Experiments in an airport

Round and round and round went the luggage conveyor belt, repeating the same unchanging story every three minutes: Red suitcase. Red bag. Green bag. Repeat ad infinitum. The assembled crowd gazed on hopefully, waiting for this interminable status quo to be broken by the arrival of new luggage. We waited and waited.

This distinct lack of luggage seemed to be the only visible sign of the supposed airport crisis. Well, aside from the trouble I had getting my laptop on board the flight, after I was told three very different stories by the same attendant in a very short space of time. Despite humming and hawing I was eventually allowed to carry my laptop bag on board with the laptop actually inside after being informed that I might be allowed the bag but not the laptop and then the laptop but not the bag. Technically the bag was slightly too large to allowed on the flight but they eventually capitulated in the face of my wheedling, saying "lets just pretend it fits this time".

"Airports in chaos" screams Evening Standard headline.
"Airports in state of mild confusion" says iMark.

It's really quite remarkable how London response to terror threats. Or doesn't for the most part. Aside from the increasingly bombastic headlines, the city seems to amble along same as it's ever done with the only other noticeable difference being the realisation in a restaurant that all the surrounding tables are having almost exactly the same conversation. Rather spooky that.

Back in Edinburgh I was still living in the land of the luggageless. As bored as those around me I felt in my pockets for something with which to amuse myself. Thanks to my overly caution packing, however, I was left with very little at hand. I regretted somewhat not picking up the complimentary newspaper as I boarded the flight. For some reason there were an awful lot of them on the rack. Perhaps the headline had something to do with it: "Terror panic at 35,000 feet!" I'm sure those of a nervous disposition were particularly comforted.

With naught else to play with I laid out a single pound coin in the center of the conveyor belt. I was firstly curious as to whether anyone would notice. They did. Almost immediately there were a flurry of hands pointing at the coin, many tracing it's journey along the belt. I was rather pleased by the ripple of excitement it seemed to generate. I was also curious as to whether the coin would make its way around unmolested. For all the attention it seemed to be gathering, no-one seemed inclined to reach for it. Well, until it reached about a 1/3 of the way round, at which point it vanished from my sight in a navy blue blur. Almost immediately a small head dressed in a navy blue hooded top popped out looking excitedly down the belt in search of more booty. Into the hands of babes it seems. I would have tried again, but alas, the luggage started rolling almost as soon as the coin was grabbed.

Obviously I made a mistake in starting with such a large denomination. Next time around I think I'll try working up from a penny and see how long it takes for someone to snatch it...