As the speaker begins his monologue, he talks about the excitement and enthusiasm of the pilot who always comes on the PA system to give details about the flight. The pilot shares his plan of taking the plane up to 20,000 feet and making a left by Pittsburgh and a right by Chicago before bringing it down to 15,000 feet. The speaker, who is seated in the back, along with other passengers, seems disinterested in the details and just wants to reach their destination. The speaker then talks about the stewardesses who come out to demonstrate the emergency equipment on the plane, including seat belts and oxygen masks. He sarcastically comments on how they show how to use a seatbelt, something that everyone has done since the 1960s, and how he thought he had to break the metal apart to undo it. He then makes fun of the stewardesses’ vague pointing out of the emergency exits, questioning how anyone is supposed to find them in an emergency situation. The speaker then talks about the first-class passengers who are separated from the rest of the passengers by a curtain. He jokes about how they always give him a look, as if to say he should work harder so he can afford to sit in first class. The speaker goes on to talk about the tiny world on an airplane, from the tiny tables to the tiny food and utensils. He also notes the tiny bathroom with its various equipment and compartments, including a tiny slot for used razor blades, which he finds amusing. As the monologue continues, the speaker talks about his habit of going to the airplane bathroom, even if he doesn’t need to use it. He enjoys the feeling of being in his own little apartment on the plane, complete with a light that turns on after he locks the door, giving him the feeling of a little surprise party. He is impressed by the amount of equipment that is packed into the small space, including tissues, towels, and various compartments. Overall, the speaker’s monologue is a humorous commentary on the various quirks and inconveniences of air travel, from the overly enthusiastic pilot to the cramped and tiny spaces on the plane. Despite these criticisms, the speaker seems resigned to the realities of air travel and finds humor in the small details that make up the experience.
