Well ... Sorry for the looooooooong delay between posts. But hey - I had to wait till I went flying again before I could write up on the experience right!!!
So ... On Friday (08/06/2007) I had to fly home (To Cochin) on some urgent personal work. And thanks to scary experience I had flying Air Deccan last time around, this time I decided to fly GoAir...
My thoughts were - worst-cum-worst-case it’d be as bad the Air Deccan Flight. With these thoughts in mind I head to the Airport around 4.30pm. I got to the Airport around 5.15 pm ... Well in time to check-in. I go to the smiling lady at the check in counter who tells me that the flight is late by 30 mins.
Obviously I was expecting that... But a few beers before a flight can make you really naughty (oh... I guess I forget to mention that. Around lunchtime I met up with one of my old college chums whom I hadn't seen for the last 2.5 yrs. For those ladies (and guys) who are reading this and aren't accustomed to the NITC'ian way of meeting batch mates - it means we went out to a watering hole, grab a couple of beers over which we talk about the good old college days and the chicks each one of has hit on in the last 2.5 yrs)
:+P
Well ... Now back to the story ...
So - under the influence of a few beers inside me - I ask the lady at the counter ... "Well... So… Nothing’s new eh... Tell me one thing ... Out of curiosity - I was wondering - Have your flights EVER taken off on time!!!"
Obviously she had not expected such a question from anyone, and the look on her face was evidence to that. She was giving me a dumbfound look, as if I had slapped her right across the face. Now that I think of it - I would like to think of it as a cute expression of confusedness ... Well ... she musters up a little courage and then says - "Sir ... Its the last sector ... So I guess we're eligible to fly a little late (wink)" ...
Grrrrrrr ... She had said the magic word ... How can someone be "eligible" to run late. Especially when I had paid to travel “on time” and was not looking to this supposedly value ad service of "traveling late". Obviously I was ticked off ... I retorted saying "Oh ... That’s something new ... Nice to hear a new reason!!! "
It felt so good to be able to hit back like that ...
The girl obviously knew when to quit - and she gave in ... And started to work on printing out my boarding pass.
With a wicked grin of achievement and dominance, I move to the security clearance area.
Another 30 minutes pass uneventfully and the boarding announcement for my flight gets aired on the announcement system. I was stunned ... “Man ... A delayed flight on time… This is definitely better than AirDeccan… What the heck - lets go board the flight ..." was what was running through my mind. And I rush towards the bus that was that would take me to my flight.
Now - as always, my mind is hyperactive thinking whether or not the Air Hostess is going to be attractive or I am in for an AirDeccan types let down.
The moment of truth - as I'd like to call it - had arrived... And guess what - this time I was not let down. I guess it has a lot to do with coming with completely pessimistic mindset, but the Air Hostess was pretty cute (pls note - I ain't using the term a BOMB ... I reserve that term only for the babes of Kingfisher).
Well ... At that moment - all i could think of was - 1600 rupess ‘vassool’... Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!!
And to add to that elated feeling - the flight was a Airbus A320 unlike the Turboprop jets of AirDeccan. Honestly - I was very impressed!!!
Well ... I find my seat (Oh ... Forgot to mention - unlike the free seating model in AirDeccan, you get pre-allotted seats numbers on GoAir) and I see a girl (yup ... She aint one bit attractive ... Hence, I call her a girl) sitting on the aisle seat whereas mine is the Window one. Once I settle down - I smile at her. But she doesn't even smile back ... “That’s a rude one” I conjure up in mind!!!
I think - "What the heck she's not attractive anyways!!!" and open up my faithful lappy and start watching the hit Tamil flick "Unnalle Unnalle" ... The flight unfortunately was 6th in queue for push off. But since I am actively enjoying the movie, I dont realize the time flying.
Suddenly I realize that the girl sitting next to me is staring at my lappy ... Obviously I get uncomfortable. I really dont understand why - But its very weird when someone is staring at you ... You get all queasy and uncomfortable. Initially I thought the girl wanted to watch the movie. So I turn the monitor to an angle that she could also watch the movie. But 5 mins into that - I realize that she ain't even looking at my screen ... Moreover she was actively looking at the outside world. It suddenly registered that she was probably a "First time flyer" ... That’s when her nervousness, silence, and staring all started to make sense. I smiled an "I've been there ... Done that" smile at her and went back to my movie.
As always - the airhostess started off explaining the regular stuff. Everyone in the aircraft ignored them (I mean how many times do u listen to same things over and over again) - Everyone except the girl next to me ...
She was watching the airhostess in stark attention. Listening, processing and digesting every single word and instructions. It was hilarious to watch the expressions on her face. Especially when the airhostess started talking about hanging on to your floating seat cushions - the girl practically started panicking ... She immediately closed her eyes and was drawing crosses all across her forehead and chest and praying like her life depended on it...
I couldn’t control it any longer and burst out laughing. Thankfully, she must've thought it was a joke in the movie I was watching that caused me to laugh out so very hysterically. Brings meaning to the phrase ”Saved by the bell...”
:+D
The aircraft prepares for takes off - and the girl starts praying even more vehemently. After a while of seeing this amusement, I get bored and get back to my movie. A good hour passes by and we're about to touch down at Cochin airport. My movie is also over so I pack up lappy and prepare to land.
That’s when I notice that there is an eerie and maybe even hysteric look in the girl’s eyes. As usual she's staring out of the window. Curious as to what it is this time that freaking the girl - I look outside. Instantly I identified the culprit.
It was the flaps on the aircraft wings... At the time of landing, the flaps are raised to 30 degrees. This helps in braking the aircraft (I've recently started playing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2003 and hence my in-depth knowledge in this area). For this girl - it would've seemed like the wings were breaking apart. Poor girl - I felt sorry for her. I gave her a reassuring smile.
Maybe that did the trick, maybe it didn't. Cause the next sec - she was back to praying. At least it beats having to see the fear in her eyes!
Another 5 mins later - the aircraft touched down and we left the aircraft. I actually saw the girl heave a sigh of relief and rush out of the plane.
On the whole - It was an enjoyable flight with a nice humorous element tossed into it in the form of that first time flyer dudette.
I will definitely fly GoAir again ... But for my next flight - I want to try “Paramount Airways”. Although they are a tad on the expensive end - With my Bonus and Pay Hike around the corner (hopefully it will be good enough to let me buy em tickets… So If my manager is reading this – please give me an excellent appraisal!!!) -> I am gearing to pay the extra premium and fly business class.
:)
Wish me luck...
Till my next post - Bbye !!!
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