ONE ANNOUNCEMENT DIVERSE MEANINGS TO LISTENERS

An airport flight departure announcement for international long distance flight means diverse things to those who hear it:

1. A routine summons.

2. A prefix to another tedious work-oriented journey which, had free choice been theirs, they would not have made.

3. Beginning of an adventure.

4. Prospect of travelling to start a career at some other place.

5. Nearing of an end — the Journey back home.

6. Sadness and parting.

7. A prospect of reunion and joy.

8. Flight announcements for other people, their family members or friends or relatives who they have come to see off.

9. Some hear the names of this faraway nation which they would never be able to visit.

10. Interference with their conversations with someone.

11. Beginning of a process of departure.

12. Announcement that an aeroplane was ready, there was time to board but no time to be tardy only rarely did airliners wait for individuals.

13. Beginning of a time phase of going into Flight Mode.

14. Beginning of leaving human’s natural element — Earth and entering the Skies which has always been and would forever remain a component of adventure and romance, though sky is not natural element for humans.

15. For first timers’ prospect of a thrilling experience — some thinking that it would be fearsome to look out of window towards earth while other awaiting a thrill of seeing objects on earth as if they are toys.

16. For lover prospect to reach the venue of wedding with beloved.

17. For those with a failed marriage, nearing of time to visit to the place where they will finalise their divorce.

18. For flight deck crew members, a prospect of enjoying company of the girls in cabin crew upon reaching the far-off destination where all will get a long off before getting into the return flight.

19. If the aircraft is of a new model, a pulsating event for the manufacturer to prove worthiness of the aircraft in terms of commercial success.

20. For a seriously sick person kindling of hope for getting successful speciality medical or surgical treatment at a speciality hospital in the destination city, to return home in good health.

21. For a person cured of some serious sickness at some speciality hospital in the city of departure, announcement of prospect of reaching home to live happily with family and friends.

22. If the flight is from USA or some European country (except UK) bound to an Indian city, for Indian persons nearing of the prospect of enjoying Indian cuisine in mother land.

23. If flight is from some Indian city, bound to some place in USA or Europe, prospect for non-Indians of getting to eat juicy steak.

24. For a diplomat returning to home country coming closer of time for a lot of paperwork and discussions.

25. For a diplomat going abroad, nearing of time for big responsibility of shrewd diplomacy to benefit mother land.

26. For hijacker/ hijackers’ uncertainty of succeeding in the mission but certainty of the obsession, either due to brainwashing or some other reason.

27. For the one who has planned to commit a suicide in plane, by blowing it up with explosives hidden in his clothing, after having taken a hefty flight insurance for benefit of family post his death, the tension and uncertainly of success in blowing up the plane while flying above mid ocean so that there remains no proof of wilfully caused explosion.

And … … …

The reactions can be of many more types. I leave it to the reader add and amend.