Airport full of retired couples

[LOL!]

I was traveling yesterday and waiting for my international flight. Schools have restarted and holidays are over so I didn't expect any families. It was a Tuesday, but did expect more business travelers. Instead 90% (yes, I counted) of the folks waiting were couples of a certain age or older. Maybe all the business folks were in the Airline Lounge?

What do you all see in airports nowadays?

 

[REWahoo]

What do you all see in airports nowadays?

Working folks of a certain age counting the number of retired couples waiting for their flight...

 

[rescueme]

90% (yes, I counted) of the folks waiting were couples of a certain age or older.

Those are the folks that have the time, and the $$$ to travel.

(That's representative of DW/me )...

You don't see all the folks at home that are retired, have the desire to travel, and can't (due to finacial or medical reasons).

BTW, Canada, Hawaii, and Scotland this year (thus far/scheduled) ...

Back in the late 90's (when still wor*ing), I went to Euroland every 4-6 weeks. The difference today (even though DW/me go there every year) is that I'm not working on a Word or PPT presentation on the plane )...

 

[Dawg52]

I haven't been to an airport in 6+ years or so. The last time I did, it was work related. I do plan to fly again when I want to visit an area I can't get to by driving. Hawaii, Spain, Ireland are 3 destinations on my to do list.

 

[Midpack]

I haven't been to an airport since I retired. I'm still getting used to shopping et cetera during the day Mon thru Fri - who are all these old people, and where did they come from? It's a different world...

 

[rescueme]

"who are all these old people, and where did they come from?"

Look in the mirror ...

Scary, isn't it? (and I admit, I'm one of them...)

OTOH, I have no regrets...

 

[Bestwifeever]

Probably most business travel takes place on Mondays and Fridays (true for DS anyway), not Tuesday.

I believe Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly so I imagine many retired people would choose the cheapest day since they can.

Try your survey on a Monday or Friday.

 

[Dimsumkid]

When I was doing "road warrior" travel, most business people would travel Sun night-Mon mornings then return Thurs night or Fri to maximize family time. You'll probably only see a few day/short trip business travelers Tue-Thurs.

 

[james7]

"who are all these old people, and where did they come from?"

Look in the mirror ...

Scary, isn't it? (and I admit, I'm one of them...)

OTOH, I have no regrets...

None of us should have any regrets. After all, there is only one alternative.....

 

[W2R]

What do you all see in airports nowadays?

I haven't been to an airport in 6+ years or so.

I haven't been to an airport since I retired.

Like Dawg and Midpack, I have not traveled by air since I retired. One of the most delicious aspects of ER (for me) is that I don't have to travel for work any more. I traveled frequently all over the country for work, to lots of exciting and glamorous sounding U.S. locations which I never got to see (some of those who travel for work know exactly what I mean by that). I don't recall traveling on a Tuesday for work very often, so BestWifeEver and DimSumKid may have something there.

Also I just got out of the working world in time. I am SO glad that I was able to retire in 2009, before the scope-n-grope so I don't have to be subjected to that (which to me is an unacceptable level of invasion of privacy). I do not plan to travel by air until the time if/when that is changed.

 

[FIREd]

I travelled last during the holidays, so I saw plenty of families. If you travel early in the morning, you'll see plenty of business travelers.

 

[Ronstar]

I see a lot of retired (and older) people on my Chicago-Phoenix flights

 

[Moemg]

I see a lot of older women on their way to visit kids & grand kids . I know because like me their carry on is bulging with toys .

 

[steelyman]

I traveled frequently all over the country for work, to lots of exciting and glamorous sounding U.S. locations which I never got to see (some of those who travel for work know exactly what I mean by that).

I know exactly what you mean by that. I didn't travel constantly for work, only a few times a year, but I learned quickly that if I really wanted to see the place I was traveling to, it meant I blew off work during much if not all of that trip. Didn't do that regularly, but I remember two places in particular that I wanted to see and experience: France and (guess what?) NOLA

 

[W2R]

I know exactly what you mean by that. I didn't travel constantly for work, only a few times a year, but I learned quickly that if I really wanted to see the place I was traveling to, it meant I blew off work during much if not all of that trip. Didn't do that regularly, but I remember two places in particular that I wanted to see and experience: France and (guess what?) NOLA

Wonderful! NOLA is the type of place that is impossible to grasp in a short time anyway so it deserves a return trip; it is a beautifully complex and fascinating place with a rich history. I was sent to places like Miami Beach, Washington D.C., Monterey, California, and a military base/arsenal in New Jersey, not to mention also a stunningly luxurious and ultra-secure enclave hidden away in the mountains of West Virginia, and many, many more fascinating places, but usually saw no more than a glimpse since I was absolutely swamped with work.
.

 

[jimnjana]

I was traveling yesterday and waiting for my international flight. Schools have restarted and holidays are over so I didn't expect any families. It was a Tuesday, but did expect more business travelers. Instead 90% (yes, I counted) of the folks waiting were couples of a certain age or older. Maybe all the business folks were in the Airline Lounge?

What do you all see in airports nowadays?

You ought to go into a casino...

 

[Koolau]

I was traveling yesterday and waiting for my international flight. Schools have restarted and holidays are over so I didn't expect any families. It was a Tuesday, but did expect more business travelers. Instead 90% (yes, I counted) of the folks waiting were couples of a certain age or older. Maybe all the business folks were in the Airline Lounge?

What do you all see in airports nowadays?

Lots of TSA workers on break.