Fly Southwest: COS to Traverse City, Michigan

Oh, joy of joys! Has the time come again for you to embark upon the seemingly endless journey from the hub of adventure, that is Colorado Springs, to the quaint idyll of Traverse City? And how generous of Southwest Airlines to create this perfect opportunity for us to delve into the head spinning intricacies of air travel. As voyagers, we must prepare ourselves for the grand spectacle that is the modern aviation industry; its breathtakingly cheap flights, the choir of babies performing an impromptu concert in economy class or the majestically disorienting experience of a red-eye flight. Buckle up, dear travelers, this is going to be one wondrous ride.

Now, our beloved Southwest Airlines doesn’t offer a round-trip, non-stop route from Colorado Springs to Traverse City. But fret not my adventurous compatriots! Direct flights are so pre pandemic. Instead, we are presented with the exuberant festivity that is the layover. Yes, a glorious opportunity to snatch brief, fleeting moments in another city on our impending journey. Isn't it what we live for?

You may find that these connecting flights bear a silver lining, though it's likely hidden beneath the seat in front of you (that is if you have the superpower to fold yourself into an origami crane to actually reach it). The layover ground time gives you ample chance to discover new airport lounges, mull over your life choices, or even pen that novel you've been talking about since your post-graduate days. My dear vacationer, aren't layovers just a splendid gift in disguise!

It's worth remembering that the airfare for these flights, oh, it is a delightful enigma! Cryptic as the Rosetta Stone and as fluid as a Picasso painting. The best time to book a flight? A baffling mystery that would give even Sherlock Holmes a run for his trusty pipe, and leaves us mere mortals spinning in a vortex of internet search engines and price comparison sites. Should you opt for the reputable last-minute flights or risk bet your dollar on the edge of your seat for some hair-raising flight deals? The thrill of it all!

Worry not about the in-flight services too, dear traveler. Your inflight entertainment – chitchats from your co-passenger, selfies with cabin crew, the hush-hush prayer corner - promises to outshine even Broadway’s finest shows. And let's not even get started on the nourishment options! Southwest's peanut finesse is sure to transport you to the culinary realms of peanut majesticity.

Lastly, remember, the airline reviews you read can differ as vastly as our dear economy class does from first-class. (Incidentally, we all know where we land up invariably, don’t we?). After all, some describe the seats in the economy as cozy, while others might call their position to the lavatory strategic. It's all about perspectives, isn't it?

So, as you look forward to your actual destination, wave goodbye to the sanity, kiss goodbye to understanding the vast expanse of the mortal aviation world that brings forth gems like a round-trip, red-eye flight with layovers and cheap flights. Enjoy your journey from Colorado Springs to Traverse City with Southwest, you brave, brave soul!