I am not a good coach traveller and I began to have palpitations at the thought of the journey. I decided to look at a map of the area and discovered that there was another airport 30 minutes away from the destination hotel. I contacted the organiser and asked if I could arrange another flight for the return journey and at least that way I would not have to endure the coach twice. The organiser said that was fine and so I went ahead and booked a return flight.
I checked in for my Business Class seat which was all very relaxing and quite civilised. The check-in staff only gave my suitcase a casual sideways glance as the bag hit the scales and quivered at 20 kilos.
I had a smooth flight with a meal and a complimentary drink and embarked on the long coach journey. I reckoned that if I could sleep it would stop me worrying about feeling ill. However, there was no chance of that happening as the organiser said “you must sit next to a business person and speak English all the way to the hotel so they can improve their English conversational skills.”
At the end of the week and as recognition for our hard work we were presented with delicious cans of olive oil and other local delicacies. Along with other frippery I had collected during the week I realised that my suitcase was now fully loaded. I felt very happy with myself as I watched my associates embark on their six-hour coach journey through an uninteresting landscape as I stepped into a taxi to the other airport a short hop away.
I stood in the check-in queue and when it was my turn the assistant said, “Madam your suitcase is 20kg and you can only take 15kg plus 10kg of hand luggage”. He then asked to weigh my hand luggage, which was only 4kg. The combined weight was 24kg, so 1kg under the combined total. The check-in assistant advised me to remove 5kg or stump up £20 per kilo.
I said I would remove some items and dragged my bag to the side. I was now feeling hot and bothered as I tentatively opened my suitcase trying to stop the contents spilling onto the airport floor for everyone to stare at. I realised I could not take out the olive oil because of the recent restrictions for carrying liquids. I pulled out my jeans and jumpers as they were heavy. The suitcase was reduced to 15 kilos, but I now had two pieces of hand luggage. The transference of luggage seems like a ridiculous system now and is only perhaps as a purely profit making exercise.
I stood at the check-in like some sad bag lady. I now had two bags full of clothes when I should only have one. I proceeded to security and then panicked more as I approached the boarding gate. I tucked one bag under my arm and held the other bag in front of me, kept my head down and proceeded to the aircraft. I had made it! Complete with my bag of jumble. I flopped into my seat and thought this is certainly not the way I want to travel. Should I have endured the six-hour coach journey for a more civilised business- class flight?
I suppose the question is what has happened to the luggage system? Bring back the old days when the clothes remained in the suitcase and the only item in the aircraft hat rack was the litre of gin from duty free.
Presenter and Travel Writer Jayne Watkins has had over 30 years Travel Industry experience which includes retail, airline and sales.
