WAIM #061 - Kevin Alexander Travel Talk & Airline Dirt

As soon as I got home from my trip to Central America with my mother, I was dying to talk to Kevin Alexander. Every time I fly, especially internationally, I find myself amazed at the soulless nature of air travel. The security checks are an unpleasant invasion of privacy with ever-changing rules. Communication is often lacking and signage is poor, or non-existent. Like so many travelers, I just wanted to know why the experience had to be so unpleasant. Thankfully, I knew just the man to talk to about it. Kevin Alexander is not only the terrific writer behind On Repeat, he has also spent a career in the airline industry. During my time here at WAIM, Kevin has become a supporter and a friend. I was sure there were reasons behind the airport experience so many of us dread when we fly, and I thought Kevin might be able to shed some light on things. Our conversation is a deep dive into what a day at the airport looks like for those who spend their careers there. We talk about the short-staffing that is hampering the industry, especially at the TSA. Kevin sheds a fair amount of light on an industry that has endured rapid change during his career alone. At one point, I make sure to mention what a miracle air travel really is. For all of us who bitch about it, we should never forget what a true luxury and miracle it really is. Sadly, that wonder is lacking in the way that airports are designed and arranged for the passenger. Most of us feel like so much cattle being prodded through different lines and corrals. Kevin and I look at ways in which we might return some of the humanity and excitement to air travel once again. We also talk about Kevin’s own history of travel, which includes everything from humble camping trips along his native Oregon coast to playing in a soccer tournament in Malta. This is a fun, and fascinating chat with a man who gives us his open personal window seat from which to view the airline industry, and how it affects the way we travel each day. Cheers,Matty C Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe