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Airplane travel challenges; plus 'Queer Love in Color' : It's Been a Minute Now that more people are getting comfortable flying again, it's about time to remind ourselves that, oh yes, flying was sometimes terrible in the Before Times, too! And in 2021, that's still the case — if not more so — with cascading cancellations, staffing and plane shortages, and outbursts from passengers. Sam chats with Natalie Compton, travel reporter at The Washington Post, about the state of the airline industry heading into the holiday travel season... and how to get through it. Plus, author Jamal Jordan discusses his book 'Queer Love in Color,' and what it means to photograph and document queer intimacy. They're also joined by TV producer Hassan Williams for a game of Who Said That?

You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at samsanders@npr.org.

It's Been a Minute

Why flying feels so hard; Plus, 'Queer Love in Color'

By 

Sam Sanders

, 

Jinae West

, 

Audrey Nguyen

, 

, 

, 

, 

Why flying feels so hard; Plus, 'Queer Love in Color'

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Airplanes at gates and Control Tower at LAX; air travel has become increasingly difficult before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael H/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael H/Getty Images

Airplanes at gates and Control Tower at LAX; air travel has become increasingly difficult before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michael H/Getty Images

Now that more people are getting comfortable flying again, it's about time to remind ourselves that, oh yes, flying was sometimes terrible in the Before Times, too! And in 2021, that's still the case — if not more so — with cascading cancellations, staffing and plane shortages, and outbursts from passengers. Sam chats with Natalie Compton, travel reporter at The Washington Post, about the state of the airline industry heading into the holiday travel season... and how to get through it.

Plus, author Jamal Jordan discusses his book 'Queer Love in Color,' and what it means to photograph and document queer intimacy. They're also joined by TV producer Hassan Williams for a game of Who Said That?

This episode of 'It's Been a Minute' was produced by Jinae West, Audrey Nguyen, Liam McBain, and Anjuli Sastry. Our intern is Nathan Pugh. Our editor is Jordana Hochman. You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at samsanders@npr.org.