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ALB Gate 4: Easing a Passenger's Distress

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I heard an announcement: "If anyone in the vicinity of Gate A-4 understands any Arabic, please come to the gate immediately." (poets.org) Altro...

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rmust3
What a warm, endearing read. Nice change from all the air rage incidents.
franciemr
This reminded me of my experience. Leaving Amman, Jordan. In the duty free store I was chatting with travel companion - wanted to buy lots of the Valentino Oud perfume for gifts for family, but my pocket book limited me. An hour later at the gate a woman was speaking loudly, getting upset at attendant at gate. Her 80 year old mother was going 1st class to Dallas where she'll be met by her son. Mom only speaks and reads Arabic. Daughter wants someone assigned to assist Mom - especially at 4 hour layover in Frankfurt where there was also a change in terminals. I cautiously interrupted, said I was going to DFW via Frankfurt and offered to help her Mom. She offered to pay and I refused. She explained things to her Mom, I gave daughter all my contact info, and she then left. As we were almost boarding, she came back with 2 HUGE bags filled with every Valentino product sold in the duty free store. Seems like she had been in duty free store and he had heard me earlier, this was her thanks, and told me to share products with my family. The elderly woman was in 1st class, I was in economy. I knew how to say "Please, come on." since our guide had said it many times during the tour. When I bought her Mom brunch in Frankfurt, she was able to call daughter. Daughter was so grateful that I bought her Mom something to eat, showed location of bathroom, and was patient with Mom. Apparently, daughter called brother, told him story and - he had a limo waiting and took us home. Family and I have stayed in touch since 2014.
MSReed
MSReed 21
I needed this type of positive story; all of us do. Thanks.
xtoler
Larry Toler 19
That's such better than reading about the near daily occurrence of air rage.
cos3asg
cos3asg 15
Damn good story, with a marvellous sentiment in the concluding paragraph. It should be shared. Widely. PK
DonDengler
DonDengler -7
Story it is. Prolific writer
ewrcap
Perhaps. But, if nothing else, consider it a parable. I’m not sure there was really a Samaritan who came to a stranger’s aid going to Jericho but it’s a good teaching moment. Have you never been lost in a foreign land and relied on a stranger to help? From New York (which was quite foreign to a youngster from the West) to Saudi Arabia to the Far East, I have had to rely on the “kindness of strangers” in tough situations and was quite grateful for the help.

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MikePetro
Mike Petro 12
I really enjoyed meeting new people and learning about different cultures when I was in the US Navy and visiting many ports in Asia, Europe, and South America. Other fellow shipmates never got past the first bar they came to. To each their own.
waypoint66
David Rice 6
What a rich life you must lead.
BrucePryde
Such a nearsightedness will leave you a sad, shallow and unrewarding life.

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JMARTINSON
JMARTINSON 3
And with that, he rests his case.
themcdonalds
I’m Canadian, thank you for staying in the US!!
jamesdsisti
jim sisti 12
Just an edit point, it should be ABQ, not ALB. I read through trying to see how Albany played into the storyline.
blackg
Gary Black 7
I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one.
brwitte1
Albany, NY (ALB) is my home field. I eagerly opened the article to read some good news. The story was uplifting, but not about the ALB I know. Good for you, ABQ!
coinflyer
coinflyer 10
This was a cool story...and poem.
dyramia
dyramia 9
Refreshing read.
whip5209
This article made my day.
Archer3
Nice story. I saw ALB and thought Albany. I think Albuquerque (glad I live near Albany, much easier to spell!) thanks auto-fil) is AbQ.
augerin
...'day made'...my sentiments exactly...well done!
Nitzer280
Thank you for sharing. This was a great read.
WestLiberttyRadio
Wonderful!
chevhog
Great story!
mariofer
mariofer 3
There are so many of these happy and heartwarming events every day but they are rarely published. Thank you Mr. Bob Kamman for sharing this. This made my day.
Globie703
The headline is incorrect. ALB is Albany, NY. The airport in the story is ABQ.
weinerdj
What a cool surprise to find this poem on this site.
larryzee
It's not as exciting as being asked to fly the plane, but it's still a great story.
4Jan
I am smiling, and it will be often when I see powdered sugar. I'm neither a pilot, nor engineer. I am a content writer and enjoy reading stories, especially human interest stories of value.
ewrcap
Perhaps. But, if nothing else, consider it a parable. I’m not sure there was really a Samaritan who came to a stranger’s aid going to Jericho but it’s a good teaching moment. Have you never been lost in a foreign land and relied on a stranger to help? From New York (which was quite foreign to a youngster from the West) to Saudi Arabia to the Far East, I have had to rely on the “kindness of strangers” in tough situations and was quite grateful for the help.
srobak
srobak 1
Very nice to read something like this.

but when it comes to air-travel, folks needs to learn how to not panic, especially if they do not fully understand what it is going on.

also - especially for things which are on a precise schedule - it is just a bad idea to use air travel without a buffer in scheduling. This was already very true before covid and cancellations - and it is certainly 10x more true today.
EtienneDaniels
Nice article however a couple years from now in many European airports you will hear announcements in Arabic that will ask if somebody know the local language :)

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waring
waring 5
The airport code ALB is not mentioned in the story. It is the headline created for the posting on this site that uses that code. The writer only references Albuquerque Terminal Airport.
jamesdsisti
jim sisti 8
Before the public/political pillory begins, remember most of the general public are not trained or deal with airport codes, as airline employees are. The original author might well have guessed the abbreviation for Albuquerque was ALB, not realozing airport codes can and often do make no sense to most, such as TYS forr Knoxville, so cut some slack here.
pecosllama
Sioux City makes sense though. Fly SUX!
blueashflyer
She was at the airport, she was about to fly somewhere. So she had a ticket on her person that says ABQ. Agreed, some civilians don't know the airport codes as some of us do.

Elliesue
TYS does make sense if you are aware that the airport was named for US Navy pilot Charles McGhee TYSon, killed in WWI. (And yes, I'm a retired airline employee.)
augerin
...wow...thanks...I'm really glad you felt the need to share that...

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massmacguy
Dave P 21
When everyone else reacts like,, “wonderful read” or “made my day”, and your reaction is to call it, “fake news”, it’s time to reevaluate precisely what is triggering you to feel that way. Something in your life makes you feel that the world is some Beautiful Mind-esque conspiracy. And it has nothing to do with airplanes. I recommend digging deep and seeking assistance if needed and you will end up in a much better place! Best wishes.

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