As it turned out, the woman definitely had enough money with her. But she obviously had something else in mind with that cash than paying for an upgrade. An upgrade that she had approved herself on board a plane operated by the Taiwanese airline Eva Air. She wanted to use this plane to travel from London to Bangkok. A long distance, so it’s entirely understandable that she would rather fly in premium economy class than in a plain economy seat.
Especially since this better seat wasn’t occupied anyway. Charging a surcharge for this borders on outright rip-off! At least that’s how it must have seemed to this woman in question. So she got upset. Her partner was also upset, probably not too close – about her. So much so that he had to take a long drag on his e-cigarette to calm himself down a bit. But it didn’t work. Because the on-board staff became energetic and everyone shouted louder and louder. How are you supposed to keep your nerves in check?
We know well enough that couples fall apart on vacation because they can’t stand it with each other day in and day out. But already upon arrival? In any case, a lot of nasty words were said and a few unpleasant things happened. In the end, the man sat tied up in a seat without smoking anything – it was not possible to find out whether it was economy or premium economy. Instead, his partner smoked, angry at not getting what she wanted. Namely the princess status.
Because things were so busy on board the plane, the pilot was forced to abort the flight. He turned around and flew – he was already on his way over southeastern Europe – back to Vienna, where the quarreling couple were thrown off the ship. There was obviously enough time on the way back to think about a few basic things. In any case, Mrs. I’m-entitled-to-an-upgrade must have come to the conclusion that the guy she was traveling to Thailand with might not be a prince after all. He couldn’t even help her get her justice in such a trivial matter as finding a suitable place to sit. And then you can be defeated. How embarrassing. What a sissy.
While she was still on the tarmac, the woman reached into her bag and threw banknotes at her – one can assume at this point in the story – ex-boyfriend. Around 5,000 British pounds fluttered across the asphalt in the wind. And him? Big exit with an even bigger gesture? No. He bent down for the many bills. Knowing that his stay in Vienna would cost him dearly. And you? Will probably have pushed for an upgrade again: confinement in a single cell, the premium economy class in the prison.
From the outset, the author would have preferred to travel to Vienna instead of Bangkok.
(Photo: Bernd Schifferdecker (illustration))