With my annual summer trip back to Europe just around the corner, I started fretting about the dreadfully long flights. As most of the general population, we do fly coach,  unless I can use miles to upgrade, which we all know lately is practically impossible. Oh the good old days, when flying seemed so much more fun and fancy, now it is just another way of mass transportation getting you to your destination. Service has declined considerably, seats are getting smaller and smaller and closer to each other, leaving very little comfort. In fact, nothing is comfortable on the planes anymore. Unless you are one of the lucky few in first class with your flat beds and crystal champagne glasses.

For the last 26 years, I have been flying back and forth between the two continents a few times a year. You would think it gets easier but let me tell you, it is quite the opposite. So thankful that the "sheer horror of traveling with 3 kids alone" days are over. I can tell you endless stories of nightmare scenarios on our trips, despite the fact that my children are pretty good travelers themselves. A few trips really stick out in my memory. Like the one when on the way back from Budapest both my two kids (only had two at the time) caught a nasty cold virus and the minute we landed in Amsterdam, our first and shorter flight, they both broke out in a fever. Diana, about 2 and a half, started throwing up, Christopher, about 9 months old, decided to do the dirty round and had diarrhea all the way up to his neck. Thankfully, the Amsterdam airport has amazing kids facilities with cribs, bathtubs and whatever you might need. So I bathed him. Twice. Changed Diana. 3 times. I always had a rule of carrying 3 sets of extra clothes in my diaper bags for each kid just in case. Well this was the "just in case" occasion. We board our long flight for the States, Diana finally keeps her medication down and falls asleep right away. Of course that instant Christopher started throwing up, screaming constantly. I was trying to figure out how to get to the restroom to change myself before passengers start smelling us. Thankfully a nice, bearded gentleman gestures to me to hand him over. I am thinking this is going to be a disaster but he takes his large headphones off and puts it on my son's ears. The kid instantly stopped screaming. "Run" he says and I bolt for the bathroom to clean myself up. Later, one of the flight attendants came by and with a very dismissing look on her face dropped a plastic bag for our soiled and smelly clothes. I do not think I saw her ever again.

Or the time when Diana decided to leave her "can't live without you" stuffed dog in the bathroom at one end of the Dallas airport and only realized the disaster when we made it to the other end of the terminal, about a half hour walk later. For a moment I contemplated ditching the beast for good but imagining our long flight home without "Aszi" scared me even more, so we raced back to fetch him. Or the time when I stood in the check-in line for over 2 hours with 3 sleepy kids at 6 am, begging the staff to let me go ahead considering I could miss my flight. No help or sympathy from airport staff. So after finally checking in, we made a run for the gate through security where they did let us cut the line, I must have looked mad. Me running with a stroller, car-seat inside, carry on in my other hand, my two-year-old chased by my 8 year old son (she thought this was fun) my 10 year old dragging a couple of carry-ons, and a nice gentleman bringing an extra bag, trying to keep up with us. Finally reaching the plane, last one to board of course, completely out of breath, trying to get through the plane and something falls out of one of the bags. The flight attendant stood in front of me with arms crossed and made a smirk remark: "Should have packed better"! If I was not on the verge of crying or being afraid of getting thrown of the plane, I would have said something nasty to her, but instead suggested to her to help me out perhaps. Or the time when Victoria was having fun going around on the luggage belt and the security man came over to suggest retrieving her immediately. Honestly, I could probably write a sitcom just about my travels with the kids.

Of course those crazy days have passed and my kids are young adults and teenagers now, ditched the stroller and car-seat forever and purposely limit our bags to one carry-on each. On the downside, we lost our privileges to get the desirable bulk head seats, used to own the row with three kids. Now we worry who we sit next to, if the person will not stop talking even though we pretend not to listen-with headphones on, or constantly gets up, and moves, and makes noise or spills a drink on you. Or smells bad. Really bad. You just never know...

So, in hope of a more pleasant flight I always try to get an upgrade-does not hurt to ask. I also use my Platinum Amex privileges when I can, signed up for Global Entry, which makes the airport security so much faster. No shoes off, no computer or liquids out of your bags, just walk though the machine. My card comes with some nice perks as well, such as access to VIP lounges at the airports which makes waiting a much more joyous occasion with free food, drinks and wireless in comfy chairs. But honestly, at the end, you arrive exhausted no matter what. With connections our travel ads up to about 18-24 hours, plus factor in a 9 hour time difference. You feel like crap, you look like crap, but the joy of seeing your family and friends makes it all worth it at the end. #mommydearest

Traveling sucks. Sitting on a plane for hours and hours on end in a closed off space with millions of people and re-purposed oxygen is as much unhealthy for your body as it is for your mind. But where does the trip take you? To a magical place you either love or have never been to. So, is it worth it? 

Let's start with packing. Airlines have become so strict with the amount of luggage you can bring (23 kilos on international flights, like do they SERIOUSLY think all my shoes will fit in that???). You usually have to wake up early to even make the flight, which includes waking up at dawn, getting to the airport and standing in a long line to check your bag. Then comes security, the most painful part of it all. Standing in line, waiting to get half naked, your luggage and body being checked with a microscope basically, just so you can go sit on a plane in misery for the next several hours.

Then comes waiting at the gate for your flight to board, watching the time carefully to make sure you can run to the front of the boarding line when your row is called to avoid waiting in yet another horrifically long line with fear that if you get on the plane towards the end they wont have any more room for your carry-on and you will have to check it and some guy will come and aggressively take it down to the bottom of the plane and throw it on top of the other luggage. So you get on the plane, and try to find your seat while pulling your luggage (assuming they haven't taken it), and when you find your seat you have to quickly put your luggage in the overhead cabinet so you don't keep the people behind you waiting.

So this part is tricky because of course my carry-on is usually massively heavy (due to their horrific rules of a 23 kilo big suitcase) and although I am strong, I have a hard time getting it up, which is usually the part where I find some nice looking gentlemen to bat my eyes at and help me out. And now: the waiting game. I travel internationally often, so this usually means excruciatingly long flights packed with lots of TV shows and movie re-runs, magazine reading, snacking, and Wi-Fi withdrawal. When you finally land, and have the urge to kiss the ground in happiness, you remember that you have to wait yet AGAIN for your luggage. You wait you wait and you wait some more. Tired, exhausted, but excited to go through the doors and officially be in the new city that you have landed in. Your luggage comes through the carousel (at this point thanking whatever god you do or don't believe in that it made it here with you) and proceed with excitement and anxiety through the doors of the airport to the people that are waiting for you on the other side. 

That moment, when you walk through the doors, and see your friends and family or whoever waiting for you, suddenly all the pain, agony, and tiredness fades away and you could cry from the happiness and excitement from being there in that moment. So, is it worth it? Every time. #dianasays