Desis at The Airport

[Saj]

Regarding the queuing aspect.

I went for my Covid vaccine jab recently.

There were about 12 people in the queue, all waiting patiently to be called.

In walks Mr and Mrs Desi - instead of joining the queue at the back, they think they have the right to go to the front of the queue. Anyway a staff member tells them they have to join the queue at the back. They respond by telling the staff member that their fathers are doctors so they should be allowed to go to the front of the queue. The staff member responded by saying I don't care who your fathers are, you will have to join the line at the back

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

Regarding the queuing aspect.

I went for my Covid vaccine jab recently.

There were about 12 people in the queue, all waiting patiently to be called.

In walks Mr and Mrs Desi - instead of joining the queue at the back, they think they have the right to go to the front of the queue. Anyway a staff member tells them they have to join the queue at the back. They respond by telling the staff member that their fathers are doctors so they should be allowed to go to the front of the queue. The staff member responded by saying I don't care who your fathers are, you will have to join the line at the back

It’s one thing of old uncles and aunties do this but new generation doing this?

 

[Pascal Gambit]

Regarding the queuing aspect.

I went for my Covid vaccine jab recently.

There were about 12 people in the queue, all waiting patiently to be called.

In walks Mr and Mrs Desi - instead of joining the queue at the back, they think they have the right to go to the front of the queue. Anyway a staff member tells them they have to join the queue at the back. They respond by telling the staff member that their fathers are doctors so they should be allowed to go to the front of the queue. The staff member responded by saying I don't care who your fathers are, you will have to join the line at the back

This thread was an entertaining read; plenty of smiles and hushed chuckles from me while reading of others experiences.

I was born and raised in the UK and had travelled quite extensively but I had never been to the subcontinent. Finally, in 1997 I got the opportunity to visit India for a business/pleasure trip. I was travelling alone and flying via Gulf Air and the journey involved catching a connecting flight in Doha. The plane journey to Doha was uneventful aside from the usual shenanigans one can expect from a large desi crowd - plenty have covered these observations in previous posts.

I got on my connecting flight at Doha but strangely most of my humsafars from the UK flight were nowhere to be seen. Rather, this flight was replete with migratory workers heading back to India for whatever reason. Halfway into the flight an attendant handed everyone a short form to fill. I got diligently cracking on with mine, completely oblivious to the fact that all those sitting around me had their eyes on me. I only noticed this when a question on the form befuddled me and I looked up momentarily to ponder the answer.

Eventually, I was done but I didn't even have the chance to put the lid back on my pen, when the passenger seated next to me thrust his form in my lap. That too without bothering to ask my permission. The chap said he couldn't read or write properly and so I took his other paperwork and went about the task. No sooner had I finished his and another form was being put into my lap. Indeed, all those seated around me had amongst themselves appointed me as their clerk and had formed a queue along the aisle, much to the chagrin of the attendants. I'm pretty laid back and generally mild mannered so without a moan or groan I continued with my civic duty. I think I may have filled in over 20 forms and the only thing that saved me from filling in more was we were about to land and so everyone had to return to their seats.

I've been back to India several times since but due to the aforementioned experience I always catch direct flights.

 

[RajBan]

This thread was an entertaining read; plenty of smiles and hushed chuckles from me while reading of others experiences.

I was born and raised in the UK and had travelled quite extensively but I had never been to the subcontinent. Finally, in 1997 I got the opportunity to visit India for a business/pleasure trip. I was travelling alone and flying via Gulf Air and the journey involved catching a connecting flight in Doha. The plane journey to Doha was uneventful aside from the usual shenanigans one can expect from a large desi crowd - plenty have covered these observations in previous posts.

I got on my connecting flight at Doha but strangely most of my humsafars from the UK flight were nowhere to be seen. Rather, this flight was replete with migratory workers heading back to India for whatever reason. Halfway into the flight an attendant handed everyone a short form to fill. I got diligently cracking on with mine, completely oblivious to the fact that all those sitting around me had their eyes on me. I only noticed this when a question on the form befuddled me and I looked up momentarily to ponder the answer.

Eventually, I was done but I didn't even have the chance to put the lid back on my pen, when the passenger seated next to me thrust his form in my lap. That too without bothering to ask my permission. The chap said he couldn't read or write properly and so I took his other paperwork and went about the task. No sooner had I finished his and another form was being put into my lap. Indeed, all those seated around me had amongst themselves appointed me as their clerk and had formed a queue along the aisle, much to the chagrin of the attendants. I'm pretty laid back and generally mild mannered so without a moan or groan I continued with my civic duty. I think I may have filled in over 20 forms and the only thing that saved me from filling in more was we were about to land and so everyone had to return to their seats.

I've been back to India several times since but due to the aforementioned experience I always catch direct flights.

I had somewhat similar experience while traveling to US once via Dubai. Thankfully I was able to restrict it to 2 as I figured out a question that was not applicable to me and gleefully announced that I am as ignorant as them and won't be of any help.

 

[faraz39]

I once caught a fight from Montreal to Istanbul and to my surprise, the older Turkish passengers left their seats before the plane stopped. The attendants tried to stop them but they didn't listen. It was kind of nice to see someone other than desis make a fool of themselves lol.

 

[RajBan]

I once caught a fight from Montreal to Istanbul and to my surprise, the older Turkish passengers left their seats before the plane stopped. The attendants tried to stop them but they didn't listen. It was kind of nice to see someone other than desis make a fool of themselves lol.

I have seen weird behaviour from Iranians and Latinos as well. Desis have their flaws but they are actually not bottom of the barrel in this regard.

 

[moh12]

I'm surprised the debacle from the 7th April to 8th April hasn't been mentioned here. It was chaos at ISB. Worst experience going through an airport.

 

[Giannis]

I have seen weird behaviour from Iranians and Latinos as well. Desis have their flaws but they are actually not bottom of the barrel in this regard.

lol yeah I've seen iranians do some embarrasing things at my college campus

 

[Giannis]

It’s one thing of old uncles and aunties do this but new generation doing this?

There's a steady supply of fobs that will replace the older generation lol

 

[Sunzi]

This is a great thread ha ha.

I remember going to Pakistan from London in 2008 - I was sat next to a gent by all accounts; very polite, well-mannered, well-spoken and generally appeared to carry himself well... until we reached Lahore!

Upon arrival and collection of our baggage, he was stood barefoot on top of the reclaim carousel like a ring-leader, shouting in thick Punjabi to an associate, 'Oh Asif Oh, neela buksa par le' (Asif, grab the green suitcase).

Other passengers were then shouting out to him to grab their luggage as he was well placed to reach out and help others out.

Funny scenes especially considering I was sat next to him on the flight to then see the transformation to this uncivilised dude taking it upon himself to jump on to the reclaim carousel.

Great memories - that 2008 trip was amazing in general.

 

[Shaddy86]

I'm surprised the debacle from the 7th April to 8th April hasn't been mentioned here. It was chaos at ISB. Worst experience going through an airport.

I was there, took 8 hours just to get a boarding pass. I don't think I ever want to recall that day again. It was probably the worst traveling day I've ever had. An 8 hour journey took 27 hours with no meal provided in between. Nothing funny about that day.

 

[silentkiller187]

i remember a desi uncle randomly asked me to come and sit next to him on a flight to islamabad, via Dubai on Emirates. i was wandering why until i noticed he had a lady in full burqa sitting next to him. Uncle had collected a lot of miniature alcohol bottles and started downing them on the plane causing a huge argument between him and the lady. i was then asked by a flight attendant to swap seats with the lady to calm the situation down. When i spoke to the guy and asked why he wanted me next to him he replied that i looked like i drank. i didnt, and spent the next few hours listening to his drunken stories, it was quite hilarious and made the time go quickly.

Funny thing is as soon as we landed he became a changed character and started acting shareef, he even blanked me when i walked past him inside the airport

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

There's a steady supply of fobs that will replace the older generation lol

But if parents of ppl Saj mentioned are doctors in the hospital; that means they were likely abcd’s or BBCD’s and grew up there

 

[Pascal Gambit]

I had somewhat similar experience while traveling to US once via Dubai. Thankfully I was able to restrict it to 2 as I figured out a question that was not applicable to me and gleefully announced that I am as ignorant as them and won't be of any help.

Chuckle - I wish I had your diversionary tactics. I think because it was my first trip to India and as everything was novel, I just went along with it...

 

[Pascal Gambit]

i remember a desi uncle randomly asked me to come and sit next to him on a flight to islamabad, via Dubai on Emirates. i was wandering why until i noticed he had a lady in full burqa sitting next to him. Uncle had collected a lot of miniature alcohol bottles and started downing them on the plane causing a huge argument between him and the lady. i was then asked by a flight attendant to swap seats with the lady to calm the situation down. When i spoke to the guy and asked why he wanted me next to him he replied that i looked like i drank. i didnt, and spent the next few hours listening to his drunken stories, it was quite hilarious and made the time go quickly.

Funny thing is as soon as we landed he became a changed character and started acting shareef, he even blanked me when i walked past him inside the airport

Experienced this several times; on the flight chachas with long beards asking the attendant surreptitiously to bring them an alcoholic beverage. But on landing they're a whole different person...

 

[Giannis]

But if parents of ppl Saj mentioned are doctors in the hospital; that means they were likely abcd’s or BBCD’s and grew up there

LOL how? A lot doctors educated in Pakistan and India work in the US and UK, we get A LOT of foreign doctors here. Also the desi couple weren't doctors, they claimed their parents were.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

LOL how? A lot doctors educated in Pakistan and India work in the US and UK, we get A LOT of foreign doctors here. Also the desi couple weren't doctors, they claimed their parents were.

That’s what I’m saying.

If desi couples (already must be 30 or so maybe) have parents as doctors in the west means that they were probably born there or at least grew up there

 

[Saj]

This is a great thread ha ha.

I remember going to Pakistan from London in 2008 - I was sat next to a gent by all accounts; very polite, well-mannered, well-spoken and generally appeared to carry himself well... until we reached Lahore!

Upon arrival and collection of our baggage, he was stood barefoot on top of the reclaim carousel like a ring-leader, shouting in thick Punjabi to an associate, 'Oh Asif Oh, neela buksa par le' (Asif, grab the green suitcase).

Other passengers were then shouting out to him to grab their luggage as he was well placed to reach out and help others out.

Funny scenes especially considering I was sat next to him on the flight to then see the transformation to this uncivilised dude taking it upon himself to jump on to the reclaim carousel.

Great memories - that 2008 trip was amazing in general.

haha funny.

For some reason I had visions of a Sultan Rahi type character taking it upon himself to take over the airport

 

[Saj]

i remember a desi uncle randomly asked me to come and sit next to him on a flight to islamabad, via Dubai on Emirates. i was wandering why until i noticed he had a lady in full burqa sitting next to him. Uncle had collected a lot of miniature alcohol bottles and started downing them on the plane causing a huge argument between him and the lady. i was then asked by a flight attendant to swap seats with the lady to calm the situation down. When i spoke to the guy and asked why he wanted me next to him he replied that i looked like i drank. i didnt, and spent the next few hours listening to his drunken stories, it was quite hilarious and made the time go quickly.

Funny thing is as soon as we landed he became a changed character and started acting shareef, he even blanked me when i walked past him inside the airport

Haha another great airport/flying story.

 

[Saj]

Yesterday a desi guy on his mobile phone shouting at the top of his voice at the person who he had come to collect from the airport.

He was in the wrong terminal despite the traveller telling him which terminal his flight was due in.

Needless to say lots of colourful language which everyone could hear