Feeling proud of our Kempegowda International Airport and thankful to the KLM airline staff

 

We embarked on a trip to Seattle feeling reasonably safe to travel. Nandini found a good deal and  our flight was via Amsterdam  

 Tara likes to be at the airport early. We also give enough margin for delays on the way. Hence  I expected to be first at the counter of the KLM airlines. Well we were second. As the person in front took time. A ground hostess(!) walked across to the next counter and took care of us. That was nice  

 We checked in and walked to the immigration booths and waited for our turn at one which said ‘seniors and differently able’. The queue practically didn’t move, too many wheel chairs. 

As other queues were moving fast, we decided to change queues. One of the staff came across to speak to us, probably he had seen us change the queue. I told him, smiling,  that as an able Senior I would have liked a separate queue. 

Soon  an immigration officer moved to a vacant booth and beckoned us and cleared us in no time. No forms were  to be filled. That’s a sea change from the days when we had to wait a long time.  

We were soon at the security check area. For some reason Tara came with me and put the luggage thru in men’s line then walked across to the women’s line. A bit confusing. But she finished earlier and waited for me at the other end. I was cleared and picked up my carry on bag, belt, jacket, pouch and my phone. Tara helped me in this collection process. The whole process was fast and the staff polite. 

The days of grim security check has changed. There is also a person advising us, reasonably pleasant. As I got thru this much required process, I  wondered about the punishment  if one was caught. At that moment, I wanted them to be incarcerated for life.  

Nandini had timed her call to check as we were just walking out of the security area. She called my phone! The rest of the wait was pleasant, and time passed quickly and we boarded the plane and  settled down. 

That is the end of part one of the story.

As the plane took off, Tara intending to put her phone on Airplane mode, looked for it in her bag. After a search realised her phone was missing, 

Tara told her co-passenger about it. She being a KLM flight personnel suggested Tara call the KLM duty manager at Bengaluru on arrival and check. She gave Tara the number of the Manager. She also sent a message later hoping that Tara found the phone. Very helpful person  

 Once we reached Seattle, Tara used Nandini's land line and spoke to the Duty Manager, who gave her another number. After three different calls she was able to speak to the ‘lost and found' department. The person who took the call, asked for details of the phone and time and date of the loss. Pooja, the person who spoke,  did find a phone which matched Tara's description. She asked if there was any card in the holder of the phone. 

Tara said that she was not sure, but copy of her pan card could be there. Yes it was there! Having established her owner ship, Tara wanted to know if it could be delivered to a messenger. Pooja said yes, an authority letter would work. 

We typed a letter, signed and sent it across to Ravindra, our friend.  (He managed the construction of our apartment in Bangalore and is now a friend!) He deputed his supervisor Srinivas to collect the phone. 

Nandini contacted a friend, Srilatha, who was in Bengaluru and was returning to Seattle.  Thanks to her Tara has her phone back! A miracle!