Virgin at their jobs

Following on from our New York trip, I neglected to mention our experiences at the hands of Virgin Atlantic check-in desk. Drain has a fascinating, albeit irksome habit of being unpunctual to the point where if we were just a minute later, we'd never would have made it, whatever that may have been. This I'm guessing is how most women who are into their appearances behave. Nevertheless, this phenomenon of arriving in the nick of time doesn't go down well with check-in ladies. As we were invited to the naughty corner i.e. the queue for processing late comers, we waited patiently knowing we had at least been acknowledged and accepted. It was amusing as the surly check-in bitch got a power trip from turning away those who arrived after us. Probably lacked sex.

So, after waiting 10 minutes, it was our turn. Stuck the suitcase on the scales. The virgin Virgin said to us our case was over the limit. Apparently, there were BAA posters all around the airport telling us how a few grams would break the backs of their poor workers. We were very naughty children. As punishment, we had to open both our cases in front of the gawping rabble behind us and decide whether a pair of shoes is more dense than a stack of underwear. So having finally reduced the weight of both cases to the arbitrary limit, we started to get processed by her majesty.

This is a story I'm sure can be recounted by many travellers. However, the startling and not so common thing to happen was a sudden change of attitude by the minimum wage check-in woman. "Sorry to keep you waiting Sir", "Won't be much longer Sir", "Three bags full Sir". Neither of us had said anything to warrant a response which was now on par with actually wanting repeat business from their customers. Then I realised something. We were going economy class to New York, but snob class on the way back. Yes, training had kicked in as soon as she had seen the return leg cabin. So the training manual must say "Treat turd class passengers as contemptible scum, but kiss the arse of those going aristocratic class". Interesting business model. Perhaps she knew what she was doing and just reflected on the different cabins we were travelling on.