Fly Southwest: ATL to Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Dear reader, if you were disappointed to learn that Odysseus of the epic "Odyssey" won't be your guide for this particular journey from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, fear not, for I bring you, not the trials of a Grecian hero, but a tale of a modern traveler navigating the labyrinthine world of air travel, with veritable Odyssean resilience on display!

Let's start with the Herculean task that every journey begins with - booking that elusive bird, also known as “cheap flights”. The contemporary traveler, unlike Odysseus, doesn't embark on his journey swayed by prophecies or oracles. Instead, he turns to considerable industry wisdom to decipher the "best time to book." The battle is won, dear reader, when one learns that booking as early as possible is akin to Athena’s wisdom. Take it from me - a veteran traveler - who’s found that wisdom is a far more fluid concept floating somewhere in the nebulous, anxiety-ridden realm of fluctuating airfare.

Awaiting you beyond this labor is nothing less than the maze of the Minotaur, known in mortal parlance as “flight schedules”. Why would you consider riding Daedalus' mythical winged invention when Southwest offers a smorgasbord of domestic flights departing at almost every conceivable hour? Don the helmet of Hades and fade into the mists of anonymity as you steal past these daunting schedules, armed with the secret weapon called the “non-stop” flight. Curse Prometheus for ever pulling back the veil of darkness from humankind when you could escape the daily grind with a nocturnal "red-eye flight". Maybe Pandora’s Pandora's box was just a misinterpreted overhead compartment possibility?

Pondering over the mythical dichotomy of "one-way" or "round-trip" tickets is nothing short of contemplating whether to take up the gifts of Dionysus or trade them for the virtues of Apollo. While a "one-way" ticket's liberation may sparkle like Dionysian wine, the "round-trip", dear reader, is the Apollonian harmony that balances out the excesses of spontaneous frivolity. JFK’s august voice reminds you ever so subtly: “Those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.”

Did you ever wonder what it feels like to be Zeus on that celestial throne? A "First-class" ticket is a modern-day invitation to be that king of gods. When lured by the charms of a "business class" or "premium economy" deal, remember the tragic end of Narcissus or Icarus. For the class of the flight, much like Greek heroes, has often proven to be a vanity, that is the downfall of people and gods alike.

As the traveler preens himself, considering what to pack, he is confronted with a riddle, as confounding as the Sphinx's - the "baggage allowance". The deft traveler, knowing that excess is a fatal flaw, is able to pack his life into a carry-on, a worthy rival of Pandora’s box, thereby avoiding the scale of judgment. Much like the Muses hymning divine songs, the Ode to the Light Pack resounds in the Garden of Baggage Check,

And, should you come up against an event as unfortunate as the "flight cancellation policy", well remember my friend, just like Orpheus braved the realm of Hades to reclaim his beloved, you too will, with a swift phone call, reclaim your right to reach Fort Lauderdale.

So fear not, fellow travelers, as complex as this newfangled world of air travel seems, it is no match for any urban Odysseus armed with wit, wisdom, and a well-charged smartphone. The modern-day Southwest-Ithaca awaits, beyond turmoil, tantalizingly close in Fort Lauderdale's sunny smiles. So unsheathe your phones, unlock your courage and navigate wisely!