Passports for internal travel?????

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

46. My, admittedly very limited, experience has been that it does.

I apparently automatically get into that line bypass thing that you can otherwise pay money and give up your privacy for. It is so nice to go to that shorter line, to leave my shoes on, to not have to open my carry-on bag.

And then I get to sit in the relative comfort of first class, have a drink or four on the flight.

Several years ago I was waiting to board a flight when the gate agent said there was a first class seat available for the low, low price of fifty dollars. I jumped on it. Luckily I was sitting right in front of the gate podium, although I think no one else was actually jumping to grab the seat.

The agent credited back the $25 I'd paid to check my suitcase. On board there was a sort of meal, a grilled cheese sandwich which was actually quite nice as I happen to love grilled cheese. I managed to have four gin and tonics on the flight from Portland to Los Angeles, which pretty much made up for the upgrade charge I'd paid.

I have never flown on a charter or a private jet, but I would certainly love the opportunity. Meanwhile, in the land of the great unwashed, I'll settle for flying first class when I have the chance.

Oh, and many years ago I was an airline employee and not only flew for free (yes, really for free) but almost always was boarded in first class. Most of the time our passes were specified for first class, and often even when they weren't we were put up front anyway. Especially when flying out of my own airport, DCA. One time I was flying to Tucson with a connection in Chicago. In Chicago, when I was given my boarding pass it was for a coach seat. I sighed inwardly but started down the jetway. After all, I was flying for free or close to it. Behind me I heard someone say, "Wait! That's a non rev? Give her this boarding pass instead." and I was then handed a first class boarding pass. Nice. That may make me sound spoiled, but trust me, I appreciated it. Back then it was constantly stressed to us employees that flying for free (or close to it) was a privilege that could easily be revoked and we'd better appreciate it. Trust me, I did.

So I choose to purchase a first class seat when I fly for a bunch of reasons. I don't fly very often, which makes it a bit more possible to afford it. I also do it in a tribute to the past.