Vanhoenacker’s tips include soaking in the Departures board, admiring the architecture (certain airports are “modern cathedrals,” he claims), and people-watching. “Airports are the perfect place to eavesdrop on the wonders of our spoken world,” he says.

High Altitude Texts

Another wonder of the world, we think you’ll agree, is in-flight WiFi. But paying exorbitant fees for it is no fun. Have no fear – Delta Airlines is on the case. According to Thrillist, the airline just started offering free in-flight text messaging on all flights. Just log on and send whatever emojis you want to your friends as you cruise at 30,000 feet. It’s just the beginning, apparently – Delta CEO Ed Bastian said they hope to offer free full-scale internet access on all of its flights at some point in the future.

Sleeping the Friendly Skies

So you can text the friendly skies … but can you sleep them? American Airlines is trying to make an in-flight nap that much more comfortable by teaming up with Casper Mattresses. No, every passenger isn’t getting one of those fluffy mattresses. But Casper and American Airlines have developed several new sleep products designed specifically to help you slumber during your flight. You’ll enjoy a comfy mattress pad that fits over your seat. You’ll snuggle up with a cozy duvet. There are even custom-made pajamas. The only catch? These items will only be available in First class, Business class and Premium Economy. Hey, those of us in regular Economy need to catch some Zs, too!

The Best of Flights, the Worst of Flights

Marvelous airports … free in-flight texting … high-altitude catnaps … is air travel better than ever? Well, there’s disagreement about that. Most travelers still hate flying. But industry experts say it’s massively improved. Who’s right? Over on the Outline, Aaron Gordon examines this conundrum. On the one hand, flying is cheaper and more accessible to the general public than ever before. On the other, they’re also more crowded than ever, with 930 million U.S. passengers per year crammed onto planes in increasingly small and uncomfortable seats. “Most people understand we can’t have a first class experience on economy fares, but pine for a happy medium where we are given a seat commensurate with our dignity, treated humanely by airline staff, and generally arrive on-time barring mitigating circumstances, all for a reasonable price,” he writes. “That sounds nice, right?”

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