Long distance airplane journeys can be uncomfortable, tiring and a tad bit boring. But if you look enough, eccentric quirks and amusing anecdotes abound given the diversity of ages, sizes and attitudes of the passengers aboard.
I recently flew down from Sydney to Chennai and the following asides are probably something that would only happen in an airplane:
- The frantic jostling for space in the overhead compartments by the desi traveller flying back home with an array of all things aussie – just ask the stuffed 🐨 taking the pride of the place masquerading as a backpack. His kangaroo cousin wisely hopped on to the next overhead compartment – that’s apparently how they peacefully coexist in the wild.
- The armrest conundrum: who hogs.. ahem… establishes supremacy over the armrests? The person on the right or the left? Perhaps a little elbowing talent might go a long way in settling the dispute.
- Mastering the almighty art of reapplying your facial moisturizer in the tiny enclosed loo space in a turbulent flying stretch is no mean feat. Just resist the temptation to add a little colour to your vibrant personality if you want to hold on to that Charlotte Tillbury lipstick and avoid smattering the loo walls the shade of matte revolution.
- The age old question of where to plonk that clumpy pillow that the airhostess hands you – strategically placing it on the arm rest will earn the ire of your passenger-neighbour whereas your achy feet & sore calf muscles will remind you of why the leg room requires.. ahem… more room unless you go the whole hog and fly business class.
- To drink or not to drink…… a wide variety of colored liquids coming your way.. Beating dehydration is a cause celebre but not joining the loo qs quarter of an hour later.
- How to tune out the 6 year old singing “I am a barbie girl” in a loop 3 seats down the aisle (Hello parents, buy the kid some Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift CD’s when you land.)
- Do you leave your jacket on or dump it in the overhead compartments and grab that blanky staring at you from your seat? In my case, the 🐨 backpack decided it for me…. leave it on.
- The last Airbender or Charlie and the chocolate factory? M. night Shyamalan – you win.
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