I awaited at the Jolly grant booking counter for the Air India Manger...
Though I
had my Web Check in, Boarding pass is yet issued at the counter. Few travellers struggled with internet speed at the Dehradun airport for their web check in or else pay 120
bucks extra for the currently useless Web check in to get the boarding pass.
At the Boarding pass counter, the young employee was not sure of Seaman documentation to check for issuing boarding tickets up till London, so he had called for his manager.
The Manager himself was not sure, "Can you say you want to take a break at Delhi and get your onwards ticket to London from Delhi itself, you see I’m myself am unsure of Seaman documentation”?
The old Boeing 737 - ATR 72 was a small noisy flight to Delhi. Thankfully I had my noise cantillation headphones! “We don’t serve anything due to Corona guidelines, water is near the Washrooms, for self-service”.
I
walked out of the ground floor departure to 2nd floor arrival at
Delhi airport. “The boarding pass counter will open at 10 PM”. It was 9 PM, so I walked around the length, settled in a corner chair for my home-made
aloo-ka-paratha with aam ka aachar.
Quarter to 10 PM, I was back at the Boarding pass counter. “Air India has opened four separate counters for seaman” the counter guy indicated me on the other side.
I passed my documents to the young lady only to discover soon enough - the winner of the crown for - the least qualified person on their job at hand.
The conversation ensued:
“This is an I-Form, show me yours?” she said displaying her mobile.
“Well, I’ve a e(lectronic)-migrate” I said.
“That is no-good” she responded. “I’ll have to deboard you”
“Well! Let me talk to your supervisor” I insisted!
Another lady appeared in a grey coat with soon to be discovered - her highness of ignorance in customer service.
“jara batana” she asked her other colleague.
Well! a bunch of untrained staff manning the Boarding pass counter.
Nether curious nor polite in their ignorance though, I suspect lack of trainning!
With such a ground team, seems that the Maharaja is counting its days! That would be yet another travesty for a glorious public sector enterpeise.
Finally, the young girl sent a staff guy to accompany me to the immigration officer. “Its alright” told the officer.
Even after immigration approval it took another half an hour for the young lady and the grey coats to discuss and handover me my ticket.
Mostly the counter team gathers all the document, take pictures on their mobile and send it across and wait back for someone’s approval at the other end.
It took them an hour and a quarter just for the boarding pass. Though the young counter team was struggling with obvious training shortcomings, but at least they were trying.
A couple of years back seaman received a LOI (Letter of Invitation) from the foreign hiring agency, another (LOG) letter of Guarantee to meet all the travel, lodging and food. Also, a OKTB (Okey To Board) letter from the agency. Lately the UK agencies are including all details in one - Letter of Guarantee.
Few Immigration officers are old
school, not much bothered on the content but only the heading. The
immigration office walked up with my document to the Supervisor and came back
with the approval, took him a 5 minutes’ walk and I was through.
The SMS beeped - Fight delayed by 40 minutes; so I had some more time at WH Smith store.
A couple of years back
it was all books, magazines and newspaper store. Today the books were
relegated to one side and the store was filled with souvenirs and travel accessories.
Well, a paperless future seems awaiting!
The airport store keepers lately are taking the initative of coming out of there store and crying out there wares, offers and deals like street vendors,"buy international sim, buy on offer..".
Considering the spent sponginess on its seats, Boeing 787 AI 161 long-haul fight is rather old bird, yet the good thing was the ample leg space.
I got into my aisle seat and slept over..
“We are pleased
to announce 40 minutes before time arrival at London Heathrow airport” Well! I
slept for 7 out of the 8 and a half hours flight.
“Air India aims to excel in service
and hospitality. Your feedback is welcome!” Well! this announcement at that
moment gave me a thought – to pen down later.
Next was a long bus drive from terminal 2 landing to terminal 4 red zone arrivals. A long que awaited at the immigration.
It took 35 minutes to reach the immigration counter
and two minutes pass by. The Sardarji at the back-end table handed me the quarantine exempt slip.
The agent driver held my name ply card and was happy to meet me.
He had relaised in the last minute that the passangers landing in Terminal 2 were being evicted from Terminal 4 and had tto rush to fetch me in time. The baggage arrival had further delayed our airport exit be aroiund 30 minutes.
What followed was a 4-and-a-half-hour drive to Hull, stopping by at two highway side shopping arcades.
First for ATM withdrawal and a O2 sim (45GB for 4 weeks at 15 pounds) and a cup of cappuccino.
Called O2 customer care, and the response came from Mumbai who soon was sales pitching, "You listen to music: get O2 earbuds, home delivered"!
Son after I got a stiff sour neck – bad sleeping head posture!
While boarding, it was too hot in the cabin, hence, I dropped my neck pillow below the front seat and used it as foot rest instead.
Good that I had 'moov, spray in my travel bag. Though I sprayed on my neck out of the car yet the strong smell prolonged. I wrapped my latest Superdry airport sale purchase hoodie shirt round my neck.
The neck was fine about time we reached Hull.
The Kingston Theatre hotel was a world-renowned fashion house in the centre of Hull during WW1.
Esteemed court dressmaker Madame Clapham invested her savings to purchase No 1 Kingston Square, before later purchasing the two neighbouring buildings after her dressmaking business flourished.
Madame Clapham’s fashion house became one of the most sought-after salons of the era, in demand until after World War II.
Rather fitting for the popular and elegant, if slightly dated, establishment operating there today.
Final thought: Travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape you!
