Before a flight to Puerto Rico, I made a beeline for the United Club lounge ― alone.
A few months before my trip, I received complimentary passes to the lounge as an incentive for opening a credit card. My husband didn’t fault me for wanting to hit the bar and buffet before boarding. However, because I only had one pass left, he couldn’t join me. Before he could protest, I blew my beloved a kiss and told him I would see him at the gate.
When we reunited on the plane, I expected my husband to be a little testy. I wouldn’t have blamed him for being upset. While I started my vacation early in a quiet corner with unlimited food and drinks, he was stuck in the terminal with the masses. Yet, against all odds, he was content and in a good mood. We were both more relaxed than we usually are on travel days, and we wondered whether separating at the airport should become a habit.
Since then, my husband and I have split up at the airport several times. Even if I’m not relaxing in a lounge, I like having time to myself to decompress and get ahead of work before a flight. Meanwhile, my husband prefers to walk through the terminal while listening to a podcast before sitting still for hours on the plane.
