Fiat Lux

Now that the spring semester is over, my thoughts are turning to my summer plans. I'm taking 2 classes this summer, one of which is a 'study tour' -- two weeks in Barcelona, to be spent with a professor from chool and 10 other classmates, visiting Spanish businesses and learning more about doing business in Europe. I'm excited; this will be my first vist to Spain.

After a lot of struggle and shopping arund, I even managed to get a decent fare to Europe. This, though, got my spirits down a bit.

Rough Summer Is on the Way for Air Travel

Planes are expected to be packed fuller than at anytime since World War II, when the airlines helped transport troops. Fares are rising. Service frills are disappearing.

[snip]

With airlines generally not expanding and traffic rising, is "fully loaded" the new normal in a business that for decades flew planes at 60 to 70 percent capacity? The ability to compare fares easily on the Internet has driven down ticket costs but also helped airlines to sell the very last seat.

[snip]

"The thing that's starting to bother travelers more than anything else is the comfort factor, not the fare factor," said Kevin Maguire, the in-house travel manager for Applied Materials, a technology company based in Santa Clara, Calif. "The airlines, federal government, general public need to sit down collectively and find a way to get the transportation system back in order," he said. "I've never seen it this bad."

Oh joy.

I've done what I can to try to ensure a comfortable trip. I cashed in all my built-up AA miles and am flying First class SFO - NYC (woohoo!). Then I switch to Air France for the international leg. That flight will be in the cattle car section, though. SeatGuru says Air France has been reconfiguring some of their planes, but whether that's for the better or worse is unknown.

This trip will also mark the longest time Scott and I will have spent apart in more than a decade. I hope it's not too lonely without him.