Funny Things I Have Learned From Working At An Airport

 

When most people think about airports, they think about holidays.

They think about sunshine, suitcases and exciting destinations.

I get it.

But after working at an airport for quite a while, I have learned something else.

People are funny.

Not in a bad way.

Just in a very human way.

Every day I see hundreds of travellers, and no two days are ever the same.

One thing I still don't understand is how many people leave their luggage somewhere and simply walk away.

I see it happen all the time.

Someone puts down a suitcase and disappears.

Then I find myself thinking:

"Did you forget that your entire holiday is inside that suitcase?"

Maybe it is because I am the kind of person who keeps an eye on my belongings.

I honestly don't know.

Another thing I have learned is that people often become completely different versions of themselves when they travel.

Normally calm people suddenly panic.

Confident people suddenly become nervous.

And organised people sometimes seem to forget everything.

I have seen people stress about things that turn out to be no problem at all.

And I have seen people stay surprisingly calm when everything goes wrong.

You really never know how someone will react.

One thing I enjoy most about my job is meeting people from different countries and cultures.

Every day is different.

Some travellers are cheerful and excited.

Some are tired.

Some are nervous.

And some simply need a little kindness.

One moment I will never forget was a young woman who had missed her flight.

She was upset and crying because she didn't know what to do next.

There was very little I could do to solve the situation, but I remember trying to comfort her and reassure her.

Moments like that remind me that airports are not really about airplanes.

They are about people.

Behind every suitcase is a story.

Behind every boarding pass is a destination.

And behind every traveller is a person with hopes, worries and plans.

Of course, the work can be physically demanding.

There are long days, heavy deliveries and plenty of walking.

But what keeps the job interesting are the people.

The funny moments.

The unexpected conversations.

The little interactions that make someone smile.

And maybe that is the biggest lesson I have learned from working at an airport:

People are unpredictable.

People are sometimes chaotic.

People are often funny.

But most of all, people are interesting.

And honestly, that is why I still enjoy what I do.

Love,

Shavida