My stomach was beginning to grumble. I hadn't anticipated such a long line at the immigration desk at the Chennai airport--to get out of the old country, that is. My original plan was to eat the four idlis that mother had packed in a ziplock bag after I was done with immigration and security check. But, now, here I was in a slow-moving line.
My stomach grumbled more. I took out the ziplock bag. Idlis with the mildest coating of milagai podi. My stomach welcomed the idea.
One after another, all the four idlis were gone. More than a few people around me were watching me eat; I am sure many of them were equally hungry as I was.
I was still a long way way from the front of the line. At least my stomach was happy. I cleaned up my fingers with Purell.
"What a crazy line" said the older woman behind me. Just a tad taller than five feet, she seemed as Indian as I am and as American as I am.
We engaged in small talk. A retired radiologist from California, she was visiting the old country to spend a few days with her 93-year old mother who is not well.
"See you on the other side" I told her as I headed to the officer for my turn.
A few minutes before boarding time, I saw her at the gate. "They gave me a free upgrade to business class. I didn't even ask for it" she said.
"All the way?"
"No, only for the short one."
"It will be cattle class for 15 hours after, eh" I joked. We laughed.
I passed the business class on the way to my seat in the cattle class. These days, I don't even dream about a free upgrade. I have lost my mojo :(
Two hours to kill at the transit airport before the 15 hour nonstop flight. I sat down at a table at the cafe. "Toast and a cappuccino, please" I told the Filipino-looking waiter.
The cappuccino barely wet my throat. I struggled to get his attention. When I did, I asked for another.
After walking around for a while, I was now ready for the long haul.
I reached the gate. It was my turn. I walked up and handed my passport and boarding pass. He entered something into the computer and tore up my boarding pass. He gave me back the passport. With a mischievous smile and with his left index finger over his lips, he handed me a new boarding pass.
I looked at it and smiled back at him.
A free upgrade to business class, where I can lie down flat for hours!
I haven't lost my mojo, after all. ;)
4 comments:
There is a vicarious pleasure in being able to enter the aircraft and turn left instead of right :):):)
Looking forward to the next post describing everything that happened over the 15 hours of business class. No doubt, you sat next to Indira Nooyi and charmed her :) No doubt you flirted with the stew :) No doubt you got your perfect cup of coffee :) Da Da Da Da. Next post awaited eagerly :)
You drank two cappuccinos before getting on a 15-hour flight?? I thought you were one of the smart ones!
Good fortune certainly shone on you.
I've been in first class once. It was a 30 minute connector flight that left late. They put me in the front row so I could run off the plane and not miss my connection. We didn't even get drinks and didn't reach cruising altitude. I have no idea the difference between first and other classes on such a small plane on such a small flight other than proximity to the exit. I hope that's not my only experience not in cattle class.
I still had to turn right, Ramesh, because that's where Business Class was--on the left perhaps was First Class ;)
It was a very uneventful 15-hours. Mostly sleep. Mike, those tiny shots of coffee were needed for my system, but that amount of caffeine did not keep me awake.
Good fortune, indeed ... I bet it will be cattle class for a long time ;)
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