A Personal Reflection on Life in the Air: Champagne, Frequent Flyer Status and the True Meaning of Travel
This article was originally published in the January 2026 issue of Jetstream.
Having spent a good portion of my life in the air, I’ve come to accept that aviation is less about glamorous jet-setting and more about surviving a series of oddly specific rituals.
One minute you’re shaking hands at a client dinner in a tailored suit, the next you’re standing barefoot in an airport security queue, removing your belt and hoping you can keep your trousers in place and maintain your dignity.
Over the years, I’ve had the good fortune to experience a range of travel styles, from a fully flat bed with a glass of champagne to a more—let’s say upright—journey.
Airport Olympics
It would be fair to describe airports as obstacle courses disguised as transport hubs. You sprint to the gate, dodge rolling suitcases and perform the high-stakes “liquid shuffle” at security—where you suddenly question whether toothpaste counts as a gel and whether your shampoo bottle is plotting against you.
And let’s not forget the luggage sizer. That unforgiving metal measuring tool was clearly designed, in part, to serve as a public shaming device. You push, you shove, you pray and when your bag finally fits, you feel like you’ve won gold at the Olympics.
The In-Flight Rituals
Once on board, the real theatre begins. The drink cart makes its way through the cabin, blocking sections of the aisle whilst passengers excitedly order from the selection of miniatures on offer. It is always, of course, at this point that you feel the need to visit the toilet, and you are faced with the decision of charging down the aisle to beat the cart or waiting nervously until it has passed your seat, also hoping that the captain doesn’t at that point switch on the “fasten your seat belt” sign.
Meals are their own adventure. Foil containers reveal mains that could be pasta… or possibly chicken… or maybe both.
Tip: The Champagne served on board is often far better than that served in an airport lounge, and the higher-alcohol wines generally have a better flavour and aroma at 35,000 ft.
The Fellowship of the Flight
Despite the quirks, there’s a strange camaraderie in the cabin. Strangers become teammates in the battle for armrest territory, overhead bin space and the shared dream of landing on time. You may not sleep, but you’ll collect stories—like the time someone opened the overhead bin mid-flight to retrieve a jar of pickles, which they then proceeded to eat throughout the flight. You may not get a full night’s sleep, or indeed any sleep at all, but you may make a few friends along the way.
The Quest for Status
Of course, no reflection on airline travel is complete without mentioning the holy grail: frequent flyer status. It is a pursuit many of us know all too well, demonstrating incredible dedication to programmes that promise comfort, stress relief, priority boarding and most importantly, coveted overhead bin space.
This is why we may not always choose the logical flight from airport A to B. Instead, we find ourselves travelling through airport C to earn more points or fly with a favourite airline, as we seek to maintain or elevate our coveted status or—with odds greater than a national lottery—to be offered a seat upgrade.
The Real Luxury
In the end, air travel isn’t about champagne or reclining seats—it is, as it should be, about the choices each flyer makes. Sometimes, you may be focused on efficiency. In other scenarios, you might need affordability. And sometimes, you just need to get to your destination with your sanity intact. The true luxury is shaping the journey around your life, not the other way around.
And if all else fails, at least you’ll have a story to tell when you land.
Martin Cox, Underwriting Director
Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers Limited, London, UK
Martin Cox joined General Accident Insurance Company in 1977 as an Assistant Underwriter. He was one of the original members of staff joining Global Aerospace at its inception in January 2001. Martin was promoted to his current position of Underwriting Director in July 2003. Martin is Director of International Union of Aerospace Insurers.