It is past boarding time, the departure lounge was full of people waiting for the flight to be called. The attendants rested heads upon hands not even pretending interest.
Infants squall, hungry and hot their parents ignoring the angry glares of others. Children run wildly, tripping over luggage and legs sprawling across open spaces. The air grows fetid with each passing minute, sour milk, half-eaten lunches and unchanged babies filling the lounge with its own pungent mixture.
Glancing around Demi wonders why she agreed to this trip, zip lines through jungle canopies and Rum Punch by the pool doesn’t seem worth this hell.
Finally, the speaker sputters, “ladies and gentlemen, we are ready for boarding, do not get in line before your row is called, we are warning you.”
Demi sighed, “Row 45, travel isn’t what it used to be. It will be at least another hour.”
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QBG_Tilted Tiara 
sounds so familiar. Great imagery. As a little girl people still got ‘dressed up’ when taking a flight. Can remember wearing white gloves at about age 5 on a cross country trip to see my grandmother.
You have captured the reality, sights, and noxious smells of plane travel in only 145 words. Brava!
This has been a big part of my life for 20 years two sometimes more times a week. Not hard to remember, when you find yourself in airports this often.
I also remember dressing up to go on planes. Of course I also remember getting spanked in the center of the aisle for kicking the back of the seat in front of me. Oh, how I miss those days.
Thanks, Rachael.
The thing about travel, Val, is the getting there. I don’t like all that it entails these days. You capture it well.
There was a time when I didn’t mind travel at all, in fact sometimes I even looked forward to it. I must be terribly jaded now, I dread it. Even the people watching has lost its joy.
I can almost “smell” the wait! Brilliant use of the prompt. Painted one dimension of it rather nicely.
I am glad this one came through for so many people. This one came straight from real life, I wrote what I knew.
😉
I have not been to an airport in ages – I don’t think I’m missing anything lol
A bit of people watching, but no not anything really. 😉
Aha, I’m a people watcher too! At a local fair recently, the people watching was quite the highlight 🙂
Reminded me of some of my business trips – when one travels 30 plus times a year for 20 years – yes, we get to experience them all.
Haben Sie tolles Wochenende,
Eric
Indeed, when one travels that much one gets that vision of the departure lounge comes up now and then. But you Eric at least have the pleasure of Singapore, one of my favorites.
I think flying is definitely overrated, well it is after reading this one Val, Demi should have stayed at home me thinks? 🙂 lol What a great flash, I can almost smell those freshly squeezed diapers and grossly thought of cheesy milk 😦 Eeeeuw
Have a lovely evening and weekend Val 😉
Andro xxxx
There are some airports that need a bit of cleanup and burnishing. Others, like Heathrow that really are rather pleasant. There are some that make the entire flying experience rather fun….new Hong Kong, Singapore to name two.
Oh my, you really caught my attention with this one! Reminded me of my travels in some of the areas of the world where the siesta lasts all day, the heat is oppressive and travel arrangements may or may not work out as planned. I’s so glad to be retired from that life.
I am trying hard to retire from this life, travel is simply to hard on the body anymore.
That’s a hell of an attitude to bring on vaca. Tell Demi to get over herself – rum punch is only hours away!
The destination might be worth it but the getting there is sometimes horrible these days. Travel can just knock you over.
Demi better get use to this new life of traveling under the radar. And she’d best keep her toes well manicured when traveling internationally. Trust me, folk get to know you a little bit by looking at your feet.
personally? I would rather not come in contact with feet, though this does seem to be common.
I wish though, people would bath before getting on planes, don’t you?
I don’t like taking my shoes off and whatnot. I don’t know what kinda weapon of mass destruction I could possibly put in my shoes that wouldn’t blow me up then and there.
Yeah. it would be real nice if folk bathed. My recent plane rides have been 15 and 16 hours. Too long to be smelling unbathed folk.
Ugh. Poor, Demi. Perhaps, the rum punch would have been better BEFORE flying than as a reward AFTER. *grins* You nailed this one.
xxx
Don’t we all despise the travel restrictions and difficulties of today? Better before, though the departure lounges were still much the same.
Sigh. I will find out about airport headaches early in the New Year.
I heard the noise and the smells were ripe when I read this piece. Another splendid flash, Val. 😉
I recommend the following Tess:
Comfortable clothing, my normal travel is yoga pants, long sleeved tee shirt, sports bra, slide shoes with warm socks, hoodie. This outfit will insure comfort, warmth and ease getting through security lines.
No jewelry, unless you wear medical alerts put all jewelry in a baggie in your purse this includes watches, earrings and anything else you might normally wear. This is to help you get through TSA. Different airports have different rules and some scanners are more sensitive than others, this just takes the problem off the table.
Check your bag. I know the temptation is to carry it. Don’t check it this makes life so much easier.
Thank YOU. I haven’t flown in 16 years. I know it’s so much different now.
You brought me there, Val.
Hopefully with a bit of fun Deb. It truly isn’t always this bad.
Ha! Excellent flash of airport reality…one you probably know all too well….Nicely done 😉
❤ ❤
I do indeed, it has a bit of realism doesn’t it? I considered the TSA line up but this was more fun.
hahaha…totally more fun…although I am sure you have seen it all in the TSA line, too!
The best part of travel, especially in airports, is the people watching. But I could do without the screaming kids. Some airlines, one in Asia in particular, are not offering child-free sections.
Great piece, Val!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
I admit to being a ‘snob’ traveler these days. Having spent so much of the past 25 years in the air I have the benefit of knowing how to book my flights. It has been a very long time since I have flown coach or not boarded first.
I know, snotty of me but all those miles do give me an edge.
Boy, so many of us can relate to this, airports are among the places I’m not a fan of. X(
Andy, how are you? Actually I frequently enjoy airports, but I am a people watcher by nature.
Ah you travel often huh? I am too but I can only take so much rowdyness in a place lol
I do know that feeling, I try to arrive JIT these days to avoid the feeling of ‘get me out of here!’
Best way to handle airport madness 🙂
I know exactly how Demi feels. You created a scene with this one, Val. Nicely done.
This is my life all to frequently, though not the zip lines and rum punch. I almost think if i had that to look forward to rather than cranky clients it would be worth it.