The Man from Madras Musings is second to none in pointing out the flaws in the Chennai airport. These need not be repeated here for they are very well known. But in MMM’s view, the place has its advantages, one of which is its compact size. You can go from one end to the other very quickly. As it happened the other day to MMM and his good lady.
Photo finish at Chennai Airport
MMM is of the kind that believes in being present hours ahead at the airport when it comes to taking a flight and his good lady is of the variety that thinks it is a waste of time unless the entry is just when names are being announced over the PA system together with the warning that it is the last and final call. And so between MMM and good lady there is a compromise – arrival at an airport is invariably late enough for MMM to bite his nails in anxiety but not so bad as to have search parties sent out to look for the two.
Of the buggy in Chennai airport and ‘shuttal’ in the Capital
It was thus that the duo reached the Chennai airport one morning, only to be informed that the flight they were to board was to take off from another terminal. Fortunately for MMM and good lady there was a battery-operated cart on hand which ferried them across in good time chiefly because the airport is small. Contrast this with what happened when MMM and good lady (they do travel quite a bit don’t they?) were at the national capital. They had arrived there from some other city and were to board a connecting flight to Chennai. The first flight was delayed and there was just about an hour for the second and in the interim baggage had to be collected, a different terminal had to be reached, luggage had to be checked in and security checks had to be gone through. The baggage came quickly enough but transfer to the other terminal, so MMM learnt, could be done only by ‘shuttal’. And so MMM and his good lady rushed across to the shuttle boarding point.
MMM – ripped and rattled in the shuttle
A ramshackle vehicle greeted them and while boarding it MMM caught his trousers on a projecting hook leaving a large rent in the garment. There was no time to change anyway and MMM was also too busy praying to worry about the damage. The shuttle took its time, rattling over a few hundred speed breakers which given the speed of the vehicle were anyway unnecessary. The driver paused to pick up an argument with just about everyone else on the road and some choice Delhi words regarding mothers, sisters and aunts were heard. The departing terminal was reached with around 45 minutes to go.
Waters parted and flight boarded
MMM tried explaining at the baggage queue that he needed to be allowed to move ahead given the time but was brusquely told that he needed to wait his turn. But when his good lady said the same thing to the same attendant, such being her personality he simply bowed and made way, opening a special counter for the baggage to be checked in. In all the confusion MMM had forgotten to pull out a fresh pair of trousers and there was no option but to go for security check with the rear well exposed. If that was not embarrassing enough there was the good lady’s running commentary about incompetents who could not explain an urgency to a ‘mere’ member of the airport staff. MMM had to bear it all in silence. His good lady is of the kind that parts waters. He is not. The flight was duly boarded and as was to be expected just when MMM hoped that there was nobody he knew on board there were plenty and everyone pretended not to notice MMM’s torn trousers.
None of this would have happened in Chennai airport is MMM’s considered opinion.
Our recent article on the subject in ‘Madras Musings’ can be read here
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