I'm still wondering how I ended up in seat 18E – a middle seat – on a Hong Kong Express flight from Phuket, Thailand, to Hong Kong. But it was an extreme inconvenience.
I was wedged in with just 28 inches of pitch between seats, which is about two inches less than normal. The plane smelled like mildew and body odor, and the seats looked threadbare. I considered moving to an empty exit-row seat, which offered a little more legroom, but a flight attendant sternly warned me that there would be an extra charge.
I was stuck.
This holiday travel season, the extreme inconveniences have never been worse, according to many travelers who have contacted me for help. Experts say there's a reason behind it: Pain is a great motivator for travelers.
What Brittney Griner wants travelers to know about prescription rules
