Another part of “people watching” I enjoy is pondering how times have so changed, particularly at the airport.

I can’t recall if I’ve written about this before, but I can’t help but notice the change in attire on passengers at the airport over the last 10 years or so. I suppose I haven’t yet accepted the true power of competition in the airline industry, but I can’t help but wonder how some people can afford a plane ticket.

Any more, business suits, button down shirts and dresses have given way to short shorts, tank tops and flip flops.  In fact, the two-piece suit is now the minority in the terminal building.

I’m not sure why I’m bothered by this, perhaps its a lack of respect for the industry, lack of leadership in the industry as a whole, or maybe I’m completely out of touch with the real world.

Two years ago, I was in Miami when an American Airlines 767 rolled in from New York, and you’d think a Greyhound buss had become lost and pulled into the gate.  What’s tragic is that a bus ticket was more expensive than a ride on a jet.

My how times have changed.

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I’m sitting in the Kansas City International Airport waiting for a flight to Chicago that connects to Frankfurt, Germany for a week long stint in Europe.

I love airports. Mostly because I’m a pilot and I’m at home around airplanes, but partly because airports are a great place to watch people.  Passing through, going home, setting out on vacation; an airport receives all kinds.

If you’re a frequent traveler, you see people you know, either from real life or the fantasy land of television.

Just today, I had a quick chat with Kansas City Chiefs ex-General Manager Carl Peterson. Seems like a nice guy, and while some believe and relent that Peterson was run out of town, you can tell that up front, he’s a business man.  He understands.

Most fascinating though, are those in uniform. A segment of the Armed Cavalry division is heading home for an extended weekend with their families, which is pretty cool.

You have to get deep into a conversation with any one of them to find out they’re heading back to Afghanistan in 6 to 12 months. It’s not at the forefront of their life right now, and let’s face it; they’re going home.  Little else matters now.

I always try and show some appreciation for a soldiers service anytime I run into them, and the regard seems much appreciated.  I also selfishly try to gain a bit of information from them in our closing remarks.

How are things going over there?

Let’s face it, if you want the truth about how our soldiers are doing overseas, you go straight to the horses mouth.

What’s interesting is that a recurring theme with any one of them is that I shouldn’t be getting my information from the news.

Completely unprovoked, Major Chaparral told me not to listen to the news. In fact, he loves his work, because “we’re doing great things over there”.

Sitting next to me at the boarding gate, Major Dixon told me that while the work in Afghanistan is hard due to the terrain (primarily in the Southern part of the country), he says it’s worth it and actually looks forward to going back.  Again, he urged me not to believe everything you hear on T.V.

That’s frustrating, as it’s as though our guys in the sand aren’t getting a fair shake.

With that, the Major’s cell phone rang, and from the context of the conversation, it was his wife.

I quickly excused myself, because let’s face it, that conversation would be far more important than any he could have with me.

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