ATLANTA — When we jump into any commuting system, we often want to buck its restraints and feel some need to assume or maintain control. This seems more attainable in our cars, where we manage the commute on our own, fighting the tides of gridlock .

But automobile drivers could learn lessons from those caught up in delays in other modes of travel.

My wife, Momo, and I spent roughly half a day as pieces of meat chewed in the logistical gears at Delta Airlines on our recent trip to England and Germany. Once one small cog in the machine failed, we were essentially there for the bumpy ride and just chose to make the most of it.

We normally fly together to see Momo’s family, two-plus hours northeast of Frankfurt twice per year. We almost always take the dinnertime Delta flight from Atlanta

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