If you want to test the strength of your relationship, travel through an airport with your partner. Minou has recently arrived back here after three months at home in Algeria. I was so excited to see him that I got to the airport right on time for his flight to land. I waited and waited. And waited.
An hour passed. Then two. Then three. By this point, everyone from his flight had come through. Families were reunited, enthusiastic tourists were buzzing, people were being welcomed home from their OEs… but no sign of Minou.
For a full half an hour, no one came through those doors. The cleaning crew started vacuuming. Customs staff were casually heading off on their lunch breaks. It was like the airport had closed. And I’m standing there thinking, “Where is he?!”
Three hours of panic
My brain went into overdrive. Was there a problem with his visa? Did he somehow not get on the flight? Was he stuck in some tiny interrogation room?
I was one step away from asking airport security if they had a spare human out back, then finally – after three hours – the doors opened and out strolled Minou. Calm. Smiling.
The real reason
Completely unbothered. It turns out, the hold-up wasn’t an immigration drama or lost luggage. It was eight packets of cigarettes. Even though I had very clearly, very firmly and possibly with a slightly threatening tone told him before he left Algeria, “Declare everything.”
He did not. Which meant Customs had to go through all three of his suitcases item by item. He was fined a few hundred dollars, which, I pointed out, is significantly more than it would have cost to just buy the cigarettes here. But no, he had to learn the hard way.
Airports reveal everything
You think you know someone, then you put them in an airport only to suddenly discover their risk tolerance, their ability to follow instructions and whether they believe rules apply to them. Airports bring out the best and worst in people.
The stress, the waiting, the unexpected hiccups… It’s like a relationship obstacle course with overpriced coffee. We laugh about it now. But let’s just say that next time Minou travels, I’ll be doing a full pre-departure briefing. And maybe packing his bags myself.
