What Would Budget Space Travel Be Like?
Delayed flights? Turbulence? Long lines at the airport for check-in?
In the future, we may not have to deal with air travel anymore but find ourselves opting to go on vacation in space. Sapce Travel is surely going to be the future and instead of traveling to different countries, we will be able to visit different planets in other galaxies as well.
How amazing would that be?
But just like how air travel introduced budget travel options, in all likelihood, we may find ourselves coping with budget space travel as well.
If you are wondering what that is going to be like, well, here are some probable scenarios you are going to encounter:
1. Extra Fees for Oxygen – "Want to breathe for the entire trip? That’ll be an additional $99.99 per hour!"
What? Did you think you were going to get complimentary oxygen? In the future, everything will be taxable, and you are going to have to pay to breathe if you’re thinking of traveling to another planet or even the moon to visit your aunt.
2. Tiny Legroom, Even in Zero Gravity – Somehow, the seats are still cramped, and your knees are floating into someone else’s personal space.
In the future, everyone is going to want to travel to space especially during the holidays. Maybe some schools will even take students on space trips so that they get a better understanding of how everything in space works.
Which means that the seats will be stuck to each other so that more people can be seated and taken on a trip. And don’t think you’ll be able to get up and walk around like in planes. Since you’re going to be in a tiny shuttle, only the staff will be allowed to move about.
3. No Free Window Views – "Enjoy breathtaking views of Earth for just $50 per glance!"
Wondering what the Earth looks like in outer space? And will seeing our planet end the age-old debate of what shape our planet is? Curiosity comes at a price in the future. Whoever wants a window seat will have to pay extra, or there might be a sole window which will require an extra fee to use.
4. Carry-On Limit: One Space Helmet Only – Anything extra costs more, including your spacesuit gloves.
Unlike in planes, your luggage weight is going to be very limited. Just a helmet will be all the weight you’re allowed on board. If you think you can smuggle in some snacks to eat on your trip, think again. And clothes? You’re kidding, right? All you’ll get to carry with you is a space suit and helmet.
5. No-Frills Space Snacks – Your in-flight meal is a single packet of dehydrated peanuts and a sip of recycled water.
Chances are you will have to pay for the in-flight meal but if you think you’re getting pizzas and steaks, think again. Because it is budget travel, you are more likely to get dehydrated food and extra charges to rehydrate them. If you’re lucky, you get rehydrated soup made out of recycled water. Any beverage on board is recycled urine, sweat, and expelled air.
6. No Guarantees on Where You’ll Land – "You booked a Moon trip, but due to ‘unexpected conditions,’ we’re dropping you off on an asteroid instead."
Just like in planes, things can go wrong during space travel as well. You may be heading to the moon but the space shuttle has to make an emergency landing on an asteroid. You may be stranded there for a while until another shuttle arrives almost three days later.
7. No Refunds, Ever – Even if the rocket gets canceled, your "store credit" is only good for a flight to the asteroid belt in 2050.
Budget airlines usually don’t have the option to refund your tickets, so did you really think space travel would? But if they’re feeling charitable, they may let you have store credit that is valid on flights after a couple of decades.
8. Luggage Always Ends Up on the Wrong Planet –"Sir, your bag was sent to Mars. You were going to the Moon? Oops."
There are eight planets in our solar system and a total of 293 moons. Chances are that your luggage ends up on a different moon in Saturn than the one you were visiting. Good luck finding your luggage. And are you really holding out hope that your luggage will be returned to you?
9. The Safety Demonstration is More Terrifying Than Reassuring – "In case of an emergency, good luck! Escape pods are available for an extra fee."
Unlike airlines, space travel will have a different emergency method. There won’t be lights directing you to an exit, nor will there be life jackets or oxygen masks dropping from above.
If you’re lucky you may be chosen to get into an escape pod. To ensure your entry into the escape pod, get ready to pay extra, of course.
10. Landing Fees Are a Surprise Charge – "Congrats, you made it back to Earth! That’ll be $5,000 to disembark."
Space travel is risky and requires a lot of skill to get passengers back on board. Unfortunately, you probably didn’t read the fine print and are now not allowed to disembark until you pay the hidden fee to bring you back to Earth.
What? Did you think it’s easy going to outer space and then landing safely on Earth?
This is what budget travel will look like in the future. While it may be exciting to venture into space, don’t forget that there is bound to be hidden charges everywhere.
Comments
Post a Comment