I agree with Matt Wald. I now that many of you use the time on planes to work, and the atmosphere isn't really all that conducive to work. The food isn't all that great, but (at least up front) it's bearable, and the seats (again, up front) aren't really uncomfortable. I, too, think of the time on the plane as "dead" time, and I use it to do things I seldom have time to do on the ground - read for pleasure, have a drink, take a nap, etc. I prefer an aisle seat, simply because I'd rather be disturbed by my neighbor getting up than be the one doing the disturbing, but the only preference I actually state is "no bulkhead." The one piece I carry on is a briefcase holding my books, puzzles, schedules, etc., and I like to have it where I can get at it during the flight without getting up. If I happen to get a wondow seat, I don't complain. I, too, still find the views intriguing, if not sometimes amazing - like realizing, the other day on the approach to DCA, that we were directly above IAD. And, Djlawman, you don't really have to "carry(ing) the luggage around" unless you want to, except from the house to the car or cab and from the car or cab to the curb. They do have a thing called "baggage check," you know (those of you who've been around a while may remember that carry-ons are one of my pet peeves).