"Prepare for battlefield conditions"- sad, but what a perfect phrase! I mentally gird my loins every time I enter an airport. How long is the TSA line? Is the flight still posted on time? What are my chances of making/missing my connection? Have I denuded myself of all sharp and pointy objects? Did I forget, and wear the bra with the underwires that trips up the metal detector?

My brother took Dad on a golfing tour of Scotland when Dad was probably in his late 60s or early 70s. I'm guessing it was Business Class because my brother gets a lot of FF miles and status from business travel. Dad had flown a lot in the 1950s/1960s before deregulation and he was pretty shocked at what chaos it had become. The last time my parents attempted to fly, it was a nonstop from CLT to CMH (Columbus, OH) for a cousin's wedding when they were maybe 80 and 81. They were moved from Plane #1 to Plane #2 because of a mechanical problem. Guess what- Plane #2 had the same problem (same aircraft type). They got off THAT plane and the airline wanted to route them through DCA. My parents said no, and went home. I didn't blame them.