Fly Southwest: BOS to McAllen, Texas

Oh joy, you've decided to fly Southwest from the historically vibrant city of Boston to the palm-lined streets of McAllen? Congratulations on this stroke of travel genius. Here's a virtual pat on the back from every sarcastic internet writing entity, smart alec and otherwise. Knee-deep in travel decisions? Well, buckle up because it's going to be quite the ride!

Your options for flights are aplenty, but as a sophisticated traveler, you surely prefer direct flights. Having a layover at some facsimile of civilization between Boston and McAllen, where your fellow economy class travelers compare frequent flyer points and discuss the best time to book, is clearly not on your to-do list. I mean, who needs those extra hours of airport lounging when you’ve got the fun and excitement of being cooped up in a metal tube for hours on end?

You've also been smart enough to turn a blind eye to those tantalizing cheap flights, too. Why bother saving money when you can enjoy all the fun of a pricier flight? And let us not even start on the red-eye flights. Oh, the sheer thrill of messing up your sleep cycle. Ain't that a blast?

Speaking of economy class, let's not gloss over the complimentary square feet you'll have to yourself. Pair that with the plush, ultra-luxurious leather(ish) seats, and you'll feel like you've sneakily snagged a first-class ticket. The overhead bin, your personal storage attic, generously supports the standard baggage allowance. So, by all means, pack those three extra pairs of shoes. You never know when an unexpected Texan line dance could pop up, right?

When it comes to customer service, Southwest has stepped up and redefined the whole concept with their inflight services. At a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet, enjoy your pack of delectable peanuts tossed at you with supreme courtesy. And let's not forget the beverage service. The explosion of flavors in that half-a-can of lukewarm soda is sure to take over the gastronomic world soon enough.

The Southwest Mileage Program is a point-collector’s dream, too. Feel the rush of excitement every time you rack up points on your quest to the gold tier, where you might get, oh, maybe a slightly better pack of peanuts. And, should your meticulously planned trip face any hiccups, like an unforeseen snow storm in the colorfully humid McAllen, you can always rely on Southwest's flight cancellation policy. Though, strange weather phenomena aside, let's face it, who wouldn't relish an unplanned extended stay in an airport hotel?

Feel free to peruse through various airline review sites that glow with the warm remarks from fellow flyers. Some were fortunate enough to experience flight delays, thereby gaining some more 'me' time at the airport. Jealous yet?

One-way or round-trip, morning or dusk, layover or non-stop, know that you're bravely carving out your unique place in the history of aviation, one Southwest flight at a time. Isn't air travel a matchless joy, filled with the romance of jet engines' hums and the poignant ballet of beverage carts?

So here's to you, and your upcoming adventure from Boston to McAllen, may it be replete with dreams of timely departures, perfect legroom, and enough overhead bin space to satisfy your borderline kleptomaniac souvenir-collection habits.