Fly Southwest: CRP to West Palm Beach, Florida

“To fly, or not to fly; that is the question.” As it turns out dear readers, our beloved friend, William Shakespeare, was a bit ahead of his time: Just give him a decade or so in the 21st century, and he would have completed that phrase with “...Southwest.” Strap on those shades, we’re off to sunny West Palm Beach, starting from the place you might double-check on a map, called Corpus Christi.

Before we get too far into our hypothetical daydream journey, let’s address that delightful elephant in the room: Airfare. No, no, don’t even bother pulling out your thesaurus; it’s a fundamentally abhorrent word as it pertains to travel. The only time you’ll hear it in positive terms is when the phrase “cheap flights” is in front of it, and when referring to Southwest, naturally.

Now, direct flights are a thing of beauty, aren’t they? Nothing screams “experienced traveler” like looking at a six-leg itinerary and responding with a good dose of disdain. Direct flights are for the weary, the weak, the ones just wanting it to be over. But oh, friends, the real magic happens during a layover. It's during that charming six hours in a terminal that looks just like every other terminal that you really get to reflect on your life decisions and the airline sandwich you're regretting. Luckily for you, Southwest spares you that particular existential crisis by offering non-stop flights. You do remember what non-stop means, right? It's a wonderful concept, really.

Funny enough, in this day and age, you can actually purchase a one-way ticket without raising an eyebrow. To the random observer, one-way might signify a daring, free-spirited individual embarking on a life-changing journey. To the rest of us high-flying veterans, it's just another way to say "yeah, not that organized with my travel plans". Uncle cognitive dissonance is definitely a frequent flyer with you folks.

But let's not dwell on semantics. Instead, let's turn our attention to West Palm Beach. If the East Coast was an outfit, West Palm Beach would definitely be the glitz to New York’s glamour. The oasis that boasts of serene beaches, the finest golf courses, and the ritziest estates, is also the proud pedestal hosting Mar-a-Lago; the rather familiar winter White House.

Now, let’s talk timing, shall we? Not just the best time to book, rather when you'd ideally like to land with Southwest in West Palm Beach? Are you a red-eye flight kinda person, showing up like the esteemed celebrity on “walk of shame” press conferences? Or do you gravitate towards the neurotypical, I-want-to-arrive-in-the-daytime group? Tea or coffee, day or night, Southwest does cater – try not to swoon.

Palm trees sway in the humid breeze as you disembark, and wondering about the baggage allowance is beneath you – you’ve packed light. If this sounds like your kind of wonderland, Southwest is offering some excellent last-minute flights. By last-minute flights, I mean you can quite literally don your panama hat, grab your beef jerky and waltz onto your flight right this moment. I suppose spontaneity is the mother of all adventures... or was it necessity? Well, whatever.

The beauty of West Palm Beach awaits you, as does the convenience and comfort of Southwest. Just remember to keep that sarcasm under wraps when the flight attendant asks if you need anything - though I'm sure they've had their fill of "world's funniest travelers".