I have done my share of flying over the years but last month I flew alone for the first time in several years, here are a few things I have learned about the friendly skies.

I recently took a trip to El Paso Texas to visit my son, my daughter in law and my two grandchildren, the flight out was pretty good, I actually had  window seats on each of my three flights.

However, the flights back were nothing short of a nightmare, starting with an evening flight at 7pm that led to an overnight flight, followed by a morning flight.

My 2000-mile journey back home started with an aisle seat from El Paso to Denver the best moment, I got to see the sun set over the Rocky Mountains, and then I waited two hours for my next flight.

I left Denver around 11:45pm headed to Newark, I was once again seated in the aisle seat for the next three and a half hours.

If you have ever had to travel alone and sit in an aisle seat, then you know it’s impossible to relax with people constantly getting up to go to the bathroom, brushing and bumping against you every time they pass.

The beverage cart scrapping against your arms at least 3 or 4 times, who wants a ginger ale at 1 o’clock in the morning anyway?

I was also concerned that I would fall asleep and end up in the lap of the young lady in the seat next to me.

I did get one of those pillows that looks like a toilet seat that fits around your neck, they actually work quite well.

After my flight to Newark I had another two-hour layover and once again had an aisle seat to Syracuse.

I was never so happy to land back in New York State.

What did I learn from this experience?

The big lesson here is a better travel plan on my next trip, meaning no late-night flights.

Request a window seat well in advance, at least you can lean against the side of the plane.

Shorter time window between flights, one hour is usually time enough in warmer months.

Bring one of those toilet seat pillows (I actually bought one for my wife too).

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