Why flying feels so hard; Plus, 'Queer Love in Color'

It's Been a Minute

NPR

News Commentary, Society & Culture, News, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality

4.6 • 8.8K Ratings

🗓️ 12 November 2021

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Now that more people are getting comfortable flying again, it's about time to remind ourselves that, oh yes, flying was sometimes terrible in the Before Times, too! And in 2021, that's still the case — if not more so — with cascading cancellations, staffing and plane shortages, and outbursts from passengers. Sam chats with Natalie Compton, travel reporter at The Washington Post, about the state of the airline industry heading into the holiday travel season... and how to get through it. Plus, author Jamal Jordan discusses his book 'Queer Love in Color,' and what it means to photograph and document queer intimacy. They're also joined by TV producer Hassan Williams for a game of Who Said That?

You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at [email protected].

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey y'all, this is Sam's Aunt Betty. This week,
0:04.2	why flying feels so much worse and photographing queer intimacy.
0:11.2	Alright, let's start the show.
0:14.8	Hey y'all, you're listening to It's Been A Minute from NPR.
0:17.2	I'm Sam Sanders and it is officially holiday season.
0:21.2	You know, entering the holiday season also means that we are entering the season of holiday travel.
0:26.8	Hooray!
0:28.4	And I mean, come on, there's nothing better than hearing the tinny sounds of bad holiday music.
0:34.1	While a gate agent tells you that your flight has been delayed yet again,
0:38.3	as you hold onto that last bite of your cold and soggy tuna wrap,
0:42.8	knowing it might be the last thing you eat all night.
0:46.1	Wait, just me? I kid, I kid.
0:48.4	Anywho, I'm actually glad that holiday travel is coming back.
0:52.4	Because that means that we are getting back to some sense of normal.
0:56.4	But this year, because 2021, it seems like flying all of a sudden has gotten so much worse.
1:03.6	This has been a rough weekend if you're flying southwest.
1:07.1	Nearly 2,000 flights have been cancelled, leaving passengers scrambling.
1:11.5	American Airlines in the midst of a travel meltdown this holiday weekend.
1:15.2	Getting tough from maybe to fly though, American Airlines said it canceled hundreds of flights over the weekend.
1:19.7	Air travel nightmare. Spirit Airlines cancelling 50% of its flights today.
1:23.9	After canceling hundreds of flights every day this week and stranding passengers.
1:28.4	Now the company CEOs.
	...

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