People like to complain about traveling — whether air travel or trains, but having taken Amtrak to Chicago, then traveled around Chicago on pretty much every form of transit, from trains to boats, and ending with a plane trip back to Seattle, I’d like to testify on the incredible efficiency of the American travel systems.

We were able to get everywhere we wanted to, pretty much on time. Amtrak always takes a bashing, but after 47 hours on a train with two boys, ages 8 and 4, I’d have to say I’d do it again.

One area of improvement would be reconfiguring how people are seated on planes. We flew Southwest so it was first come, first sit, but no airline seats people with an eye toward efficiency.

People should be seated strictly on their ability to quickly get out of their seats and exit the plane. It’s not necessarily an old vs. young people thing. A senior citizen without a carry-on bag can get out faster than a young person who decided to push the limits by jamming a body-sized duffel bag in the overhead bin. Those who can get out fast sit near the front and those who are destined to straggle sit toward the back. Everyone would be happier.