Fly Southwest: MEM to Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Well, there goes the flight of fancy, my fellow travel enthusiasts! Are we really at that exhilarating juncture, atop our metaphoric hills, gazing at the promised land of 'cheap flights'? And if the sweet serenade of those two words is not intoxicating enough, hold onto your hats - I'm talking flights with Southwest no less! Oh yes, pack that suitcase, sunnies, and SPF, we're jaunting from the barbecued charm of Memphis to the corn-filled quirks of Cedar Rapids!

Now let's talk business. No, no, I don’t mean business class, good heavens, who do you take me for, Richard Branson? Unless of course you enjoy trading your hard-earned dollar for slightly more legroom and a different shaped piece of bread. I, dear reader, am from the eccentrically economical tribe of economy class, where the adventure begins not at the destination, but the very minute you contort yourself into that particularly intimate spot they call a seat.

Have you ever noticed how flights often seem to have more connections than a moderately successful LinkedIn profile? Connecting flights can be a whirlwind of mingled delight and despair - sometimes the layover offers just enough time to sample a local cheeseburger, while more frequent instances leave us sprinting through the terminal at speeds Usain Bolt would rightly envy. With Southwest, however, the choice is yours - they do offer, quite elegantly, non-stop flights, won't that be a treat to skip the breathless sprint?

Do the words 'flight cancellation policy' resonate with a melody rather similar to Psalm of Dismay? Well, you'll be relieved (or possibly flabbergasted) to discover that Southwest appears to have crafted their policy in a tone that can only be described as 'human-like'. With a free ticket alteration or a full refund option, it's clear they comprehend the fluidity of life's numerous unexpected calamities. Refreshing, wouldn't you say?

The in-flight services continue to dance to a rhythm that defies convention. Have you ever been so starved atop 35,000 feet sky that you can almost taste the plane's rubbery chicken with capers? Fret not, as Southwest has a tidbit of mercy in store - complimentary pretzels! Their inflight menu, though not a gourmet platter, sure does a bang-up job at warding off the gnawing mid-air hunger. The drinks aren’t free though. But hey, that’s the cost of enjoying the divine combination of airborne salted snacks and a panoramic window view.

Now to tackle that most covert of art forms, the optimal ‘best time to book’. Southwest challenges us with no assigned seating, but with flights sprouting from Memphis with awww-mazing frequency, it’s less of a stress-inducing scramble and more of a picnic at the park! Grab that sweet deal when you spy it - your customized hour of departure teasing you with a flirty wink.

Traveling with Southwest isn't quite a red-eye flight into a parallel universe, but more of a heartwarming reminder of simpler times, when we cherished the journey as much as the destination. So kick back, let down your hair, and join me in raising a half-pint in-flight-toast to Southwest, escorting us from the musical beats of Memphis to the charming pizzazz of Cedar Rapids, one 'cheap flight' at a time!