I usually don’t get anxious but when I do, it’s because of one of these two reasons:
1. I spot monkeys outside my window.
2. I’m at an airport about to catch a flight.
Let’s talk about the second one.
I get so anxious about missing my flight or boarding the wrong one that once I clear security check, I will sit obediently right in front of my allotted boarding gate and not move an inch. Doesn’t matter if I’m thirsty and I need to buy a bottle of water. Doesn’t matter if I want to go and pee. I can pee once I’m inside the plane by using its washroom.
Yes, I’m that paranoid.
While this might seem crazy, let me give you an example. One woman named Shruti Chaturvedi tweeted about how she missed her flight because she was having a meal at the airport. Fun fact: she realized 30 minutes after the boarding gate closed.
Have you ever checked in to the airport, cleared security, went to have a meal at a cafe within the airport, and realised 30 minutes after the boarding gate closed that you missed your flight? 😶
— Shruti Chaturvedi 🇮🇳 (@adhicutting) December 21, 2022
I AM EXTENDING MY VACATION
— Shruti Chaturvedi 🇮🇳 (@adhicutting) December 21, 2022
She’s not alone in having such an experience. Several people on Twitter shared similar stories. Either they were chilling at a cafe or were victims of ‘silent airports’ (where loud announcements aren’t made on speaker). Have a look:
Once at Delhi airport in 2006, right in front of the gate….. was on this important call!
Never after that, mercifully.— Vijaya Moorthy (@vmoorthynow) December 22, 2022
OH MY GOD THIS IS SURREAL. Was narrating this episode to friends over dinner less than 12 hours ago: May 2010 Mumbai. Wife and I reached the airport 2 hours in advance. Kept chilling at CCD until the gates closed. Never heard the announcement. Gate was less than 100m ahead of us.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) December 22, 2022
Never really! But thinking I was late, ran to the gate leaving behind the food, only to realise I hadn’t changed the time on the watch after time zone change
— Binu Philip (@philbinu) December 21, 2022
Haven’t missed a flight properly ever but once I was seated at the gate, watched people line up and heard all the announcements. A kind ground staff person asked me where I was going so I said Chandigarh. He was like, “Mam, THIS is Chandigarh. Are you going to Mumbai?” I was ☠️
— Ishmeet Nagpal 🏳️🌈 (@IshmeetNagpal) December 22, 2022
I actually did. Same month, last year.
(Except I missed it by 5 minutes)— B.H.Harsh (@film_waala) December 22, 2022
Not the airport, but this happened last year. Me, brother & mom were booked in Shatabdi for dropping off my brother at the airport. I booked the tickets myself, after reaching station in evening I realised Shatabdi timing was 7AM not 7PM. Fortunately, found seats in Vande Bharat.
— Eddie (@pussymonious) December 22, 2022
These guys @BLRAirport experimented with making it silent airport around last decade or so, I was busy eating some good South Indian food before flying which could never make me look at LED or flight display boards. Missed my flight & hopped on to next one – thankfully domestic
— Chai_Guevara is on mastodon (@Chai_Guevaraa) December 22, 2022
I have checked in to the airport, cleared security, went to the lounge, came to boarding gate on time, only to find the flight got cancelled 10 mins before scheduled takeoff 🥲
— Prakarsh Saxena (@Prakarsh41) December 22, 2022
Happened with me at Mumbai airport many years back..
Being a regular flyer with @jetairways I usually went to boarding gates on top or straight ahead.
On that particular flight it was a remote gate on far left..
I missed that my gate number didn’t have ‘A’ went on top..😕— Mdr (@Mdr_b) December 22, 2022
Plan your journeys better, people! Carry a sandwich in your hand luggage. 😛