Mumbai airport experience - Why fellow Indians can\'t be thoughtful

[ahg2003]

I have been thinking of R2I for some time but for some reason or other its not materialized yet and I'm not in a much hurry :wink I'm sure many people can relate to that.

Recently we went to India and had to take the domestic flight from Mumbai to reach my hometown. I just want to share some initial experiences we had entering into the motherland. Considering this is in a airport, I would think the most of the population here is from the upper middle class, educated, executives, businessmen, students and overall with some manners and with some etiquette. I don't differentiate between people but you'll see why I'm classifying the airport crowd.

Check in Line: After living in US we are so accustomed of everybody standing in a line waiting for their turn that I totally forgot that in India many people just like to jump lines. Also, the non-existent space between people, but all that is fine. it just reminds me of college days :). It seems things have not changed a bit.

Now the bad part starts:

Security line: We had the stroller with my 1 year old son and cabin bags, so my wife and I wanted to go together for security but there were different lines for male and female. We had to split and I took my son and stroller with couple of small bags and stand in the male line. The lanes were so small that I had to maneuver that small umbrella stroller left and right to push forward along with bags. I can't imagine what happens if somebody in a wheel chair has to go thro' those lanes. BTW, people are in such a hurry that they were just passing me from the side. Anyways, reached to the belt and had to fold the stroller and put everything on the belt for x-ray.
As you are accustomed in US security line, once the person in front of you puts their luggage you start putting yours, but here I'm standing with folded stroller in my hand waiting for the space and people behind me put their bag in or say squeeze it in. I thought may be 1 or 2 or 3 but nobody was stopping so I can start putting my stuff in for x-ray. They all could see that I have a 1 year baby who was also starting to get cranky but people just didn't care. I was expecting that my fellow Indians will give space or at least wait for their turn as I was already ahead of them but no... (I'm not a very aggressive person so I think that was my weakness there, I think in India you have to be very aggressive to board a train, bus or even airplane :wink)

Anyways, there was the airport guy who was monitoring the lines, he saw me and he tried to get space for me but people still putting their bags and not stopping. At that point my non-aggressive US demeanor changed to the aggressive Indian and I just told the guy behind me to stop and can't they see my son is crying and start putting the stroller and luggage.

After that it was the same story, people hurry to board the bus which takes you to airplane, then hurry to go in the aircraft, hurry to leave the aircraft, everybody just wanted to be in front of the next person and when all of them try to be ahead of each other it create chaos. They don't see if somebody has a baby or in any other uncomfortable situation and be mindful of that.

In US, strangers are so helpful for other people and they are all from different countries so it just seems strange that your own countrymen are not helpful or considerate of other people's situation.

These kind of instances just make you think twice or thrice before you can take a plunge for R2I. All these happened at the airport where as I mentioned crowd is more "sophisticated", imagine if you have to take a small baby in a crowded platform and board a train or a bus where there not even a space of fly to enter. Our parents have done that and people are still doing it but after living in USA or any other developed country how do you cope with this?

We all grew up with pollution, noise, dust, corruption and other issues and we can adjust to those things again but I think interaction with other people makes your life easier or harder doesn't matter what country you are in...

[cf_r2i]

Welcome to the forum.
Air travel is not only for elites any more, many people do travel by plan. I was expecting that you will mention that you do not have to take the bus to domestic from outside. If you are old timer you should remember that adventure. Also the bus you on terminal transit should have been a different one and not the one whose each and every part rattles. I found these things a plus and hard to believe.

[Chakraan]

This push -pull happens more in big cities like Bombay-Dilli.
Even people can walk over a dead body to catch a train and bus.

[R2MyOldWorld]

[QUOTE] I was expecting that you will mention that you do not have to take the bus to domestic from outside. If you are old timer you should remember that adventure.Also the bus you on terminal transit should have been a different one and not the one whose each and every part rattles. I found these things a plus and hard to believe.
True. Like OP, I have to take domestic flight out of Mumbai to go to my native. Its one horrible airport. I have been thinking for atleast last five years that I will fly into any other city with International airport and then take a flight to my native. Finally started doing that last year. Took a flight via New Delhi (a city I had never been to and have no friends (ouside this forum ofcourse) instead of Mumbai where I spent years and have many friends) Never flying into Mumbai again.

Air travel is not only for elites any more, many people do travel by plan.

Are you suggesting with 'elite' people you do not experience that mad rush and 'i will walk over dead body to get ahead' attitude? You are absolutely wrong.

[cf_r2i]

Are you suggesting with 'elite' people you do not experience that mad rush and 'i will walk over dead body to get ahead' attitude? You are absolutely wrong.

No I referred to OPs mentioned of a class who can travel by air. It was history that only rich, above middle class will only use air travel. Your reference if I understood is applicable to Mumbai'iets all class included. It is party because they do not want to get involved into legal and gang-war related stuff which not only time consuming and risky. In doing so they have keep their human emotions away and be objective, this is process and eventually one become like mass, elites included.

[jcage009]

Hi Mate,

I came to US in 2008 and have been twice too India. Both times I have taken Bombay Airport as my final destination. The first time I went back was in May 2010 and I felt pretty good means lines were good, getting out was fast and people were obeying the rules mostly. The second time was before 8 months in this January and this time it was very different. So many people are going everywhere specially with construction project going in Arab countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia and others going on holiday trip to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand etc. People from all classes(Laborer to businessman) now travel through this airports. I know it is right to compare how many strangers help in US and how few strangers will help in India but I also think that many things affect this courtesy and helpful nature.

The things that affect the nature of people: Individual personality, sense of common courtesy, staff on airport, how security controls the people, number of people in terminal, size of airport, literacy level of people, common sense to help a person in general etc...

On basis of nature and courtesy, you might find it hard to get help from a stranger at India airport. I am not saying that people don't want to help but many people are not use to travel by plane on day to day basis and also some also think what will I get from helping another person. The airport security is helpful at both places but there are so many people in Mumbai airport in small place that it is hard to look after everyone. I have seen airport security sending people to back of line if they catch you jumping ropes but some pass through. I also have seen people helping other older passenger with luggage, filling out custom forms etc. I have also seen business people who don't want to help others so I can't blame and expect the laborer class to help others. It is just the human nature and I am sure people will learn sooner or later.

On basis of airport's quality and its ability to help: I don't think it is right compare two airports because US airports are big like consider O'Hare airport, JFK etc. and they have 4-6 runways and maybe even more. They have big terminals compare to what we have in India. Delhi airport is bigger now but Mumbai airport is still going through expansion plan. US is doing this flying business from longtime so they have developed staff with proper knowledge on how to tackle any situations. On other side, Bombay airport has two runaway and there is no place to expand with all slum area around and government problems. The government is planning to start another airport in Navi Mumbai but that is taking time too and it says it will be done by 2016. Till that time air traffic and number of people is going to build up. Mumbai airport is also expanding terminal 2 to bigger size and I feel once it is completed it will be better. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_busiest_airports_by_passenger_traffic). I am not saying that people should not have courtesy but I think this things also affect the nature of person when airports become crowded like Mumbai railway.

I think that airport and airport staff also matter in this things. I know people should be helpful specially if you have elderly or kids with you. I hope they will be in time. Just my two cents on this situation. Do let me know what you think about it :).

[Vroom]

Grow up Kid !! You are not the only person out there who is having a rough time there. This is reality and dont think since you have lived in the US that in few years India/Indian should/will change. This is happening for a long long time !! Remember the good old days where your fight to get your hand on the tickets first day first show, you still managed to get on the train which did not have room to stand, etc.. Yup thats still the case in India. 1.2 Billion people daily struggle to get on with life so things are a little greasy all the time. Wind-back your mind to the year when you joined college and all will be well. Hope you have a lovely holiday.

[My Roots]

Considering this is in a airport, I would think the most of the population here is from the upper middle class, educated, executives, businessmen, students and overall with some manners and with some etiquette. I don't differentiate between people but you'll see why I'm classifying the airport crowd.

Nay... It's Indianess, nothing to do with elite/education, we are all same.

Elite people buy 1Cr apartments and still religiosuly follw the below listed items.
1. Spit out from window not caring about what happens to the one below who has extended balcony:) while no elite do same on public roads.
2.Throw Pizza hut chicken wings on the ground floor balcony while no elite throw banana peels on roads.
3. Party till midnight making loud noise in high raise apartments disturbing neighbors while non elite do same on public areas.

Ps: Members who share same opinion, please continue the list.

[puneri_punter]

ahg2003,

Lot of Desis who go to India, especially from Europe or US, start acting like Goras. You expect to be treated like Gods as if you have come from Heaven.

You know exactly what Indians are like from your childhood and college days. By visiting message boards like R2I Club you know very well that nothing has changed. But still express shock when you experience the conditions all Indians face multiple time in a day!

You are just craving attention because you have landed from USA and nobody in India gives a damn. So you are hurt...Bohooo...

I can understand if a foreigner expressed dismay at the condition but all desis know exactly what India is like.

When in Rome, Do as Romans do....

[R2MyOldWorld]

ahg2003,

Lot of Desis who go to India, especially from Europe or US, start acting like Goras. You expect to be treated like Gods as if you have come from Heaven.

You know exactly what Indians are like from your childhood and college days. By visiting message boards like R2I Club you know very well that nothing has changed. But still express shock when you experience the conditions all Indians face multiple time in a day!

You are just craving attention because you have landed from USA and nobody in India gives a damn. So you are hurt...Bohooo...

I can understand if a foreigner expressed dismay at the condition but all desis know exactly what India is like.

When in Rome, Do as Romans do....

^^^ A lot of nonsensical BS.
Read OP again, think rationally, if you have an ability to do so, and see OP's point. If you can't, say so, I am sure there are many people on this forum who can explain that to you. If nobody volunteers (which is possibility, many don't respond to such rants), I will help you.