This story is written as a response to the Muse on Monday writing prompt for July 21, 2025: Write a story about a liminal space.

Layover and Over

Airlines hate this one hack and it’s totally legal. Go for it if you have a few extra days to spend.

It all started when I was trying to book a flight to LA. The direct flight was the most expensive but if I got a layover through Atlanta, it was much cheaper. Then I noticed that if I got a layover through Atlanta and JFK, it was even cheaper.

It doesn’t take a genius to see the logical conclusion. A few hours and some serious logistics crunching with the help of an AI chatbot, and I had booked my flight that was not only free, but the airline was actually paying me to fly to LA! Genius. I couldn’t tell how many layovers I had since the website maxed out viewing at 15, but as long as I ended up in LA, that was what was important

Smug at my quick thinking, I went to the airport a few days before I was supposed to be in LA. The woman at the counter handed me a thick stack of boarding pass with a uncertain look.

“There’s a direct flight, you know,” she said.

“Yeah, no thanks,” I said, with a smirk.

*         *         *

A week later, security was called to a report of a man acting strangely near the Terminal B Chick-Fil-A in the Houston airport. When the officer arrived, the man had a far-off look.

“I think I’ve been here before,” he said faintly.

“Is that so? Do you fly often?” the officer asked. The man bit back a sob.

“The world is nothing but concourses,” the man said. “Moving walkways. Hudson News. Tray tables in the upright position. Ruby Tuesday.”

“Do you have a flight soon, sir?”

“I’m going to LA,” the man whispered. He pulled a crumpled boarding pass out of an airsick bag he clutched in his hand.

The officer took the boarding pass. “This goes to Tampa.” The man collapsed to the floor, sobbing. “I know,” he said. “I didn’t count the layovers. You always have to count the layovers. In Portland, before coming here, I finally counted my boarding passes. I’m only halfway there!”