For me, the question is in two parts:

Is the process of traveling less fun? This is a no brainer. Most travel is by air now, and air travel has become an ordeal to be endured.

But more and more, I find getting to the destination is less fun. Of course, it depends on what you want, but one thing I don't want is to spend time as one of a crowd of tourist. Ask yourself, on a typical leisure trip now, how much time do you spend in environments (hotels, museums, sites, beaches, restaurants, neighborhoods, etc.) where there are more tourists within sight than locals. What's wrong with that? Nothing, if that's what you want. But that's not what I want.

Travelling is still fun but then I don't live in the USA.

20 years ago. Let me think........

No OLCI
No advance seat requests
Having to book through a TA - no internet
Very expensive domestic fares (Australia)
limited choice of overseas arlines to fly with
Food was crap, even back then.

Your children can still visit the cockpit, while at the gate.:)

I'm afraid you're right. Part of me even wishes we could go back to the days before deregulation. I know what all the downsides were, but people actually looked forward to and were excited about flying in those days.

Upsides

Proper flat beds in F and J..on most decent airlines
Really good lounges
Safer than ever air travel

Downsides

Security a pain
Downgraded food and drink offerings.

On balance? Better.

Maybe it's because I'm from Canada, where we never had this 'meet at the gate' business, but I have to say it's one thing I don't miss from US airports.

Back in the day it was hard enough finding a seat at a gate's small lounge (ORD, I'm talking about you) without fighting your way through dozens of families armed with balloons, signs and stuffed animals... and don't get me started on trying to find a seat in a concourse bar. I know most of FT waits for their flight in the airline lounge, but for those of us without status, clearing all these people out of concourse has made for a more enjoyable flying experience, at least at the departure and transit airports.

It's so hard to get direct non-stop flights to just about anywhere anymore. I find flying boring already, but to have to go to yet another airport and sit and wait for another plane....

I think the fun very much depends on who you fly with (Airline and people on board) and what class of service you use (is being provided by the airline / airport).

Personally I am still relatively new to the frequent flyer business. Have been on just over 100 flights in the last three years, and around 8 all my life before that.

I would like to point out, that while being treated like scum (especially in the US and UK), I am a smoker and I like it. I very much appreciate every airport that still has smoking sections, and am quite sad that I could never be on a smoking flight. For me personally, that would make a TATL a lot more enjoyable.

Apart from that, my first statement counts. A few weeks ago I flew BA Business and loved it all round. Being usually stuffed in discount economy made the lounge access, the security fast lane and the better service so much more enjoyable. In fact that much, that I am now dedicated to my first mileage runs in order to finally achieve status.

Last week I flew Iberia Economy and I hated it. Plane looked and behaved like crap (would have probably been retired on most airlines), other PAX were typically annoying tourists and first-time flyers... or just ignorant a...holes, like the guy in front of me that slammed his seat against my knees and didn't even react when I approached him, generally the seat pitch was insufficient...

On other Airlines (BA, EK, LH, CX) even economy is quite enjoyable. Especially if you're on a business route and surrounded by people that have manners and some experience on how to behave on an airplane.

All in all however, I disagree with the opinion of some here:
FLYING is still fun. Exciting take offs and landings, ocasionally some nice scenery, enjoying the sun above the clouds when it's overcast and raining below.

Being at the airport however, queing at security, or just having to wait airside without having lounge access and/or a place to have a cigarette, is a pain.

I fly more than 125K miles per year, by choice, just to achieve status and earn miles to give to friends so they may travel comfortably when they fly internationally. I almost always travel in FC and still, it is NOT fun!

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Travel is fun, air travel however isn't neccessarily. I suggest you try train travel, you can get to know your fellow passengers and enjoy the journey without the hassels.

20 years ago I wouldn't be able to afford as much travel as I can now.

20 years ago there were fewer flights.

20 years ago I was four years old.

Travel is more fun for me now. All this widebody on domestic flights/meals on domestic flights etc. nostalgia isn't worth the time it takes to type the laments.

Maybe when I am retired, for now, no thanks.

Train travel takes too much time and cost a lot of money.

Yes, coach on train is same cost as coach on an airplane, but if you think about two days have to sleep in a chair vs 4 hours in a chair from Chicago to San Francisco, how can one enjoy the journey ?

Hmmm.

I suspect it is all relative.

Until last year I had 30 some odd years of being a 0-15k mile a year flier under my belt. The last year I flew 135,000 miles

Now that the little known world of upgrades and lounges have opened to me I would have to say that traveling is more fun, even with the unpleasant things that have popped up since 9/11.

Last spring I scored a battlefield upgrade between SAN-DFW as an AA PLT. I was in F, enjoying dinner with a nice red wine and had a spectacular view of the great American desert. It dawned on me that this was the way travel should be.^

Air travel is definitely less fun
 

It's ironic that, now that I've finally gotten over my flying phobia and can really enjoy the air portion of a journey, there's little to enjoy. I can go down the list of what makes contemporary air travel annoying:

- TSA
- tight seat pitch
- over-crowded planes
- few or no in-flight amenities
- RJs (which I refuse to fly)
- disgruntled airline employees
- the Greyhound bus set
- screaming babies
- flight cancellations based on seats booked
- regular irregular ops
- Indian call centers
- FF programs that are worth little unless you fly 100K or more
- crowded club rooms with few amenities

From time to time, I'll get a flight that boards on time, has a comfortable F seat, attentive and pleasant crew and an edible meal. It is, however, a far, far cry from when I started frequent flying in the 80s.

I agree that it is certainly quite a bit less fun. Sorry to say this, but today many airline personnel dislike their jobs and take it out on the flying public (or so it seems). I do know a few airlines in this world where I am still treated very well, and only they will get my future business! Domestic flying in this USA has become a hell close to bus travel.:td: