My first flight experience
Saturday, February 14, 2009 Labels: Travel 4 commentsI am one of those who had to wait until I got to the 20s to get my first flying experience...I am not talking about flying fighter jets here..just being passenger in a commercial airline..Each of us would have gone through some unique experience but reflecting on my first one now ..I still find it hilarious..
I am still awed when I see the little kids flying in airplanes, either trans continental or domestic. I at least think they are lucky enough to experience it early. My first flight was from Chennai to Mumbai on official duty. Those days, I could not afford to fly on my own expense. I was asked to fly to Mumbai for a 3 month job assignment when I was working with Sanmar in Chennai. I was more excited about the flying assignment than the actual work assignment!! I think this excitement was part of the goof ups that happened during my flight too. I told my manager that I had not flown before (I did not feel embarrassed at all..I had to make sure I got to Meenambakkam and not Parry's bus stand or Chennai central)..My manager who had flown many times to US and within India..guided me through the process. He probably put it too simple to the extent, it made me feel over confident. I took cab with my big bags and headed to the airport for my evening flight to Mumbai. I got my tickets from the ticketing in charge from the office itself. I was wearing my best formal wear for the flight. I probably wanted to portray my executive looks to the flying crowd! I reached the domestic terminal and then starts the funny side of this story..
I took my bags and headed up on the escalator and barged straight to the security area. The man in the Khakis politely requested for my boarding pass (I heard about boarding pass for the first time in my life from this guy)..I pulled my air ticket from the leather folio and handed it over to him with an air of arrogance along with my super executive looks!..He then asked, "Boarding pass"...I told him "Isn't this the boarding pass?"..he said, "No sir, you have to go down to the ticketing counter and get your boarding pass" I looked utterly stupid in front of him and my executive looks were diminishing at the same time with some sweat trickling down my forehead. I walked down the stairs to the ticketing agent and obtained my boarding pass. I hurried back up to the security and asked him to let me through..He asked me if the big jumbo bags were carry on bags..I asked him "Carry on?"..he then asked me to go down and check in the bags first. Now, with all the embarrassment, I could not even look up at this guy with a straight face. I rushed down the stairs again and checked in my bags at the ticketing counter and walked back to the security check point again. This time the security guy had a sarcastic smile and let me through. I quietly waited in the boarding area with a nervous grip all around me. It would have been helpful if the boarding area was clearly marked with flight name, destination and flight number. I am not sure if things have improved in India now, but signs were not helpful during that time. I had to really make some guess work to figure out the departing gate for the Mumbai flight by observing the passengers dressing style, looks, and remembering people who were in the ticket counter before and after me. My keen ears were alert for announcements and finally came the announcement and I got into the Mumbai bound flight. I felt quite relieved by this time feeling that I could somehow reach Mumbai now. I located my seat, which was an aisle seat, quickly stowed the bags up in the overhead space, sat down in my seat and buckled up promptly. I felt the ordeal was all over, which is when this guy in the middle seat shows up and I had to get up my seat to give way for this passenger to get in. Now comes the next embarrassing moment. I did not know how to unbuckle my seat belts. I pretended as though I knew how to unbuckle and vainly grappled with the metal clips for a minute ..the passenger quickly realized my helpless situation and helped me unbuckle the seat belts. I flashed an awkward smile at him and thanked him..Immediately after he got in, I pulled the evening edition of Mumbai mirror (or some other newspaper), there was a shocking news..the front page news was about Silk Smita's mysterious death ;)...when I was recovering from the shock!!, the air hostess extended a tray with some drink on it. I grabbed the blackish brown colored drink and asked her , "Is it black coffee?", she said, "No sir, it is Pepsi!!" ..I should have at least guessed it correctly by looking at the orange Fanta's sitting next to it..Now I said to myself, "Enough, keep your mouth shut all the way till Mumbai". I reached Mumbai and my colleague picked me up. The whole experience that evening, felt much longer than the actual 2 hour flight from Chennai to Mumbai..all because of the endless goof ups.Despite all those embarrassing moments, I feel it is an interesting learning experience. I could share this funny event with my family members and friends. Like a good student, who learns from the mistakes, I knew exactly what "Not to do" during my next flight. I also could help others who were going through similar moments during their first flight as well. In fact, during my first flight to the US, a student sitting next to me told me that it was his first flight experience and asked for my help with his seat belts. I immediately felt, "argh...hmmm..let me help you.."and graciously obliged..he also asked me "Have you flown before?", I said, "Yes, quite a few times, with an air of superiority". Of course, he does not know the funny story behind my first flight experience ;)
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hi !it was a nice post!each one of us have different experience..one of the funnier part(embarrassing at that moment) i faced in b'lore airport was,(and it was not my first trip..Thank god!rajen was with me in my first trip to guide me) the horrible cylindrical shaped bags which rolled down from my trolley many times and the result was ,...i was looking like kavundamani ,senthil type in the airport...but raja! to be frank i am not comfortable in such artificial environment..;)
Hi Raja, The seat belt incidence was too much... I can imagine that not be described smile on your face:)My first flight experience- I too didnt know what a boarding pass was, the security check, nothing at all, very similar experience... I admitted to an elderly person that I was flying for the first time & asked him some idiotic question for sure.. I dont remember the question but I remember his expressions ;) He then asked me a sarcastic question-which company are you from, I told him my Competitor's name;)
I have lost the count of no.of times I have flown now. To become eligible to fly in my company was like achieving a milestone. The year that happened, the new policy came in... that everyone in the company could fly :(
I have never pressed the button on the top to call air hostess till date. Used the loo in the flight only recently...
Havent used a telecheck in... Much more to learn...
Keep blogging Raja...
The funniest of all was the 'Silk Smitha shocker':D LOL..konjam too much thaan adhu:P
I am able to relate this experience with Mr. BEAN experience...