The phrase came to mind a while back when I read a newspaper article about a 300-pound pig flying from Philadelphia to Seattle. Please understand that this pig did not fly in the cargo hold. He flew right up there in the passenger compartment with sweaty people, crying babies, tired business travelers and flight attendants who likely didn't ask if the pig would care for a complimentary soft drink. For the pig's sake, you have to hope that pork wasn't on the menu.

Seeing a story like that always raises a few questions in my mind. Why did anyone want a 300-pound pig to ride with them in a cramped cabin from Philadelphia to Seattle? (Thank the Lord it wasn't from Atlanta to New Orleans. We don't need to give them any more reasons to make fun of the South.) Is pork cheaper in Philadelphia? Other than Suzanne on Designing Women I've never heard of anyone who would be that attached to 300 pounds of pork.

I've certainly been crammed in tiny airline seats with people weighing nearly 300 pounds sitting next to me and spilling over to half of my seat. I've flown with passengers who smelled like pigs, and even noted some with the manners of a pig, but honest to goodness this is more than a paying passenger should have to put up with.

We expect lousy food, surly flight attendants and fellow passengers who attempt to stuff furniture in the overhead bin. We no longer believe that flying is a luxurious experience. We know that today you get more room on a bus than the average coach seat provides. Yes, we know all of that, but having to fly with a pig is the final insult to the flying public.

The airline indicated they were misled into believing the pig weighed only 13 pounds by the passenger who wanted to take the pig along. Forgetting for a moment whether I should be required to fly with a pig of any weight, don't you think that at some point after the pig arrived at the airport they might have noticed it?

You don't often see a pig in line at the ticket counter. You seldom note a pig going through security. A pig hanging around at the airport waiting for his fight is almost certain to draw some attention. As a last resort, didn't the person taking up tickets at the departure gate note that one of the passengers was a 300-pound pig?

One of the swine's fellow passengers commented that the pig was ugly and pooped during the flight. While I don't condone making fun of our animal friends, it is quite likely I would have said a bit more.

Now back to the title of this piece, "When Pigs Fly." It is official; pigs do fly. You can no longer use the term when pigs fly as another way of saying "never." You might also inquire of your favorite airline whether it is possible that the person taking up the seat next to you will be a real porker.