Plane (Plain?) Stupid

David J. Danto

Travel thoughts in my own, personal opinion

eMail: ddanto@IMCCA.org Follow Industry News: @NJDavidD on

Plane (Plain?) Stupid– March 2025

The end of the first calendar quarter always makes me pause – it’s the marker that we’ve somehow survived (or limped through) the first three months of a new year. Confucius supposedly said, “May you live in interesting times,” but I don’t think he meant “interesting” like this. These aren’t the quirky, adventurous times of travel tales and unexpected detours. These are the facepalm kind of times. And while I try to keep politics out of my travel blogs, lately the sheer stupidity we’re surrounded by has made that somewhat impossible.

Let’s be blunt: traveling in 2025 has become plain stupid.

Start with aviation. Remember when flying felt at least marginally safe? Well, we’ve traded that for grounded fleets, inexplicable midair accidents, and an FAA that’s bleeding talent faster than a regional jet dumps checked baggage. Planes flipping over, technical meltdowns, and chaos at every level of oversight – it’s all adding up. So yes, flying today is literally more dangerous than a year ago. Plain stupid.

Then there’s international travel. Americans aren’t exactly the world’s favorite guests right now. With diplomacy in the dumpster and a newfound national pride in burning bridges, traveling abroad is a mess. Tariffs and tantrums have made even the friendliest borders tense. Business meetings are being canceled, tourist trips are drying up, and global partnerships are becoming one-sided conversations. Plain stupid.

Economically, the travel sector is in freefall. Canada-to-US travel has nosedived by over 70%. Inbound tourism to the US is tanking, and cities built around conventions and tourism are hurting. It turns out when your country acts like a mess, fewer people want to visit. Who knew? (Everyone. Everyone knew.) Plain stupid.

But hey, let’s go deeper. Freedom of speech is now a passport risk. People are being deported not for crimes, but for opinions – written or spoken. Scholars, business leaders, and event speakers are rebooking their flights elsewhere. Because apparently, a social media post now puts your visa to the US at risk. How many more conferences, collaborations, and innovations do we want to scare away? Plain stupid.

And the governmental support structures we used to count on? Gutted. Want disaster recovery help? Good luck. Public health guidance? A fond memory. Air traffic control? Thinning out. Support for veterans? Just a memory. We were told we needed a smaller government – I just don’t think anyone thought that meant cutting things like clean air, functioning airports, or help after your house burns down. Plain stupid.

I keep hoping for a turning point, but here we are – stranded in a world built on voters’ willful ignorance and magical thinking. Elections have consequences, and thanks to a lot of people voting with their hate and fear instead of their heads, those consequences are now screwing up your flight, your visa, and your safety.

So yeah… travel in 2025?

Plain. Stupid.

This article was written by David Danto and contains solely his own, personal opinions.

All image and links provided above as reference under prevailing fair use statutes.

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