Good taste is subjective I do agree, but sensibility should not be. Being considerate of others, keeping in mind that we are part of a collective and not an individual on our own planet, means that one should be aware of where one is, and with whom one is interacting. Unfortunately, when traveling one sees some of the most obvious cases of selfishness and obliviousness of the collective and this happens quite often and in the tackiest forms.
From checking in, to the security lines, to the boarding of the flights etc. the monotonous nature of travel has only become more tiresome post 9/11 and the added security features. Now as much as I say “more tiresome” looking back at the unimaginably horrific tragedies that occurred the additional security and attention to the most miniscule of details has only served to enhance the safety of us all as we travel. There are many documented cases of further ‘attempts’ at acts of terrorism that have been thwarted because of the additional fail-safes in place, and for this we all need to be perpetually grateful. This is something we all need to keep in mind, no matter how tiered or sick of it all, we may be.
I have seen passengers bedecked in layers of items, that anyone who has stepped into an airport knows, only would delay the whole process. Belts with hideous logo buckles, that should set off ‘style alarms’ along with the security alarms, to multiple pockets filled with everything imaginable, to jackets over vests, over sweaters with scarves thrown on for good measure, just ensures the delays at security would be doubled if not tripled. Please note that all these layers of clothing are piled on at Colombo airport and unless we are expecting a drastic shift in the earth’s center of gravity, that would cause a massive weather catastrophe, do all these many layers serve a valid purpose? Well, the valid purpose is just to show that the passenger is travelling to a colder destination! So, as all these ‘heatstroke’ inducing garments are peeled off, everyone else has to wait in bemused annoyance, wondering when this nonsense would come to an end. Then comes the multiple devices hidden in multiple areas of the body and bags, which means the passenger needs to pull out their three phones, two laptops, tabs, pen-drives, hard-drives etc. among the few they have forgotten in their carryon luggage which ends up setting off the bells and whistles at security. Yes, we do understand that the days of less devices may be a thing of the past, but unless you are a head of state, or heading a United nations mission to a high security area, that requires encrypted multi devices does anyone really need all this? But let us not forget that those who live ‘multiple lives’ juggling wives, Girlfriends, Mistresses, and concubines, in varied geographical locations, need to ensure that their devices are in sync with their out of sync personal lives. This devise stripping also becomes more complicated if the travel partner happens to be one of the above mentioned, because they know of only ‘certain devices’ so the others have to be handled in ‘stealth mode’ at the security check, and quickly put back with such skill, that would make a magician known for their ‘slide of hands,’ very proud.
The socialites with their ‘travel jewelry’ that would rival those worn in ‘Jodha Akbar,’ seem to forget that they are traveling and not traversing through a ballroom of an equally tacky social event. These Jingles and Jangles are hopefully not required for removal, and thankfully the holdups are minimized. Next comes the difficulty in understanding the meaning of the words ‘carry-on luggage.’ With backpacks, rolling bags, duffels, and totes these beasts of burden imagine that if they can ‘carry it’ than its justified as ‘carry on luggage’. So, the battles ensue with ground staff attempting to make them understand and check it in, with the added arguments about the additional costs.
The escapades continue, with passengers who seem to conveniently not know to decipher numbers and letters when it comes to their boarding passes and assigned seats, giving the poor flight attendants more work monitoring the ensuing game of ‘musical chairs.’ This runs concurrently with the ‘battle of the bins’ where the storage of ‘carry-on’ would require a UPS freighter rather than a passenger aircraft. Again, the FA’s having to battle and get their days workout in by lifting, pushing and shoving these cargo container sized bags.
Finally let us touch on the ‘travel fashion’ which never ceases to entertain. Dressed as rappers from the mid 1990s in logo emblazoned track suits, with matching logo cap, sneakers, bag etc. there seem to be some misguided notion that wearing ‘head-to-toe’ brand logos, is a style statement. A statement it surely is but not of style, but the lack of it. Usually these are pavement purchased fakes, and when you see a family traveling all ‘branded en-masse’ you know it is some nouveu riche nonsense in overdrive. For anyone of us who has stepped on a plane, we know that comfortable footwear is a must. Whether traveling in the premium cabins, economy, or on a private jet for that matter, the human body is the human body and reacts pretty much the same. Who in their right minds decides to wear thigh high tight boots, or stripper heels? Borderline personality disorders aside, or thinking one is at club, what possible explanation could there be? Walking miles through airports just adds to the foot trauma of these delusional damsels. One can easily spot the well-travelled and also sane passengers by their sane and sensible footwear when they choose to make a journey pleasure and not pain.
So, the next time any of us choose to travel, between neighboring cities on short commuter flights, or trans-continental long-haul flights, choose comfort, discretion, understated style, and most of all choose sensibility, that makes your journey and that of your fellow travelers as calm and stress free as possible. Don’t demand more than is afforded to you and be grateful that we are in a position to actually move around and visit, rather than looking at the trivialities of wanting a certain seat, or a certain meal, when in reality it was not pre-booked, or even worse, was not yours to choose. This is one definitive case where one needs to concentrate and look at, focus and dwell with gratitude on the destination, and not the journey.
