Travel log
This morning, I woke up with a start. That usually is the case when I have an early flight. I think those of you who travel a lot can relate with me. No amount of frequent flying really sets our body to create its own reliable alarm for early flights. Well, perhaps some who may be perfectly attuned to this way of life may negate my assumption but they are a unique set.
So we go through the routine of boarding. From check in to security checks and all.
There was this middle aged woman struggling with her bags to her airline’s cue. Only to be told that she could not check in her both bags because she was allowed only one. She argued that her total baggage weight was even two kilos less than her allowable weight. But the poker-faced attendant only explained that it was their airline policy to accept only one checked in baggage. So the poor woman had to unpack her bags and rummage through them to pull out lighter materials so she could make them fit into the allowed handcarry weight. The other bag now bulging with the zip barely making its teeth meet. The woman looked frustratedly at her rammed up packing as she walked to the pre-departure lanes mumbling to herself.
I hoped her carry-on bag had no liquids with containers marked beyond 100 ml.
Although I know the drill I still cannot comprehend the stoic reason for sticking to labels rather
than content. I mean there are some containers that show a 150 ml mark but is obviously depleted. Still the passenger is asked to surrender his or her item to the waste bin or what looks like one. I wonder what they are going to do with the stash as I noticed through the cage that there are unopened lotion bottles, half-full containers of perfume,
I watched as one couple looked with regret as their fragrance was being added to the cage. Such waste.
Moving ahead, a little groggy now from lack of sleep, we boarded our plane. I half prayed I would not be seated between smelly individuals whose body odor make you want to retch. Am not a snob but my! It is sheer torture to be trapped for an hour or so with even one person who forgot to put on his deodorant more so to be between them. Oh yes I did have my share of that episode.
I recall, in another red eye trip I got into a plane with so many tourists who were so excited about their adventures they never stopped yapping. You bet, when I sat at my meeting that day I could not stifle my yawns and had to make my companion know he was not boring.
Then there are crying babies, who in normal circumstances I would want to cuddle myself but never on a very early or very late flight.
Then there is deplaning. Upon landing, the flight attendant would already instruct the wayfarers to be careful in taking their luggage out of the bins, still some carelessly stand in panic. I can forgive those who have connecting flights to catch but those who have arrived at the point of destination should have the courtesy to wait for an orderly deplaning. It somehow displays breeding.
So what’s the point of my narrative — well, I wanted to say nothing beats planning. But I know in business some trips are really unplanned. So for every trip we just have to bring a load of patience, tolerance and understanding. Most people are just doing their jobs. Some may have just missed reviewing and updating their system. And some, really don’t care.
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