1. If you "play the credit-card game," you should easily be able to find a card that will reimburse for TSA PreCheck. That would mean no more taking off your shoes. (And by the way, I personally would never walk onto an airplane -- or into any type of public transportation terminal -- without wearing socks. But that's just me.)

2. If you have a co-branded credit card for the airline you are flying, you should get some type of priority boarding, as well as a free checked bag (but only for domestic travel with the AA credit card).

3. If you were able to get even low-level status on a domestic airline, you would get access to better seats at ticketing, and maybe even extra-leg-room seats for free at check in. It's probably easier to earn status with AA than DL or UA these days: you now earn AA Loyalty Points from credit-card purchases, hotel stays, car rentals, AAdvantage Dining, Simply Miles, and the AA e-shopping portal -- oh, and flights too.

No, flying is not what it used to be. But you know the old saying: "When life hands you lemons ...."