Waiting in Transit- Plane

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We have been flying the friendly skies with Air Lauda, founded by ex motor racing guru Nikki Lauda, Nikki is Austrian, so is the service. My head is rotten; the squeaky man next to me won’t shut up. When he gets off the plane he is going to take all the blankets, pillows, and headphones he can find. I have buzzed for a flight attendant four times without response. I have to get away; I head down the cabin in search of help. ‘What are you doing out of your seat?’ She’s looking directly at me.
‘I’m sorry, I just have a bit of a head ache,’ I smile.
‘What do you want me to do about it?’ She snaps.
‘Well, could I have some panadol or something?’ I say in my most gracious voice.
‘I’m not a doctor you know. The plane will land soon, sit down.’
I help the man stuff headphones into his bag.

Mr. Belkin had organized a complementary night in the airport hotel, including a free breakfast before our early flight to Kuala Lumpur. Austrian sausages are my new favorite. Julian won’t eat them because he’s a hippy, so I eat his share and go back for seconds. Back on the plane, I feel sick as a dog and use the special bag in the pocket in front. Austrian Airlines has all the bells and whistles; a personal movie screen on the chair in front, the choice of over twenty films, video games that can be played against other people on the plane, a personal phone that costs ten euro a minute. I would trade it all for a comfortable seat, and a five-minute sleep.

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