We love it and we hate it. We like to go on vacation and we need it for business trips, but there is a downside to air travel.

We have a love hate relationship with it, especially in these days of high security. With the advent of cheap, budget airlines, more of us are flying more than ever. This puts a strain on the airports at the best of times and there is a growing concern on the environmental impact of all this air travel.

There is no worse sight than a crowded airport waiting room with frustrated passengers slumped over the seats, when there are delays.

I feel most sorry for the children. Lots of parents drag their little kids all over the world, when they would be far happier on their nearest beach. Air travel is great when it works, when it doesn't, it's a nightmare. When we're at the airport, we are a captive audience and they charge us a fortune for a coffee and a muffin because they can.

There are good things about being on a plane.

There is the chance to read, or snooze, perhaps watch a movie or two. Sometimes, the world conspires against me doing any of those things in peace. There is the talkative passenger sat next to me, and although I've known them for ten whole minutes, they tell me their life story in great detail. They bring out the snapshots of the grandchildren. I try to look interested. Sometimes during air travel, it's safer to pretend to be asleep.

Then there are the children, bless them. I know I should be more sympathetic but the ones who whinge and cry are definitely unwanted. The driver can throw them off a bus, air travel is a different matter, unfortunately. I don't mind them having a parachute, I'm not a monster.

I must admit to liking aero plane food. I know I'm probably unusual in this, but I actually look forward to the meal and little snacks. In fact, the best thing about air travel for me is the cute little cartons and sachets that they give you. The food is normally pretty good and it's fun to open everything. The best meal I ever had was on Air Italia. Those Italians know how to do it. It had the tastiest rolls and cheese ever to be found on a plane, and the ice cream desert was gorgeous. The stewards were good looking too!

The future of flying is in a state of flux at the moment with high security alerts and everyone is on edge. It looks like air travel is going to become more difficult and not easier. Perhaps they should re-think the airport environment. A cinema would be good or they could put some beds in!