Tale of Two Flights: A Spoiled Brat Flies the Airlines

Most of us have experienced some mind-blowing travel failures.

Dick Karl

Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

FLYING contributor Dick Karl says he once arrived to JFK for a flight to London only to learn our aircraft hadn’t left England yet. [Courtesy: Dick Karl]

Key Takeaways:

The article contrasts two recent travel experiences: a "ridiculous" commercial airline trip and a "sublime" series of general aviation and commercial flights.
The "ridiculous" journey, involving multiple delays due to crew rest, missed connections, an unaccommodating flight attendant, and a costly, re-routed return flight with a go-around, highlighted the frustrations of modern air travel.
In contrast, the "sublime" travel included unexpected first-class upgrades on commercial flights and a seamless, efficient general aviation flight, providing a stark difference in travel quality and enjoyment.

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You hear a lot about how terrible airline flying is: delays caused by rowdy passengers, crews timing out, ATC staffing shortages, and all manner of weather. Most of us have experienced some mind-blowing travel failures. I once arrived at JFK for a flight to London only to learn that our aircraft hadn’t left England yet. Luckily, a bar was conveniently available.

Two recent airline forays could be classified as sublime and ridiculous.