Leno joked about his frequent flyer status, mentioning that over the summer, he was given an extra legroom on his flights. He humorously referred to it as the “frequent survivor program,” making the audience burst into laughter and applause.
The comedian then discussed the recent incident of a plane landing at the wrong airport, jokingly attributing the mishap to hapless pilots who were supposedly following “the railroad tracks or something.” Leno playfully pointed out that deregulation may be partly to blame for the increasing number of airline incidents, as more people can afford to fly.
Remembering the earlier days of air travel, Leno shared an amusing anecdote about pilots walking down the aisle during flights, whereas now they seemed to avoid interacting with passengers. Despite the occasional mishaps, Leno acknowledged that Delta Airlines, the airline he often flew with, had the best safety record among the airlines.
He went on to discuss the different slogans airlines used to promote themselves, highlighting the contrast between Delta’s old slogan, “the airline run by professionals,” and its new one at the time, “Delta, we get you there today,” which drew laughter from the audience.
Leno also made a remark about a near-collision between two planes, humorously comparing them to horses in a corral and emphasizing that there was plenty of space in the sky.
As the conversation shifted to commuter airlines, Leno expressed his experience flying with them. He shared a funny story about flying to Minnesota, where he had initially hesitated to board a plane named “Gopher Airlines” due to its name. Leno amusingly described how lesser-known airlines tended to be overlooked when accidents happened, with no one caring much about their fate.
When asked if he was a good flyer, Leno responded lightheartedly, stating that if the pilot had to go down, he would be right there with him. He shared his nonchalant attitude towards flying, emphasizing that if he died, the pilot would share the same fate.
Leno concluded his airport adventures by discussing the less desirable aspects of flying, like getting stuck in the middle seat between a screaming baby with diarrhea and an elderly person with halitosis. He jokingly referred to it as experiencing the “three ages of man.”
In his typical comedic style, Leno concluded by poking fun at in-flight magazines, comparing them to waiting room literature, and jokingly rejecting the offer to take a complimentary copy home. He comically hinted at using it as an additional resource for the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Jay Leno‘s witty and humorous anecdotes about flying on airlines undoubtedly had the audience in stitches. His playful banter on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” showcased his talent for turning everyday experiences into comedy gold.
