Air……lines
Dr. Puja Banerjee Barua shares her views on the challenges of maintaining a refined travel experience amidst the rise of low-cost carriers and the impact of passenger behavior on overall flying enjoyment. Puja reflects on the importance of decency, finesse, and comfort in air travel, discussing the evolving landscape and the need for a more discerning approach.
I have nothing against any airlines, l declare right at the outset. But l cannot say the same of the passengers. I am no snob and yet at the risk of sounding boorish, l will say the company in which you travel matters. My recent travel by air has taught me to be more discerning about the airlines l choose to fly.
Making air travel affordable for all is no doubt a great stride in modern aviation but to subject everyone to loud, uncouth behaviour and sheer rowdiness by a certain section of passengers and not take disciplinary action because it-is-bad-for-business, is not fair on part of the low cost carriers. It makes business sense, sure, to widen the net but spoils the experience for connoisseurs of air travel or people who are regular flyers and those who simply must avail of air travel. Not that the airline companies will care l believe, because if nothing else our country is blessed with numbers. And if that doesn’t count in business, l don’t know what does!
There are some pleasures in life that should not be tampered with, absolutely, no ifs, no buts. I consider air travel one of them. Smooth, classy, time saving, efficient..that is how l like to think of it. Not giving the vibes of the Indian Railways and it’s services!! Some will argue that this is class politics. I beg to differ. It is emphasis on pure sense and sensibility. Good manners and refined behaviour.
What is wrong with expecting a basic minimum standard when you are availing of a service that crowds you into a tube with the closest proximity imaginable with another unknown human being without outraging anyone’s modesty, for hours on end, and more importantly, in a situation where you cannot walk out in the middle of the journey if you are not happy with it?!
I know what people will say to that…why not travel business class or premier league airlines then? Well, going by all the hullabaloo on recent domestic and international flights regarding rowdy behaviour, even such ‘safeguards’ are no guarantee!
As l am growing older (never mind the number!) I find myself becoming more demanding of decency, finesse _and_ comfort whenever l travel. I may belong to the minority but l earnestly hope my ilk grows in strength and numbers! We need some nice things to remain just so.
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