#169: Flying Fiascos And Boarding Blunders
Your Research and Notes Will Make Your Travel Story Come Alive
‘I am sorry Ma’am, but you can’t board this plane,’ declared the lady at the checkout counter.
Let me paint the picture for you. I'm standing there at the airport, all set to embark on my grand voyage to India, excitement bubbling within me, when the lady at the checkout counter drops a bombshell. With a firm tone that could rival a school principal, she declares that I can't board the plane.
For a split second, I thought I'd landed in the middle of a cheesy sci-fi movie. It'd gotta be a mistake, right?
But nope, it's real.
I've been gearing up for this Indian escapade ever since I touched down from my whirlwind tour of the US and Canada just six weeks ago. Those trusty suitcases of mine hadn't even had a chance to cool down; they were practically lounging in the lobby, under the stairs, itching for action. My clothes, well, they'd seen both the East and West Coasts of the US and Canada, and now they were washed, ironed, and all set for round two.
I'd been broadcasting my upcoming annual Indian odyssey to anyone who'd listen, filling my social media accounts with more updates than a 24-hour news channel. Heck, I'd even started a Substack publication where I planned to spill the beans on all my travel tales.
And now, I am being told I can’t board the plane.
But why?
Because my OCI card (Overseas Indian which is a lifetime visa to travel to India for Indian-born people) didn’t have my current passport number on it.
‘You got to get your new passport linked to your OCI card,’ said the checkout lady.
‘But this passport is seven years old, and I have been to India on the same passport and OCI card multiple times, including last year. Why was I not stopped to board the plane then.’
‘Indian Government is getting very strict. I we let you go, our airline will be penalised for not following their regulation.’
That was not the only mishap we had faced since morning. Our domestic flight from Canberra to Melbourne played the delay game, leaving us just 50 minutes to make our international connection. Everyone else was off the plane in a jiffy, but not us. Oh no, we needed a portable lift to get my 95-year-old father-in-law off the plane, followed by a wheelchair and a buggy to navigate the labyrinthine airport. And here's the kicker, we couldn't use the same wheelchair from the domestic terminal in the international one. Go figure!
By some miracle and a whole lot of help from Melbourne airport staff, we made it to the checkout counter, where they were waiting for us. The Sri Lankan plane was ready to take off in just ten minutes. Now, it was a race against the clock. If this checkout lady could just issue those boarding passes, we could dash to the gate in nine minutes flat. But no, rules are rules.
‘Can I speak to your supervisor?’ I demanded, not entirely sure what I'd say that I hadn't already tried on the checkout lady. But in times of stress, brains can do some truly remarkable things. I trusted my gut.
‘Sure,’ she said, handing me the phone.
I laid out all my pleas, trying to find some magic words to get us on that plane.
‘Nope,’ he said. ‘You've gotta contact the Indian High Commission tomorrow and sort out your new passport and OCI card.’
But, hark, there was a glimmer of hope! The checkout lady chimed in, "If you sign this affidavit saying you'll foot the bill for your deportation from India, you can get on that plane."
‘Oh, you betcha!’ At that point, I would have signed my death warrant if I had to.
And with that, I ran the fastest sprint of my life. You know you've hit peak travel excitement when a plane waits for you, even if it's because of a paperwork frenzy. That's an achievement in itself, isn't it?
Today’s lesson and writing prompt:
How to do research and take notes for travel writing
The lesson and writing prompts are for the members of the ‘Everything Is A Book’ community. Start here to join me in this exciting journey of writing a travel memoir
See you next Friday.
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