Charm of a small-town airport still around

I had the occasion to visit the Clovis Regional Airport a couple of times over the holidays, the first time I’ve been out there in at least 25 years.

I’m happy to report that the charms of a small regional airport still exist. It’s enough to make me remember why flying was such a happy adventure back in the day.

My 26-year-old daughter has few memories from the pre-9/11 days — she was a brand-new kindergartener the year that happened.

She was not old enough to remember the joy — no, really, we used that word — of air travel back in the day, when you not only were served a meal on the plane, but you even got to pick a favorite entrée. Little kids were invited to visit the cockpit, meet the pilots, and receive their own set of pin-on wings.

For our daughter and her contemporaries, flying has always involved more rules than excitement, rigorous security rituals, gate access strictly limited to ticket holders, and lengthy safety announcements from flight attendants.

I’m not suggesting you avoid this by flying through Clovis, but I’ll argue you won’t find a more congenial check-in process or shorter, friendlier line to pass through Transportation Security Administration screening.

Visiting this airport was a step back to kinder, gentler days.

It’s a short and peaceful drive to the terminal a few miles east of Clovis, where you park … for free … practically next to the building.

We had front-row parking to watch the 50-passenger jet land on its flight from Denver. When we returned two weeks later, we stayed to watch the departing flight take off from the same great vantage point.

Our daughter is a carry-on luggage traveler, but I wondered where and how checked luggage would arrive — there is no obvious “carousel” like you find in many airports.

Instead, we found out, a rolling hotel luggage cart was used to ferry the bags to the small airport lobby, where the atmosphere was relaxed and congenial, with folks recognizing each other and exchanging hugs and holiday greetings.

As we drove away from the terminal the night she arrived, we were regaled by stories from our frequent flier who couldn’t believe the spacious seating or the fact that she’d been offered free concession-stand quality treats: king-sized candy bars and an array of savory snacks.

When she realized the drink cart included her favorite sports drink, that was icing on the cake, even as the flight attendant apologized because she “only” had red, blue, or yellow.

On our daughter’s return flight last weekend, she reported that one of the pilots was at the base of the ramp to greet boarding passengers, and that the flight attendant was a wizard at providing entertaining distraction throughout the trip for a tiny passenger who might have been a first-time flyer.

It was almost as good as I remember flying from the old days.

Denver Air Connection offers one flight in and one flight out every day but Tuesdays to Denver and Wednesdays to Dallas/Fort Worth.

The day before our daughter was due to fly back, she discovered a small glitch in her travel arrangements.

It was solved with — get this — a call to Denver Air Connection, which was answered by a real person … no computerized system, and no menu of options to wade through.

I didn’t know that even still happened.

Local jet service — especially friendly, personal local jet service — is a great addition to life in eastern New Mexico.

It’s almost as sweet as an unexpected candy bar on a holiday trip to your childhood home.

Betty Williamson is ready to pack a bag and buy a ticket. Reach her at:

[email protected]