another flight post
So today was one of those days when everything seems to be going wonderfully right when suddenly every damn thing starts to crumble.
I finished work in time for my flight back, comfortably reached the airport with an hour and a half to spare. Ordered a lovely tomato utthapam with a summer fruits "Fruit Shoot". Charged my several appliances, chatted with the mother n the boy friend and boarded on time. I was pretty engrossed in my game and didn't notice that we were already 15 minutes late for departure.
Note to self: I don't know why I even try airlines other than Indigo.
No matter. I continued chomping random fish and breaking bricks but still half an hour later no take off. I could feel restlessness looming over the flight now. But still there was no announcement so it must be a routine delay.
Then I heard something strange.
There is no announcement b'coz only the captain can make the announcement and he happens to not be there.
Hmmm... That's a first.
So! When is he coming?
... Madam I don't know.
Then who does?
I don't know Madam.
Ok then.
Back to brick breaker and now level 2 of shark attack.
Another half an hour.
Some angry men are now shouting. You know the short, shaking-their-fist-in the-air, stout, "lemme at him" kind. Hmmm. Those.
"this is absolutely ridiculous! I mean they don't even have the courtesy to even make a formal announcement. Ridiculous I say!
These were the nose -in-the-air, aunties, obviously speaking in an accent acquired from South Bombay.
Some curious , smiling, onlookers now join the angry men in the front. Their job is just to enjoy the angry men. They put in a mild sentence or two which further instigates the angry men.
The angry men are now beginning to threaten with possible physical violence.
The air hostesses are unattractive and old enough to be mummies. this is Air India. So them sweetly smiling is really not helping the cause.
Suddenly everyone is quiet and rushes back to their seats.
The captain is here.
2 hours late. At least it's only a one hour flight.
I can see from the window we are in a que to take off. I love looking at other planes when I'm in a plane myself. Don't know why.
Anyway we are 3rd for take off.
One flight takes off. 2 land. One more takes off. N now us.
Switch off iPad.
Everyone is now happy. Full throttle before take off n suddenly we turn out of it.
Ummmm. Maybe we are taking another runway but I don't know if there is one more.
"ladies and gentle men there is a technical snag and we will be going back to the bay to have it checked."
Collective groan.
Back at the bay. Or so we thought. 15 min later.
"we are waiting for the Marshall to help us park. He will be here any moment."
5 minutes later. We jerk forward. And the plane makes really strange noises for the next3-4 minutes. Like a woman climaxing.
Few chuckles. And a few "I'm so glad we didn't take off. "
" ......another 10 minutes to see if problem can be rectified."
Half an hour later " we will have to shift you to another plane"
Oh the angry men and the onlookers are back in their position. A new group of amused women has been formed who are just shaking their heads and giggling.
Everyone gets of the plane. They have not been told to get off but still.
I follow.
People are talking really loudly on their phones.
Loudly, purposely about further flights being missed, long days, helplessness, possible flights they could have taken, further flights they can take, getting a five star for the night, hunger, their hectic schedules.....
Nothing for the next half an hour. We continue standing outside the plane.
Angry men and onlookers surround the ground staff now who are furiously talking on their walkie - talkies.
Some people have now given up being curious and are now trying to walk around n be curious about the plane and the airport.
Suddenly their is movement in the cluster and everyone moves towards a coach which has been waiting.
Boarded. Another 15 minutes.
Angry men get off.
Onlookers join. Some have given up. Now chatty with fellow passengers.
"Nothing is going to happen, I will switch my flight, they need to get us food, why are they not moving the baggage, giggles, air india sux"
jet and kingfisher praises. staunch indigo supporter speaks up, I try to buck him up by smiling.
15 minutes more. Everyone is now off the coach.
Walkie - talkie men are now talking about taking us to the terminal.
Angry men are now demanding, 5 star rooms and food and threatening physical violence yet again.
"please board the bus. We will now take you to the terminal and give you food."
Lots of "I told-you-so's" and general happiness at the thought of food.
I stay back.
"sir, please level with me here. Are we going to take off."
Hassled walkie-talkie man taken aback by polite tone.
" madam I guarantee we'll take off tonight. There is a change in the shift hence the delay in shifting planes."
Big smile from me. N then I shock myself.
"it's ok sir. " and I pat him on his back.
Big smile from him. " thank you madam"
Alone walk to the coach coz everyone else is stuffed in already.
Strange stares from fellow humans.
Pleasant surprise. Coach stops at new flight.
"No need to go to the terminal b'coz the flight is ready. Food will be served on the flight"
Strangely happy about not being the angry one for once.
no more to tell about the next take off.
I finished work in time for my flight back, comfortably reached the airport with an hour and a half to spare. Ordered a lovely tomato utthapam with a summer fruits "Fruit Shoot". Charged my several appliances, chatted with the mother n the boy friend and boarded on time. I was pretty engrossed in my game and didn't notice that we were already 15 minutes late for departure.
Note to self: I don't know why I even try airlines other than Indigo.
No matter. I continued chomping random fish and breaking bricks but still half an hour later no take off. I could feel restlessness looming over the flight now. But still there was no announcement so it must be a routine delay.
Then I heard something strange.
There is no announcement b'coz only the captain can make the announcement and he happens to not be there.
Hmmm... That's a first.
So! When is he coming?
... Madam I don't know.
Then who does?
I don't know Madam.
Ok then.
Back to brick breaker and now level 2 of shark attack.
Another half an hour.
Some angry men are now shouting. You know the short, shaking-their-fist-in the-air, stout, "lemme at him" kind. Hmmm. Those.
"this is absolutely ridiculous! I mean they don't even have the courtesy to even make a formal announcement. Ridiculous I say!
These were the nose -in-the-air, aunties, obviously speaking in an accent acquired from South Bombay.
Some curious , smiling, onlookers now join the angry men in the front. Their job is just to enjoy the angry men. They put in a mild sentence or two which further instigates the angry men.
The angry men are now beginning to threaten with possible physical violence.
The air hostesses are unattractive and old enough to be mummies. this is Air India. So them sweetly smiling is really not helping the cause.
Suddenly everyone is quiet and rushes back to their seats.
The captain is here.
2 hours late. At least it's only a one hour flight.
I can see from the window we are in a que to take off. I love looking at other planes when I'm in a plane myself. Don't know why.
Anyway we are 3rd for take off.
One flight takes off. 2 land. One more takes off. N now us.
Switch off iPad.
Everyone is now happy. Full throttle before take off n suddenly we turn out of it.
Ummmm. Maybe we are taking another runway but I don't know if there is one more.
"ladies and gentle men there is a technical snag and we will be going back to the bay to have it checked."
Collective groan.
Back at the bay. Or so we thought. 15 min later.
"we are waiting for the Marshall to help us park. He will be here any moment."
5 minutes later. We jerk forward. And the plane makes really strange noises for the next3-4 minutes. Like a woman climaxing.
Few chuckles. And a few "I'm so glad we didn't take off. "
" ......another 10 minutes to see if problem can be rectified."
Half an hour later " we will have to shift you to another plane"
Oh the angry men and the onlookers are back in their position. A new group of amused women has been formed who are just shaking their heads and giggling.
Everyone gets of the plane. They have not been told to get off but still.
I follow.
People are talking really loudly on their phones.
Loudly, purposely about further flights being missed, long days, helplessness, possible flights they could have taken, further flights they can take, getting a five star for the night, hunger, their hectic schedules.....
Nothing for the next half an hour. We continue standing outside the plane.
Angry men and onlookers surround the ground staff now who are furiously talking on their walkie - talkies.
Some people have now given up being curious and are now trying to walk around n be curious about the plane and the airport.
Suddenly their is movement in the cluster and everyone moves towards a coach which has been waiting.
Boarded. Another 15 minutes.
Angry men get off.
Onlookers join. Some have given up. Now chatty with fellow passengers.
"Nothing is going to happen, I will switch my flight, they need to get us food, why are they not moving the baggage, giggles, air india sux"
jet and kingfisher praises. staunch indigo supporter speaks up, I try to buck him up by smiling.
15 minutes more. Everyone is now off the coach.
Walkie - talkie men are now talking about taking us to the terminal.
Angry men are now demanding, 5 star rooms and food and threatening physical violence yet again.
"please board the bus. We will now take you to the terminal and give you food."
Lots of "I told-you-so's" and general happiness at the thought of food.
I stay back.
"sir, please level with me here. Are we going to take off."
Hassled walkie-talkie man taken aback by polite tone.
" madam I guarantee we'll take off tonight. There is a change in the shift hence the delay in shifting planes."
Big smile from me. N then I shock myself.
"it's ok sir. " and I pat him on his back.
Big smile from him. " thank you madam"
Alone walk to the coach coz everyone else is stuffed in already.
Strange stares from fellow humans.
Pleasant surprise. Coach stops at new flight.
"No need to go to the terminal b'coz the flight is ready. Food will be served on the flight"
Strangely happy about not being the angry one for once.
no more to tell about the next take off.
It went back to being routine.
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