Notes on Air Travel ~ Do we miss it?

Swiss Air Landing at Zürich Airport/Fabio Meier

I don't especially care for air travel, but it's an only option to see my family and besties back in the USA. Flying Star Alliance United Airlines from Germany to USA is standard fare, a day flight. I miss most, however, not so much the flight, rather the pre-boarding savoir faire at the Munich and Frankfurt airports, as duty-free shopping accounts for more than half my carry-on; as well, handbags to beget not only by me, but also instinctively by our frequent flier Asians who have unlimited resources, each carrying two shopping bags of high-end handbags back with them to their respective countries. They show their Asian passport and get the golden ticket to board. "Thank You for shopping our friendly German stores; only the sky's the limit here. Auf Wiedersehen !!" ("See you again.")

Return flights are tough: saying Au revoir to Chi-town, and being a night flight, especially if there is a commute through Switzerland, but oh, .... that Chicago O'Hare Terminal 5 matches Munich with eateries and shopping for trinkets that tuck nicely in the carry-on, and delightful Swiss Air staff that make that added commute all the more worthwhile. Maybe it's the sight of the Swiss Alps in Zürich, that could outbeat the landing at Chicago. If, however, it's Lufthansa direct, the Pilot's: "Welcome on board your flight to München," sounding like "munchin'", (as i'm packing in a sandwich just before takeoff to prevent motion sickness) warms the heart. I think the service associated with air travel: be it airport amenities, shopping, gastronomy, airport and flight staff, is what I miss most about air travel; everyone treated as a first-class citizen, and frequent-flier miles, which despite the Corona pandemic lockdown, are still valid for that bonus trip -- Aer Lingus to Dublin anyone?