By Updesh Kapur/Doha
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It’s the big festive global getaway. Millions of people will be jetting off for their end of year holidays with the big rush starting this weekend. |
From all corners of the world, to different parts of the globe, departures and arrivals are getting into full swing.
Long-term airport car parks are filling up; check-in queues are never ending; immigration and security counters cannot be seen; duty-free shopping is bustling; and those departure gates are a lengthy walk.
At the other end of the journey, the mass stampede from aircraft to immigration counters what seem miles away and retrieving luggage after a potentially long wait, is the arrival experience no one likes. You just want to get to see loved ones for the holiday break you’ve been so looking forward to.
Sounds like a familiar scenario for any traveller, whether going on business or leisure trips.
But in the peak holiday period we are embarking on, the stress of flying is very much underestimated.
The frustrations, the tensions and the anxiety are taken lightly by those not facing the burdens of jetting off through busy travel periods.
The dreaded thought of missing a flight for whatever reason – be it traffic congestion getting to the airport or reaching the departure lounge past the usual 20-minute cut off time before the gate closes. This all adds to travel woes.
Missing a flight due to your own follies can only be rectified ‘at a price’ at this time of the year.
The run-up to Christmas is traditionally the busiest week of the calendar year anywhere in the world.
You would not want to face the dilemma of being “bumped off” your scheduled flight because the cost of getting onto an alternative can be very expensive indeed.
With spare seats extremely limited – or unavailable at the price you paid – the only way to get away on the next flight would be to pay an excess that could easily run into hundreds of dollars.
If a destination you’re trying to get to has a limited number of direct flights or few connections, missing a flight is simply not an option.
You don’t want to start the festive break digging into your holiday spending money.
Faces of passengers are often etched with anguish and misery as if it is torture completing necessary airport protocols before getting onto a flight. For frontline airport staff, they disguise their frustration in handling passengers who persist to argue over seat demands – window or aisle – holding up fellow travellers and unwillingness to pay excess baggage.
For airline and airport operational staff, securing time off during this busy period is not really an option. It’s all hands on deck, as they say, to ensure smooth and trouble free operations with as many customer-facing employees as possible on the ground to guide travellers through airports.
Whether the final destination is London, New York, Bangkok, Mumbai or Johannesburg, there could be plenty of hanging around airports for the next available flight should you end up missing your scheduled one.
Don’t forget, no aircraft will wait for your late arrival. They have a scheduled timetable to stick to and cannot afford to miss departure slots. Delays will affect arrival times, ensuing a domino effect on the airline’s operations.
We’ve all heard at business school that the customer is always right. But sorry, in this case, a departure gate will close on time even if you can see fellow passengers making their way to the air bridge that connects the lounge to the aircraft. The customer will have no sympathy if turning up late at the gate.
It’s a horrible thing to see the plane in front of you, yet unable to get to it because the gate has closed.
So how can one alleviate the stress? By following simple steps which many passengers still choose to ignore.
How many times have you been advised to arrive at the airport at least three hours before the flight’s scheduled departure? Well, this is very much needed to give sufficient time to clear check-in, passport control and with time to spare for some pre-flight airside shopping.
Leave home or office well in time to avoid traffic to get to the airport. If long-term car parking is part of the plan, give extra time to ensure the courtesy bus service runs regularly to drive you to the departures terminal.
A common mistake made by passengers is going to the wrong terminal. It’s your fault. And taxi drivers don’t always know which terminal your flight operates from. Do your homework and check the ticket.
Check-in online wherever possible which simply means getting your boarding pass through the web and dropping luggage at designated counters without having to endure queues. There are also airline self-service check-in kiosks at airports. Technology has played a great role in better passenger management at airports around the world.
Get to know the actual baggage allowance to avoid the embarrassing situation of emptying your suitcase at check-in. There’s passenger chatter in the background as you’re watched emptying personal belongings in front of them and delaying the whole check-in process.
Travelling is a fun experience if only you give sufficient time to start the journey hassle free.
Happy holidays!
♦ Updesh Kapur is a PR & communications professional, columnist, aviation, hospitality and travel analyst, social and entertainment writer. He can be followed on twitter @updeshkapur
