So, I’m on my way to the west coast for a conference. My trip west began with a short hop from Bradley over to JFK, followed by a 3-plus hour layover (”plus” because my onward flight is delayed).
I don’t mind the long layover at JFK. I blogged about my last connection here, enjoying in sort of satisfying a childhood fantasy rooted in many afternoons I spent studying Pan Am schedules, by being able to finally visit historic Terminals 2 and 3. Also, the plane spotting is great; a JAL 747 taxied past as we disembarked our regional jet, and I’m staring at the butt ends of two more 747’s (Lufthansa and China Air) as I write this.
However, the real entertainment for me this trip has been the announcements and crowd-watching. For example, at a nearby gate, they’re doing the document-checks for folks flying to Accra. The gate agent announced “for U.S. citizens flying with us today, we need to see a valid passport and visa before you board”…shortly after which a passenger went up to the desk to ask, “I don’t have a Visa; will an AmEx do?”
Or consider the announcement I just heard for the flight to Kiev: “Michael Knight, please make your way to the gate for immediate departure”. (I can’t see if they’re loading a black TransAm into the cargo hold, however….)
