Back in 2004 (the bmi days) it couldn’t have been so expensive as I flew to New York that day with UA, but it was an indirect flight. I arrived at Washington in the election’s aftermath and there was an eeriness to the airport.
The small plane to New York was completely full and the valiant flight crew was doing his absolute best to remain upbeat and chipper during the flight. We made a lot of eye contact and I sent him lots of smiles because the plane was otherwise entirely filled with morose, sullen people. The despair for Kerry having lost the election was palpable, it flooded the cabin and became a molasses through which the FA had to distribute cups of water. I was glad to be there to give him some moral support.