“Exploring the world, one story at a time” has a lot to do with perspective. Have you ever observed that people in the front of the plane (First Class Traveler or FCT) seem to have a different perspective than those who have a middle seat (Middle Seater Traveler or MST)? I’m not sure if this should be a universalism since both are heading to the same destination and will arrive at approximately the same time. Regardless, I assure you it is a real phenomenon as I’m confident you will agree after reading a few of our thoughts. Throughout this blog, we’re going to have some fun and dig a bit deeper into these varied and different perspectives. Of course, I’ll take the FCT perspective while my nomadic/frugal daughter (she likes to think of it as economically responsible) will assume the MST point of view. What could possibly go wrong? Please feel free to take sides or completely disagree with both of us – that will be part of the fun.
FCT: Those who are fortunate enough to fly business class often frequent airline lounges. To some, this is a privilege, a treat to be enjoyed and savored. Of course, the frequent FC considers lounge access a birthright and no, not all lounges are created equal. Those airport lounges situated on the 2nd or 3rd stories and require stairs or an elevator, should be avoided at all costs – it’s just not worth all that effort. I appreciate that the drinks are included, and I should be grateful however is it still a Mimosa if the glass if filled with 95% orange juice? Also, I’m not sure who decorates these little havens of peace and quiet, but I am sure I’ve seen some of the same artwork in my grandmothers’ downstairs half-bath. They both must have gone to the same estate sale.
MST: The thought of even arriving at the airport with this much time to spare, means I didn’t make enough of my time at my last destination. Who needs mimosas when you’re pumped full of adrenaline sprinting from security to your gate with two backpacks on, 10 minutes before departure?
FCT: While I’m sitting in the lounge and supposed to be enjoying my elite frequent flyer status, I can’t stop wondering if my blood pressure medication works at high altitude or does it just make it worse? I think I’ll take it anyway and assume the risk. I’m already stressed about checking the on-time status of my flight every few minutes and of course the incoming flight as well so double the work and double the stress. Since they almost never change the WiFi password in these lounges, at least my iPad connects automatically.
MST: When I arrive my gate, my boarding class has already been called up, so I hop in the back of the line. I wonder if I’ll be able to make it past the gate agent with my two big backpacks, which I managed to get past ticketing.. There is one important rule for MSTs – “carry-ons only” – with a strong preference for getting those stuffed bags on the plane with you. This is one thing I think a certain kind of FCT can agree with.
FCT: Of course, having a seat in first class offers a traveler more leg room and often a larger aisle to move about – for this I am sincerely thankful. However, there is a downside when the person in front of you decides to exit their seat and launch into a yoga/stretching/tai chi routine that should never be practiced in public, anywhere – particularly within the confines of an airplane. At least there would be no room to execute such maneuvers if they were back with the MST. There should be a rule….
MST: Making it past another gatekeeper, I find my seat, tucked between two large men – and quickly fall asleep before takeoff, exhausted from the concert I went to with my best friend and two girls on her volleyball team the night before. Although I keep waking up scared I fell asleep on one of the kind row companions, as has embarrassingly happened in the past.
FCT: The stresses of travel are compounded, as all FCT know, when you fly in a middle seat. Proof is supported by the MST I witnessed having a melt down when he told an Aunt Annies pretzel employee that “I just walked a mile through this airport and you’re telling me you just closed and I can’t get my pretzel, you have got to be kidding me, my day could not get any worse.” All (and there were many) expletives were deleted. Middle seat flights have a way of making even the most hardened flyer, lose their minds and apparently their pretzels!
MST: After dozing off a few times, but getting little rest, I put my Airpods in and scroll through the movie options, excited to catch up on some blockbuster hits I would never pay to see in theatres. I glance over longingly to the other traveler to my right, sitting next to the window, curled up sleeping soundly using the side of the plane as a headrest. I have this theory, that if you don’t check in early, and the flight isn’t packed, you typically get a better seat than if you did. I’ve gotten whole rows many times because of this, and it keeps me from paying the extra $15-$25 to purchase a window seat. But playing games means sometimes you have to lose..
FCT: According to a WSJ article: “Travelers increasingly view air travel as simply a means to getting to their destination, rather than part of the experience itself, says Jeff Zotara, chief marketing officer at Arrivia, a travel technology company. So they’re shifting more of their travel budget away from flights.” I think most of you will agree with me that this is simply another MST trying to justify their cramped, albeit less expensive seat choice! The flight is absolutely an integral part of the experience and withing reason, be maximized to achieve the greatest degree of travel pleasure available.
MCT: After a few hours and starting and stopping a few movies, I get up and take a walk about, climbing over the sleeping rowmate to my left. When things get too tight, a quick stretch session in the middle of the plane does the trick. From this central location I like to think that I can walk up to FC and my dad would be there, reluctantly ready to give me a bite of his complementary dessert that we were not served in the back.
FirstClass vs. MiddleSeat 
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