BA: British (Badass) Airways

Next time you find yourself searching for the perfect transatlantic flight, look no further than British Airways. Those guys know how to take care of you. There might be some cheaper alternatives, but whose thinking about that when you're crammed in next to a screaming baby for eight hours, squinting to see a screen with some horrible movie on it, and throwing down food that makes McDonalds seem gourmet? BA has great food and wine (honestly), a wide selection of entertainment to watch on your own individual monitors, spacious and comfortable seats, and wonderful service...and that's just in "second class." Not too shabby. Plus, I sat next to an American freelance journalist, originally from Romania but living and working in Chicago, on his way back from Iraq. He was an incredibly interesting older man who had stories from all over the world. Due to his background, he said he had contacts all over Eastern Europe, and his friendships with some of the prime ministers and other leaders from that part of the world has led him to take consulting jobs with many different companies trying to get into the ex-Communist countries. Didn't catch his last name, but I have a feeling I was hanging out with a very accomplished and well-known man. Just one of many random, fascinating people that I've met over the last four or so months.