If you can't handle the hassle, get out of the airport

I've learned to live with this, how about you?

According to some fancy new research from the Travel Industry Association (TIA to the cool kids), nearly half of American air travelers say they would fly more if it were easier, and more than 25% said they skipped an air trip in the past 12 months because of hassle often encountered at the airport.

TIA estimates that this means 41 million trips are forgone on a annual basis, with a lost revenue opportunity of up to $18 billion.

44 percent of the 1,003 air travelers surveyed by phone from May 6 to May 13 said they would take more air trips each year if airport hassles could be reduced or eliminated.

People who flew more than five times in the past 12 months were more likely to describe air travel as frustrating, at 52 percent, compared with 33 percent of infrequent travelers, defined as people who flew one or two round trips in 12 months, according to the survey.

More than half of respondents said either efficiency or reliability is getting worse, 60 percent said the system is deteriorating, and 56 percent said flying is the "bad" or "worst" part of travel — though 62 percent said air travel security is improving.

Aww, cry me a freaking river. Who the eff cares? The hassle of flying by air is more or less the same as it's always been. Some days it's not that bad and some days it's a freaking nightmare. That's the way it is. If you are traveling at a peak time or if bad weather is looming, you should check with your airline in advance and allow more time.

Airport hassles are what they are - and will always be there. And, I'll tell you what. Get outside the US and it's oftentimes a helluva lot worse. Get over it!

What troubles me more is the increasingly crowded air traffic system, what I'll call "in the sky hassle." Adding these 41 million "foregone" trips isn't going to make that problem better one single bit.

What this research doesn't tell us is if these folks traveled via means (car, rail, whatever) to get to their destinations. I bet you $1 that at least some of them did. And, so they should! The decision to fly by air should be made not only on the ticket price, but on the total time - door to door and the price of everything it takes - taxi, parking - to get from door to door. Put it all together and even at $4.00 per gallon, driving a car may be your better option!

I say the US air infrastructure needs fewer trips and not more. The airlines need fewer trips - not more - to help cover their increased cost of fuel. So I want to personally thank all the people who can't be bothered by these "airport hassles" and who reconsider their airline journeys. They made my position in the security line at least one place better.

Finally, I hope my tax dollars didn't pay for this crap...but I suspect they probably did. And you know what? Yours did too.

Happy Monday!

Survey: Americans make 41 million fewer air trips (Associated Press)