Fly Southwest: AMA to Des Moines, Iowa

We've all dreamt of that charming journey on board a Southwest plane, jetting off from the bustling hub of excitement that is AMA in Amarillo to the alluring charm of Des Moines. But alas, the rude awakening ensues after taking a peek at your airfare. Suddenly the drab reality of forking out your hard-earned dollar for that trip smacks you in the face.

Right off the bat, it's gotta be said. The excitement of booking a last-minute flight is akin to that of partaking in the thrilling age-old sport of Russian roulette; only instead of putting a bullet in a gun, you’re putting your hopes to the mercy of sky-high airfare. You are on your way to ponder, "Did I just mortgage my house or bought a flight with Southwest?"

But hey, hear me out! If you're smart (and lucky) enough to telepathically predict airfare trends, you might just snag one of those elusive cheap flights. That might mean having thirty seven different tabs open on your computer, oscillating between the "best time to book" and today's horoscope. You know, just in case Mercury is in retrograde and that can somehow affect flight prices.

Once you’ve secured your ticket (no small feat, mind you), be prepared to bid farewell to your favorite home comforts for the duration of the flight. Sure, they advertise a large variety of in-flight services, but what they don't tell you is that it's a mirage. "Fancy a comfy inflight blanket?" Oh, think again, because once onboard, it's actually the thinnest piece of recycled fabric known to man; you know, for those chilly airplane temperatures of 68 degrees.

And let's not get started on the baggage allowance. Isn’t it intuitive that a suitcase filled with 7 pairs of shoes, a tiny houseplant and a whole library of books should be considered a necessity for your weeklong trip? Unfortunately, the airlines don't seem to agree. You're left to decide between stowing your pet hamster in the overhead luggage compartment or squeezing it into your already “well-packed” (read: bursting at the seams) carry on.

Of course, there always seems to be that one person who begins boarding as if they've hit the jackpot on the Mileage Program. They strut past Economy class, flashing you a look of pity with a wry smile while they head up to a First-class seat. Remember, my friends, in times like these it's important to just keep reminding ourselves that very often, that First-class seat may just become a therapist’s couch post all the credit card debt.

Now, if your trip includes a layover, buckle up for the exotic experience of the other side of travel; the less Instagram-inclined part of the journey. Once the initial excitement of exploring a new airport fades away, reality steps in. A reality that involves frantically searching for the nearest food court for a cup of watered-down coffee and a stale croissant. And let’s not forget rushing to find chargers before your battery flatlines after playing Candy Crush non-stop.

In conclusion, flying from AMA to Des Moines is very much like embarking upon an epic saga. An epic saga that involves humor, bidding adieu to plush comforts, extravagant purchases, risking your lifelong savings and possibly, if you're lucky, maybe developing pseudo-psychic abilities. But all in all, it's certainly a journey. One with baggage fees, overpriced Wi-Fi, and overstuffed pretzel snack bags. And isn't that just the stuff dreams are made of?