The 2 Transatlantic flights I have taken have been the worst experiences I have ever had flying (one round trip). Overcrowded, surly cabin crew, plane delayed for 2 hours on the taxiway at Gatwick due to a water leak and a captain who sounded like Ronald Reagan and most probably was because he had no clue where he was or where he was going. Immigration in Chicago OHare was also a nightmare - Egyptian visas and stamps in my passport and the Americans were still nervous about the middle east even after the Iraqis were chased out of Kuwait about 4 years earlier.
The journey back was also a nightmare as we flew through the remnants of hurricane Floyd. I never knew that a 747 can shake so much and still remain airborne. The cabin crew were better this time but when it came to wheeling out dinner, the weather meant that they could have stood at the front of the plane, let the tray go, and it would hit the back showering everyone with the stuff that only they call food.

I hate flying in general but it is a neccessary evil in order to get to where we want to or have to travel to. My best flight was with Air China to Beijing - the plane was very nearly empty and I managed to sleep well stretched over 5 seats. The cabin crew were able to take very good care of us but the best bit was the pre-flight promotional video - a fine work of late Chinese Communist film-making with rousing music, red uniforms and marching down the runway holding up the company employee manual a la litle red book - hilarious and gob-smacking at the same time.