Read Ranch & Coast Virtually Anywhere
Issue link: http://ranchandcoast.uberflip.com/i/1504492
No Time for Hunger Games O UR AIRPORT'S BUSIEST TIME OF year runs through mid-August. Flyer beware. I've learned — turbulently — how to navigate one of aviation's biggest obstacles: Hunger. Here's my mixed bag of facts and tips for the No Meal Service Era. First, a few plane facts: Don't call it Lindbergh Field. Our one-runway downtown airport is called San Diego International Airport (SAN). at's been official for 20 years. Forget Charles Lindbergh. Yes, his famous transatlantic plane was built here in 1927. But he called it e Spirit of St. Louis. Money talks. Don't refer to flight attendants as stewardesses. Like Pan Am, that doesn't fly anymore. Be forewarned that outdoor parts of SAN are active construction sites. It's messy. Earlier this year, the airport's own Twitter account tweeted dystopian photos with this message: "Nope, these aren't scenes from e Last of Us, this is night-time demolition…" Now, some of my friends think the ideal airport arrival means slipping into line right as your gate is boarding. Holy ticking time bomb of procrastination — no! Be an early bird. Not just to avoid possible freeway traffic or security line backups, but to get your stomach synced for flight. My routine calls for eating something at the airport. Since 42 percent of all San Diego air traffic is Southwest Airlines, I recommend Einstein Bros. It's next to Gate 3 in Southwest's Terminal 1. A bagel sandwich is a perfect preflight belly liner. ere are other decent dining options. Terminal 1 has Bankers Hill Bar & Restaurant, Ciao Gourmet Market, and Pacifica Breeze Cafe. At Terminal 2, there's Saffron ai, PGA Tour Grill, and Stone Brewing Company. e under-construction terminal will eventually serve up Puesto, Parakeet Café, and Kettner Exchange. I need fresh food in my tummy for takeoff. But that's not all. I also have to procure Emergency Food. Some foodstuff must be packed into my carry-on bag. is requirement is both practical and psychological. TSA allows solid foods through security. A sandwich easily fits into any bag, be it Jansport or Gucci. If I forget to pack Emergency Food, a turkey-and-cheese sammy from the airport will do. It's gotta be with me on the plane. Most of the time EF goes uneaten. I just feel better knowing it's there. What, you've never heard of tarmac delays or in-air rerouting? Case in point: My wife recently transferred through Chicago's O'Hare International. A tornado warning was announced while she was in the terminal. Passengers were ushered to a shelter. No, they did not serve beer, wine, or charcuterie in the shelter. Whether it's a jaunt on Southwest or a first-class, fully-reclining seat on a Virgin Atlantic flight to London, I'm packing EF. Even the most luxurious transport systems aren't perfect. Did we learn nothing from the Titanic? Use common sense. Wear that loose clothing. Bring books or electronic entertainment. Be civil to fellow passengers and airline staff. Most importantly, travel with the peace of mind that if unforeseen delays occur, you're in possession of a grilled pesto chicken wrap that says today's not the day you'll suffer the debilitating pang of near-starvation. "On the Sunny Side" columnist Ron Donoho is a veteran contributor and editor of downtown-centric thesandiegosun.com. When it comes to stress-free air travel, it's all about not missing a meal BY RON DONOHO Side Sunny On the ranchandcoast.com 82 AUGUST 2023 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE