34 Comments

Roasted chickpeas I second! Also edamame too!!

I loved your questions :)

People seem to really obey the lines for priority vs not - I think mostly because they fear being shamed as everyone in line is watching!

It also always intrigued me why some people dress up so well or even wear heels or clothes that seem uncomfortable for a long journey. I always felt like airplane travel is like a long road trip, no one cares what you wear. Just be comfy!

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I’ve been the guy wearing nice clothes on a flight because I had to immediately go to a meeting after arriving. In retrospect, I should’ve just booked an earlier flight!

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I don't wear heels, but I often wear a jacket and tie in the hope that when I ask for a free upgrade they'll say yes! It has worked a few times 😁

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Can we get edamame on the plane please? Granted they make a mess... or pistachios, are pistachios banned nuts? My best plane story is thirty-five years old or more. A flight in a rickety plane in Myanmar (I prefer to call it Burma, but OK). Old plane, a DC-something, shaky weather, potholed landing strip. We still land elegantly. Then we walk down the steps onto the tarmac, I turn around and see the pilot coming out. One-eyed, with a patch, ramrod... and well... seasoned. Formed RAF it turned out. I can only guess in what war...

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Oh wow, an eye patch?!

Also, no idea if people are allergic to pistachios, but I love them and what second this proposal. I do think they’re quite expensive, so I don’t have high hopes

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Everything you say here is true, Lyle. I flew at least twice weekly for twenty years in my job and have crossed the Atlantic 42 times on holiday. A LOT of flying. Mostly I would like to forget the pain and boredom of it all. NOTE: The rise in air pressure on the descent causes babies to scream from earache and ALL adults to fart. Disgusting, but it can't be helped. I am not a religious person, not a believer, however, I said one prayer during every take off. I can still feel the cold glass of the window as I leaned my forehead against it, eyes closed, " I leave the ground this morning, trusting wholly in Thee, confident in Thy signs. Enable me to return to my home through Thy mercy .... etc etc " It did me a world of good. Thanks for taking me along with you this time.

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That’s 42 long flights! The air pressure thing makes sense. I felt bad for a couple with twin babies on the return trip. They both spent the majority of the flight walking up and down the aisle because the babies would instantly start crying when they sat down

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The blobby struggle is real!! And my brain can’t take it! Someone just gave me the advice to always “plane” first no matter what boarding group you’re in. And she’s an incredibly seasoned traveler. Must have something to do with ignoring the blob and just focusing on that chapter or sudoku in your seat.

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That’s interesting advice. Seems kinda rude to me, unless I’m misunderstanding

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I googled it for your convenience, and it's totally a thing! https://thepointsguy.com/news/why-boarding-last-is-the-best/

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Ohhhh, you wrote first not last in your comment. Last makes way more sense to me. I might have to try that the next time I fly!

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G D! I try to be soooOOOooo helpful and I'm the opposite? But I'm glad we had this little talk! And yes, pushing away women and children and differently-abled to board first is VERY rude!

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Aug 1, 2023Liked by Lyle McKeany

Ha! Loved this take, dude.

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Thanks, Ryan!

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Jul 30, 2023Liked by Lyle McKeany

I think i like how you draft all your personal essays. I think it retains interest. The name is Philip Ebuluofor. Google it and try one of my essays in medium.com and tell honestly all you saw wrong in it. Assignment I gave now.

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Jul 30, 2023Liked by Lyle McKeany

You did get on a roll, yes, definitely blobby. Thank you Lyle

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4. They do serve nuts. Or they make them leave.

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That’s ruthless!

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3. I once boarded a plane in Denver and the plane pulled away from the gate and out somewhere on the tarmac. We sat there for several hours waiting for repairs. They refused to let anyone disembark and take another flight. It was Continental. I refused to fly them again. They went out of business. Not just me I guess

2. No farts.

1. Can't remember!

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I remember having a bad Continental experience back in the day too that left a bad taste in my mouth. I wasn’t at all surprised when they went belly up

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Jul 29, 2023Liked by Lyle McKeany

On my last flight, I spied two of the remaining few empty seats left untaken on the plane, two seats in a row with a large man sitting in the aisle seat. I smiled and said “May I sit here?” and he said, “Sure! Welcome to the window seat!” Then when my husband behind me followed me right in and sat down in the middle seat, the man’s smile quickly vanished. Awkward! Thanks for sharing both the awkward messes and good stresses of flying!

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Oh man, I kind of feel for that guy! Although I feel the most for your husband. I hate the middle seat. Does anyone like the middle, though?

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Jul 29, 2023Liked by Lyle McKeany

Instead of cookies or pretzels, they could serve roasted chickpeas/peas/other legume. They can come in individual pouches.

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Yes, please! Roasted chickpeas are great

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How about fried chicken and bashed potatoes! Now we're talking!

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what are bashed potatoes? Is it the same as mashed potatoes?

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Guessing that's a typo 😆

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Not a typo, I just like the sound of bashing a potato .Seems like a harmless way to work off stress.

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Oh yeah, could be. I just assumed it was some American delicacy I'd never heard of!

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I guess it depends which utensil you use - masher or basher?

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There you go! I have always felt a little alien...

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