Inside Marcy's Mind
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Inside Marcy's Mind
From Glamour to Grumbles: The Evolution of Modern Travel
Remember when flying was glamorous? When airlines like TWA and PSA offered generous legroom and complimentary everything? Those days are long gone, replaced by what can only be described as a human endurance test designed to push the limits of our collective patience.
Modern airports have become psychological experiments where common sense goes to die. From TSA lines where people act perpetually surprised by procedures established two decades ago, to passengers who bring steamer trunks as "carry-ons" and seem genuinely shocked when told they won't fit overhead. The bewildering behaviors extend to premature boarding lines, armrest territorial disputes, and the dreaded "recliner bullies" who transform your personal space the moment wheels leave the ground.
My travel philosophy has always been to lead with kindness, especially toward airline staff who deal with the worst of humanity daily. This approach has consistently proven more effective than my husband's "I deserve" attitude that comes from millions of miles flown. When a flight attendant once spilled an entire bottle of red wine down my white shirt, I laughed it off while a passenger who received merely a splash launched into a tirade. Sometimes being the voice of reason in these situations is necessary—your vacation status doesn't grant you royal treatment.
The "loud American" stereotype exists for a reason, and it's cringeworthy to witness fellow countrymen demanding Starbucks in Rome rather than embracing local customs. Instagram travelers who block historical landmarks for the perfect staged shot represent a particularly modern travel phenomenon. My personal rule? I never expect others to pause for my photos, and I don't alter my path for theirs.
How do we maintain sanity while navigating this new travel landscape? Pack your patience alongside your passport, invest in quality noise-canceling headphones, and lower your expectations. Most importantly, remember that you're not the only one trying to get from point A to point B safely. While travel may have lost its golden age glamour, it still fulfills its most fundamental purpose: getting us out of our zip codes and showing us new perspectives. Share your worst travel experiences with me at insidemarcysmind@gmail.com—because sometimes laughing about it is the best therapy of all.
Hello and welcome to Inside Marci's Mind. My name is Marci Backus and I am your host. So welcome back to Inside Marci's Mind, where sarcasm meets reality, and reality is usually stuck in the middle seat between a screaming toddler and a man who thinks deodorant is optional. I say that jokingly, but today we're talking about people's attitudes when traveling because, let's be honest, traveling these days is less about adventure and more about survival. Craig and I have traveled a lot. I've traveled my whole life. I traveled with my parents, but then, as a young adult, I got a job where I was flying here and there. I've been flying for a long time and I think we all have to agree it has certainly changed from the days of PSA and TWA and we're going to talk about that a little bit today. I'll share a little bit. I was just in Seattle this last weekend and I have flown through Seattle's airport. It's been a very long time since I've flown in and out and there is a difference. So Craig and I dropped off our rental car, took the rental car bus back and got to the terminal, and there's five terminals. They're all together in a semi-circle shape and we've been TSA pre-checked since the day it came out, never have had a problem. We get to Terminal 5. We get to the TSA pre-check line and it is over an hour long. I don't even know it is the longest TSA pre-check line I've ever seen. Of course Craig and I have plenty of time, but I was flabbergasted and there was this young, youngish man and he was kind of keeping the line going, moving forward, and I hear him say number one. I couldn't understand him and I heard him say it again and I kept hearing this number one. So we had just gotten in line. I walked up and I go what are you saying, please? And he said there's no line at terminal one. I looked at Craig and we backed ourselves out of that line so fast and we walked ourselves. It was. It was quite a jaunt, but that's fine. I mean we're going to be sitting in a plane.
Speaker 1:We get down to Terminal 1. And honestly it was like 10-minute walk, no big deal, zero line. We walked right up to the TSA agent and through. When we got through we realized there's a little shuttle thing which, again, seattle Airport is the worst right now. It's like got two little cars that it goes between these terminals. They're shoved full of people every time and we just took that back to Terminal 5. We were in a nothing flat, so a line that was going to take us well over an hour, with a 10 minute walk and a quick little shuttle ride back, we were through and we were on the other side.
Speaker 1:I say that because airports are not. There's no reason that they shouldn't have made that announcement louder, got that line split up a little bit more. I have no idea. I think there were other TSA lines at three and four as well. I didn't even look to see if they were crowded because I believe this guy, that one, had no line and he was not lying.
Speaker 1:But traveling is not the same. So I thought today we could, we could dive into this a little deeper, because that's what's inside Marcy's mind. So hang on, we'll be right out. Ok, I can already feel my blood boiling as I'm talking about this and remembering that experience, because the experience of an unorganized airport is not necessary. Now some airports have really got it together. I've traveled I.
Speaker 1:When we were traveling out of Greece last spring, we were in line for, you know, the TSA check, and there is somebody going. Does anybody have a flight in less than an hour, like they were checking on people because if you did, they'd get you through the line. I mean, it's things like that that make the experience better. And then it's things like Seattle, knowing they're having a ton of construction but not taking the next steps to make it easier for the traveler to get through their airport. There were several other things that happened that day that I just thought were unnecessary. So there's the airport circus. Literally, airports are like human zoos where common sense goes to die, and that's for everyone. My common sense isn't the best. Craig walks through an airport with a sense of entitlement and give the guy a break. He's traveled over 3 million miles on American, over a million on United. But the reason he has me is because I look at the other side and I kill them with kindness and he comes in with a I deserve attitude, and that doesn't work in an airport and that irritates me too. So Craig, lets me take the lead now, because he knows how he is.
Speaker 1:People who treat the TSA line like it's a surprise party. Oh wait, I have to take off my shoes. Who knew Only everyone since 2001,. Barbara, like, get it together, people. You know what's coming, you know you can't have liquids, like even in TSA pre-check. I don't care where you are, know what's expected of you. Honestly, honestly, since 2001,. If you're not in TSA PreCheck, you've had to take off your shoes. Now I will give a little leeway. Some airports you have to take out things. Some airports you don't. But listen, they do make announcements.
Speaker 1:So the carry-on luggage overpackers who act shocked when their steamer trunk doesn't fit in the overhead bin, shocked when their steamer trunk doesn't fit in the overhead bin. Honestly, people, I look at you coming down with the crap that you have and you're shocked when it doesn't fit. And I will tell you something I sit on the aisle. I keep my elbow in when I have been beamed by backpacks, when people flinging themselves around with their giant turtle shell on their back, people, if you have a backpack on the back of you, it takes up space, it hits people. I don't understand this. I don't understand how people just become stupid at the airport. I really don't. Obviously, this does bother me. People who line up to board 30 minutes early. People who line up to board 30 minutes early you're, you've got your seat. People, and if you're worried about overhead space, then check your fricking luggage. I just I can't deal with it. Get up when they call your your section and get up fast when they call your section. You know, I mean, really Traveling these days isn't about where you're going, it's just surviving the personalities of the people around you.
Speaker 1:And let me tell you, people are not making it easy, and I'm sure there's a lot of you out feeling this way, and I hope nobody listens to me that actually behaves this way, because if you do stop listening now, this is not appropriate. None of this is a surprise. We all know how to travel. Okay, airplane attitudes. Airplanes are the ultimate attitude test.
Speaker 1:Recliner bullies. The second we take off, boom, the seat in front of you is now in your lap. You could braid their hair if the passenger in front of you, if you wanted to. I have a real thing. Craig and I if usually well, we used to fly first class all the time, we're still always on the list, we don't get bumped up all the time, but we are 99% of the time in a exit row, so we have lots of leg room. I do not put my seat back, I have that extra leg room. It's very rude to put your seat back. I know they go back. They've gone back when TWA and PSA gave us plenty of leg room. I don't think they should recline anymore. The minute someone reclines, they literally are in your lap. You can berate their hair honestly. So don't be a bully and lower your seat.
Speaker 1:The I paid $29 for this ticket, so I'm a king of the sky. Passengers can't stand them. Okay, babies crying versus grown adults crying. I'll take the baby every time. I will take a dog next to me, a cat next to me, more than just the jackass that's flying, that thinks they are the most important thing on that plane, can't stand it.
Speaker 1:I'm going to tell you a story. I do have a story. I was flying home on Southwest from Arizona visiting my nephew. This is quite a few years ago, probably 10 years ago. I had a white like little tank top top on. It was loose.
Speaker 1:Um, sitting on my seat and a steward dropped an entire bottle of red wine down the back of my shirt. One of those little splits, those little small piles, is his first day on the job. He was mortified. It's no big deal, it's wine. Have I been sober for 37 years and that's the closest I've been to wine in a long time? Yeah, but I had red wine all the way down my white top. 99.9.999% of the bottle went down me. A tiny bit splashed on the man on the aisle across from me. He goes off on the flight attendant Off, yelling, screaming. He wants his dry cleaning, la, la, la, la, la, la la. And finally I'm sitting there. I had enough.
Speaker 1:I just turned around and told him to shut up, knock it off. I said this young man is doing the best he can. You got a slight splash on your coat. I think you'll survive. You are fine, knock it. And his wife was just. And they just shut up. I mean, they were just, I couldn't take it anymore. And when we got up to leave I stood up and I asked the people in the back of the plane I'm like, is it in the shape of Jesus? And they all started laughing. I said, because it is, I could sell it on eBay. And everybody thought that was funny. But that man was totally out of control, totally inappropriate. He got a splash on him. I had the entire bottle on me and so there is no reason for people to behave like that.
Speaker 1:Armrest wars, because sharing is not carrying. At 30,000 feet, you know, there's enough room for your arm to be on the back, their arm to be on the front. I, this last flight, the person and I made that work no big deal. And nothing reveals true character like turbulence. Half the plane is praying when the other half is ordering a third round of vodka. Isn't that the truth? Everybody gets all religious when the plane starts going up and down.
Speaker 1:Next part I want to talk about is hotels, resorts and attitudes on the ground. People carry their travel crankiness right into the hotel lobby. Oh, before we even get into that, I was Craig and I were sitting at a gate. It wasn't our gate. We were having some McDonald's super early in the morning. Somebody had obviously their plate was late, they were changing planes and the gate door was closed. And they just immediately start yelling, yelling at the gate agent. And I watched the gate agent and she said I am so sorry, I held it for 10 minutes longer than I was supposed to. They have rules. I had to close it and these are your options. And the people, and finally they, the people did calm down, but you know, life happens, life happens. It's not the gate agent's fault, all right. So our hotels, people who think their vacation makes them royalty. Excuse me, I booked the ocean view. Why is the ocean all the way over there and all these things? You know? Again, you booked it, julie, not the person at the desk.
Speaker 1:We need to learn to have patience and it's not easy, but it's not someone else's fault all the time. And even if it is, I guarantee you, if you give them grace and your kindness, they will work it out for you. So, having lived with someone who has a little bit of a I'm more important than you attitude and I love my husband, but he does I have to balance that out. To balance that out and in balancing that out for the last 34 years I have learned very much. So that the person that gives grace and kindness usually gets more. So practice that.
Speaker 1:Cultural attitudes and travelers themselves Travelers' attitudes abroad can be frankly embarrassing. You can pick out the American everywhere you go. We are loud, we are obnoxious and we are rude as a collective group. It's horrifying. I hate it. Pack your patience and be kind. They speak their language. We don't. We're on their turf. Honestly, people relax the loud American stereotype and how some travelers really live up to it, and they do. People who demand Starbucks in Rome and McDonald's in Paris. The Instagram traveler who spends 45 minutes posing on the cobblestones blocking actual humans from walking.
Speaker 1:I will tell you this when I take a picture when I'm on a vacation, I expect no one to stop for me. I expect no one to to get out of my shot. It's up to me and I'll tell you something If someone's planning a picture and they've got this and that I'll walk right through the frame, I don't care. If I'm at the Coliseum and I want to see the Coliseum and you've got it blocked with your no. No, I am kind if there's a whole big family and they're trying to get people together, fine, but if you're just blocking the way, I don't care. I don't expect anybody to stop for my photos and I don't stop for anybody else's photos. That's just my rule. And um, and I think it's a good rule. Here's a thought Maybe try enjoying the culture instead of staging a fake laugh while holding a gelato for the gram.
Speaker 1:I Instagram with the best of them, but my pictures are quick pictures. I never worry about people being in them. Frankly, you can take them right out these days and I don't gussy up my pictures. I put up what's there and think about that. When you're out, think about the other people, how to survive traveling with your sanity? Pack your patience. I've said that several times in this. Pack your patience. Airports are basically therapy waiting rooms with worse snacks.
Speaker 1:I'm telling you Noise canceling headphones. The minute I get to the airport, mine go on. I may be listening to nothing, but people think I'm listening. They don't bug me and I can't hear as much, which is great. I actually don't need to hear the life story of the guy in seat 17C. I'm telling you now. Lower your expectations. I need to do better at this. If your trip doesn't end with food poisoning or lost luggage, consider it a win. And, most importantly, attitude check. You're not the only one on vacation. Everyone else wants to get there alive too. I have to do all these things because it really does frustrate me. I am telling you the noise canceling headphones. That is winner, winner. Chicken dinner right there.
Speaker 1:People, I have the big kind, not them kind you put in your ears and nobody can see, because people still talk to you. If you have the big, I have my, my rose gold ones that go over my ears. No one bugs you and it really does cut out all listening to all that nonsense from people. People are ridiculous in the airports and traveling. Well, I hope this gives you just a little bit of fun and a little bit of information.
Speaker 1:Traveling used to be glamorous people. It is not now. But do not wear your pajamas and your slippers honestly and your bonnets and all these other things when you're traveling. Nobody wants to see that. I don't want to see it. I don't like it. A nice track suit, anything, a nice looking combination outfit? It doesn't have to be fancy, it's just don't look like you just rolled out of bed. It used to be fancy, it just don't look like you just rolled out of bed. It used to be glamorous. It's not anymore. Now it's just a test of patience, deodorant and leg room. But hey, it still gets us out of our zip codes and sometimes that's all the therapy that we need.
Speaker 1:What's the worst travel attitude you've witnessed? Let me know, because I need a good laugh. Let me know, because I need a good laugh. You can get a hold of me at where can you get inside Marcy's mind? At gmailcom. I love getting your emails. I got some last week about people that actually were working on their decluttering and using some of the tips I gave you. I love that you listen and I do appreciate it. I'm sorry if today's sounded kind of sassy and angry, but people just people, are stupid, oh my goodness. And with that said, I've got two trips coming up heading to California in a couple of weeks and then I'm going to Ireland. So I'll pack my patience, I promise. Love you all, love you for listening. Thank you. Go out there and do something positive.
