After catching various forms of public transport to the airport, I trudged down and around the corner to the Tiger terminal. I know Tiger is the low budget choice, and well, their low fares made my weekend visit possible, but ugh, why is everything so nasty (as in cheap'n') at the terminal? I joined the check in queue with many impatient travellers, including the requisite bogans en route to the Gold Coast. As I was shuffle-queueing yet again to get through security and into their terminal I had the joy of overhearing quarreling folk behind me. Apparently said femme-bogue could not read and was somewhat irked at having to pay $70 for excess baggage. Bogan male told her she'd have to "grin and bear it", as she "always takes too much shit everywhere." Femme-bogue* countered that "if there weren't people waiting for us and accommodation booked, I would have told them to shove it up their arse" ...and the conversation continued about how it's all a rort on Tiger's part and she couldn't see the difference if her luggage was carry-on or checked as it's all going on the same plane anyway and male bogan told her that "she was the one who wanted to book these cheap tickets so it's your fault" and there was much "never again-ing" and general disgruntlement. By this stage I was a bit hot and weary and just wanted to tell them to STFU but didn't really fancy a smack in the head.
The Tiger waiting area/departure gates are particularly ordinary - uninspired food purveyors, dirty toilets and oodles of plastic seats. Oh and display screens that misinform customers as to which gate their fight is going from. And almost inaudible announcements that misinform the customers as to which gate their flight is going from and whether or not it's time to board. After watching the Gold Coast flight travellers walk en masse from gate 3 to 2 and finally back to gate 2 (or was it 1? I lost track) after each announcement (in the space of 5 minutes), I don't really blame them for getting a bit ansty. I just stayed put and hoped that getting on my Adelaide flight would be relatively straightforward. And it was, l-o-n-g walk along the tarmac notwithstanding.
However, the flights themselves, the aircraft and the flight crew were excellent. Am I the only person who never wanted to be an air hostess**? The thought of having to pile on two tonnes of makeup and walk up and down the aisle with that trolley leaves me stone cold. Never mind the thought of having to look after everyone if the plane is in trouble. Someone out there give me some reason why it's generally considered "exciting and glamorous"... and the modern uniforms are almost always ugly (Yes I'm looking at you QANTAS). So anyway Tiger, you're not too bad, if you check in VERY early, just take carry on, and hopefully aren't located anywhere near (unhappy) nouveau bogan punters.
Not Tiger:
1950s Trans World Airlines TWA vintage advertisement illustration, originally uploaded by Christian Montone.
*yes she was very Fake Nails.
**sure they have a modern PC name, but that's what I always refer to them as. Even the boy ones.
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