And why would a former Indian head of state not proudly fly Air India? Does he know something others do not?
Probably because he was invited to a conference in the US and the ticket he received was a complimentary one from a US company. He was therefore not travelling on state business. That said, it is sad Air India is going down the tubes. About time the ropes were cut loose and let it sink or float on its own merits.
Confirms the wise words I once heard about VIPs, protocol and such: "Those who matter don't care, and those who care don't matter".
Well said
These damn self given importance VIPs block roads, restaurants and the like. They forget that in a Democratic country they are public SERVANTS who are paid for by the tax payers money to serve us.
General sentiment is that they should be lined up and
.................However Mr Kalam, a very different kind of person so there are always exceptions to the rules.
EVERYONE should be publicly screened prior to boarding by professional & courteous government-paid staff to demonstrably the same global standard in adequate surroundings.
I agree, it is not fair that CO should take it upon itself to create its list. Besides this was the secondary screening after the regular screening by the Airport Authorities, just before boarding the aircraft by the CO staff and not by the CISF. CISF had already screened all the passengers.
Anyone, expat or not positioned in India would be able to recognize Mr Kalam and know what a stink it could create. The local staff judged this but according to the newspaper the "US Boss" insisted and forced them to frisk him despite thier protests. A bit
........ maybe CO should include that in thier manual for cross cultural training.
Sometimes some people need to use thier judgement. In my opinion the Boss was showing his oversized Ego at this point and could have made an exception that would have gone a long way for his companies goodwill. Not sure if it is required for him to pen a report that says "did not frisk following list of passengers......"
Definately his superiors including the TSA would have accepted that this man was not a security risk to the aircraft! After all when an Ex US president was flying commercial on the same flight last year the local government obliged and allowed him to drive upto the aircraft
....No guesses if the US Boss frisked him or not.
Mountain out of molehill that some rational thinking could have avoided
.Just gave ammunation to some self profesed VIP's to spend their otherwise meaningless lives to bark like mad dogs!