An unpleasant memory

I don’t like to travel. I am very happy that I have curtailed it to a large extent now a days. Unfortunately, in my heydays, I had to travel extensively on consulting assignments. I had couple of my clients in UAE and so naturally, I had to make at least one visit in a month to UAE to monitor ongoing projects. My client used to bear the cost of my travel and boarding and lodging. Local office of my client used to book the ticket for me. I had the privilege of flying by Emirates flights almost on all occasions. The inflight service of this airline is without doubt excellent. I have no complaint whatsoever. I had the opportunity to go by Air India once on the occasion of my last visit to UAE. I was very happy that I was at last going by national airlines. There is a feeling of national pride in going by our own airlines. Although I do criticize the Indian system occasionally in my blog, but that does not mean I am less patriotic. I love my country as much as anybody else. I only share my views and it is for the betterment of the system. A child loves his mother very much irrespective of whether she is beautiful or not. My visit visa in UAE used to be deposited in the airport by my client half an hour before arrival of the flight. As usual, on the day of my departure, I informed my client of my flight details and proceeded to the airports 3 hours before the scheduled time of departure. I was holding a suitcase and a handbag carrying my laptop. There was a big queue in front of the booking counter. I stood in the queue and was waiting for my turn to get boarding pass. After about 30 minutes, an announcement was made that the flight has become full and Air India regrets inconvenience caused to the passengers who were unable to board the Aircraft. The counter was then closed. I was holding confirmed ticket in my hands and wondering how it is possible. They were willing to give me hotel accommodation which I refused. I came back home very disturbed. I was very angry with the Airlines Ground staff. Out of frustration, I wrote a letter to the editor of Times of India detailing the incident and demanding compensation from Air India for loss to my business on account of irresponsible behaviour on the part of Airlines management. I phoned up my client at Dubai and apologized to him for what happened and informed him of my next visit. I went to Dubai after about a weeks time.Thereafter, I literally forgot about this incidence. When I came back to India after 3 weeks, I was told by one of my colleagues that my letter had appeared in Times of India. As I had expected, I did not get any monetary compensation , but I got a letter of apology from the airlines.