I'm posting this from 38,000 feet over New Mexico on my way from San Francisco to Dallas. We were 20 minutes late taking off entirely due to the fact that our American cousins seem to insist on taking everything they possess on-board as 'hand luggage'. For all its faults, this hand baggage rule does have benefits when it comes to speedy boarding but it's the sheer inconsistency of approach that irritates.

Luckily I'm in the second row of seats so it won't take me the 15 minutes to get off that those in the back will have to endure.

What a joy flying is these days.[msnwink]