Problem
I want to get away from it all on holiday. But do I need to listen to the news to be aware of dangers? How can I be prepared?
Answers
I read the news for entertainment, but principally for travel news involving health and safety.
Story
I remember the evening of 9/11 when I was in Singapore. The phone rang and a Chinese accent voice in a high squeaky tone I did not recognize said, "A plane has flown into a tower in America. Turn on the news."
I had no idea who it was, but told my husband, who said, "You haven't time for that. Get on with your packing. We have a flight to catch."
I finished packing. We turned on the news. We were shocked.
Who was the stranger who had called us? She rang back. It was a close friend, whose voice had been unrecognisable because it went high in her panic.
We did not know at that time, never having experienced anything similar, how it would affect our flights next day. My husband was an optimist and thought that an event in the USA would not affect people in the Far East.
(I know when you are in Asia, it is politically incorrect as well as geographically absurd to talk about the Far East, and the old word for China was the character for centre, or as maps say ' you are HERE', but from the point of view of people and events in the USA, the far east is far, and east.)
We had three problems.
1 Heightened security checks worldwide. So we had a long delay at check in of people, luggage, searches.
2 Delays because planes from the USA were not arriving and continuing their flights so planes could not take off. We heard rumours our arriving plane was delayed. but a replacement was summoned.
3 This meant re-routing of plane landings and takeoffs and planes and terminals. More delay.
4 This meant overbooking and transfers of passengers to other flights. People in a hurry were missing connections, cancelling and re-routing, pessimists were giving up and going home.
5 Hoax calls.
A passenger afraid of travelling sent a bomb threat to the airline in Singapore. The plane was removed and parked far from the terminal. The luggage was unloaded onto the tarmac. We were checked and bused out to it. We did not get on a plane. We were surrounded by a mile of black suitcases. Army disposal squads. Fire engines, Ambulances. Army with machine guns on us. Each family group had to parade up and down 500 yards of separated luggage to identify all our scattered suitcases, prove we were the owners, open them to prove nothing dangerous. Return to airport.
Suitcase cover.
From this, I learned several things.
1 Allow at least 24 hours between your arrival at a destination and the start of a vital event such as a conference - especially if you are involved in the opening ceremony such as keynote speaker.
2 Don't buy black bags. If you already have black bags, attach identifying colours so you can spot them at a distance.
3 Be ready to fly earlier or later.
4 Always carry food and water. You may not be able to take it on the plane. But if the plane take-off is delayed you will be glad of it. Tap water costs very little.
5 Keep the destination hotel and meet and greet/taxi details to hand to warn them if you are delayed.
6 Always check flight details for last minute delays.
7 AND check the local, foreign and international news before flying.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. I have several other posts on travel, UK, Europe, USA, Singapore and 'The Far East'. Please follow my blog, bookmark posts and share your favourite posts.
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