I’ve been spending even more time than usual in airports and on planes the past few months, and watching all the people walk by – most I’ll never see again, and really never know their stories, but all headed someplace important enough to their lives to fly for it.
Flying once used to be the province of the wealthy, and business men (definitely mostly men, United Airlines even used to have ‘Men Only’ flights) but now it’s become far more democratized. Airline deregulation brought lower fares, and the U.S. has become far wealthier.
At the same time, being able to fly is an immense privilege. The median person inside an airport probably is different than outside of it. Those of us flying have higher average income. We’ve all been screened for weapons (and we’re also ‘clean’ of liquids, too).
Some people prefer to be surrrounded only by those screened by TSA or with sufficient disposable income to fly.
Airports are wonderful spaces mainly because you’re surrounded only by people who have spent at least $100 to be there https://t.co/e4jzkOv77Z
— Daniel (@growing_daniel) July 19, 2025
Notice that it’s not exactly net worth, but timeliness and regularity of fulfilling obligations.
— ib (@Indian_Bronson) July 20, 2025
Airports are cities with their own fire departments, dentists, and chapels (though I wish more had had dry cleaners and they should all have grocery stores and pharmacies). But since when are airports civilized places?
Thursday (Jul 17) a SkyWest jet made an emergency landing after a passenger attempted to open a door in flight and assaulted a flight attendant, Suspect was arrested on arrival. Source @fl360aero . NEW YORK POST/Storyfulpic.twitter.com/dF2rRhz1Ia
— Air Safety #OTD by Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters) July 20, 2025
A WILD brawl broke out at a #SpiritAirlines check-in counter in Baltimore… and it was all caught on video! pic.twitter.com/vrrOlfEWdF
— TMZ (@TMZ) May 31, 2024
Incidents like these happen even though there are more law enforcement agencies in one place at airports than anywhere else! You’ve got FBI, DEA, Customs and Border Protection, TSA, local police and more.
It’s precisely the small-d democratization of air travel that brings together not just different socioeconomic backgrounds, but people of all cultures and contexts. Airports are literally the modern equivalent of Chalmun’s Cantina in Mos Eisley. And people are traveling both when they’re at their best and at their worst. They may be headed to a funeral, heading for medical treatment, or dealing with divorce (or getting married!). People travel at the most stressful times. People travel for vacation, but vacation too can be stressful.
Add onto that that the food in airports is generally terrible, but that 5 a.m. beers are somehow acceptable, and the whole thing is simultaneously special and frightening.
Of course, if you really want to separate yourself, stand in a 20 minute line in the terminal to get into the lounge where nothing screams bourgeoisie like hummus and USB ports. Some even use them as a dating screen while others prefer to scope out the PreCheck line for dates pre-vetted by the government.
Low fares have brought in low class. Plain and simple. Back in the 1970s when most people drove airport meltdowns were just not a thing. Flying as a kid in the 1970s my father wore a collar shirt (and yes I do not ), my mother wore a dress and we kids were not in suit and tie but we were clean and presentable. We sat quietly at the gate with other passengers. Boardings were orderly. Flights were pleasant.
‘Elite singles,’ you say?
…Wait until @Erect, @E. Jack Youlater, @Un, and @Unintimidated hears about this!
“And people are traveling both when they’re at their best and at their worst. They may be headed to a funeral, heading for medical treatment, or dealing with divorce (or getting married!).”
Story time:
I broke up with a partner at the gate of an EZE-MIA flight. They were going EZE-DFW next gate over. We did it in the terminal quietly but we were both emotional wrecks and knew it was the last time we would see each other, ever. [It had been a long time coming]
I had Seat 1A on the AA 777 swivel chair config. I boarded the flight, sat in my seat, and broke down crying with my face turned towards the window.
The FA comes over for a PDB and taps my shoulder, and I turn to her, and she says: “Oh my god honey, are you okay????”
I said no my heart is broken. She finished her PDB and came back and talked to me for the entire pre-departure time. I don’t know who she delegated her duties to on the flight crew, but I know she didn’t do any of it because she was with me.
Lesson: You have no idea what that random person is dealing with at any given time. So cut everyone a little slack as much as you can because you don’t know.
I’ll remember that FA for the rest of my life.
In before you realize they’re just an AU, heh
@1900 — Ha-haa! Yes where is @Dick also to chime in (if not also the same person)? I remember his standard was a woman greeting him at his gate with flowers and that women would give “quizzical looks” at men who pulled out a Capital One card on a date.
@Mike — Sounds more like a ‘(do) cry for me, Argentina’ situation. Sorry, it was EZE, after all; thanks for sharing your story here. Personally, I think you made the better choice going to MIA than DFW.
@L737 — Oof. There are some ‘characters’ here for sure.
Commercial airports are for the masses. Elite should be FBOs like Signature or Atlantic
> democratized
Flying is more affordable, it hasn’t become a representation of the people. Please use the word “affordable” instead of that double-speak monstrosity.
“Elite single” is oxymoronic over the age of approximately 25. Every worthwhile person is in a long-term relationship by then, if not already married, and by virtue of their eliteness, they will not be separating or divorcing.
Anybody single at age 30 or above has major, and I mean major, problems, often one or more of the following.
Problems among single men:
1) Under 6′
2) Income under $800,000
3) Frequent, absurd posting of comments on points-related travel blogs
Problems among single women:
1) Poor manners, including lack of grace (blame the extinction of finishing schools)
2) Expectation of a man out of their league
3) Lack of self awareness
Actually it is not a bad idea, prowling for partners in airport lounges.
They gotta have something if they are in an airport lounges, as does the person looking.
@Erect — ‘800,000’… dollars? You must mean ‘yuan’ (about 110K USD).
A buddy of mine, pre 9/11, used to go to airport bars for this reason. He met his wife on a plane.
I guess it can be successful!
@George Romey – “Low fares have brought in low class. Plain and simple.”
Ah, yes, the old “Just enough of us. Way too many of you” mindset (hat tip to the late P.J. O’Rourke).
@Mike. Sorry to hear of your flying experience as breakups are a bitch. My worst EVER was losing my two Labradors. Screw humans. Dogs are indeed man’s best friend.
@Erect. I first thought it said 6”. Well, under 7.5” or six feet you’re screwed especially if you date the same sex. Would love to pass out copies of your pointers to high school seniors. I’ve never met Kim Kardashian yet I consider her & her siblings social media “influence” on the younger set to be the absolute worst in folks. Though I’ve spoken to cabin crews that say she’s the most polite person in the world. Go figure.
And yes, there are indeed incredibly nice cabin crews out there. But trash is trash & Spirit Airlines is and flies trash. Needs to be shut down as it’s the industry cancer & that is thankfully happening. Greyhound bus exists for a reason.
@erect,
Great story. I broke up with my GF after a CUN-DFW flight. She went home back to ORD. I decided to hop the next flight to OGG for a week. There was no need to console me on that flight, she needed it tho.
@Erect
I feel personally attacked.