Oct 23, 2025 2 min read

Not a fan of flying today

I absolutely agree with the commentary by Laura Hollis in Tuesday’s Observer-Reporter.

Twenty-five years ago, I was a gold frequent flyer on multiple airlines — at a time when gold was the highest. Air travel then was almost civilized. It has only gone downhill since. As the airlines race for the bottom in terms of service and quality, I have no desire to give them a dime.

I recently retired. People at work would ask why I was willing to drive 12 hours. “My car is always first class, my car does not lose my luggage, and my car does not miss the connection.” It is that simple.

As a manager of internal quality, I have to ask, where else are the airlines cutting things — like maintenance? Yes, the fatality statistics show air travel to be very safe, but recent events and a look into near-misses tell a different story.

Like your columnist, I don’t want to ever get on an airplane again.

Full disclosure: I will be getting on an airplane later the month — because I can’t drive to Hawaii. My father was at Pearl Harbor and I want to see the memorials and museums. Hopefully that will be the last air travel in my life.

J.A. Sanford

Eighty Four