Plane Differences

One area where you quickly note major differences between the U.S. and Europe is in airplane travel. The Europeans still have not mastered the art of rip-off, and nickel-and-dime-the-customers means nothing (probably because they use the Euro...). At the Munich airport yesterday, I had an outstanding meal and two huge beers. Total price? About $14. Wake up, Germany! An airport is the last place one should be looking for 1) good food, and/or 2) any bargain. Even on a 60-minute flight, they serve you a choice of sandwiches and drinks, all at no charge. And in the terminal itself, Lufthansa provides free coffee and an array of about 10 German-language newspapers and 4 in English. All free, of course.
European travelers also seem about 50 years behind the times. I don't know why it is, but I always happen to bump into the crowd of middle-aged folks who give the impression that this is their very first trip to an airport, where they will soon embark in one of those new-fangled flying machines. They stand in clusters, blocking doorways, crowded around the departure TVs, reading every entry aloud, and arguing whether Gate 17 is before Gate 18, or after Gate 16.
I guess in the long run it's a small price to pay for excellent, cheap food and free copies of the Herald Tribune.