I can remember when the thought of taking a flight on a big airplane was simply thrilling.

I’m not even talking about childhood memories.

Air travel was so cool for me my whole life up until a decade or so ago. Now, having to get on a plane for a business trip is just a giant drag. Unfortunately, most of my business is too far away from my home to allow me to drive. If I could drive, I probably would. The thing with traveling by plane is that it has become just one hassle after another. To make matters worse, the HVAC in airports and on the planes themselves only add discomfort to hassle. That isn’t the best equation for a good day. The getting bumped or having a flight cancelled is made worse by the inconsistent temps at the airport. The main part of the airport is always too hot and I end up sweltering while lining up for check in. It only gets worse as the next line up for security checks is even longer. I’m standing there with limited ability to shed layers so, I just suffer. However, as soon as you get to the gate area, it’s like a fridge. I haven’t been able to figure out the logic there but I think this must be intentional. Of course once you’re herded into the tiny seats, the sweating begins again. I swear the HVAC on airplanes was never designed to cool a space with so many people in it. It’s no wonder why I have to travel at least a day early just so I can recover to be coherent for business.

Smart thermostat