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Travel Read: Step Back from the Baggage Claim and book giveaway
To win a signed copy of Step Back from the Baggage Claim, follow the directions at the end of the post.
For Jason Barger, an airport is not only a place where people depart and arrive on airplanes in their quests to get from one location to another. Airports are a metaphor about life. In his book, Step Back from the Baggage Claim, a slim volume that is a perfect size for slipping into a carry-on, Barger does a tidy job of illustrating how we might make the world a nicer place by starting at the airport. Airplane behavior is included in the mix of what can make or break us as a society.
To test out his theory about the power of air travel and airports, Barger hatched out a plane to travel to seven cities in seven days with the goal of never leaving any of the airports. Along the way, he'd be the observer, testing out his ideas. He figured that in in the midst of airport activity he'd find people from different backgrounds, cultures and ages--all going to or coming from somewhere for a variety of reasons. In the process of their arrivals and departures, Barger theorized there would be behaviors that would illustrate each person's version of the world.
The result was he logged 6,548 miles, 10,000 minutes, 26 hours and 45 minutes of sleep, and a whole lot of writing fodder to condense into palpable bites. Throughout the book--which I've read twice, Barger weaves in details about his life that prompted this undertaking.
Barger is is a guy who notices things. Like when the ding goes off on an airplane to signal that retrieving bags from the overhead bins is a-okay, who leaps up, who stays put and who helps others? It's not just about what other people do, but what do we do?
At a baggage claim, who lets the older person struggle, and who offers a hand? In Barger's world, wouldn't it be a lot easier for everyone if we all just took a few steps back from the conveyor belt and worked together? He saw that system work with a group of adolescents he traveled with. Instead of each elbowing his or her way to the circling bags, those in the front, passed bags back making the task easier for everybody.
Even though the book is a missive in a way of doing better, but Barger also looks at the circumstances that creates a situation where we might not try harder. Frustration is a big one. (I have to put in a plug for stupidity.)
Seriously, haven't you wanted to lob a shoe at someone while you've been stuck at an airport? I have. But, there is always the high road option of flowing more easily with a smile, no matter our circumstances. Barger saw the pinnacle of great decorum, for example, when one woman's neatly packed carry-on was rummaged through by TSA as part of a random check and her belongs left in a pile for her to repack. Instead of fuming and fussing, she remained pleasant, repacked and dashed off to catch a flight--still buoyant.
Even if you want to remain a crab when you travel, Step Back from the Baggage Claim offers a glimpse of the various airports where Barger headed, and what it's like to hang out in them for extended periods of time. After reading Barger's book, I don't think I'll be throwing elbows anymore as I haul my own bag out of the mix of belongings that are circling by. (Actually, I don't think I ever have thrown an elbow. Maybe growled, but nothing more.)
Oh, yeah. Where did Barger go? He started in Columbus to Boston to Miami to Chicago to Minneapolis to Seattle to San Diego and back to Columbus.
Here's one of Barger's thoughts to take with you when you travel. It might help you have a much better day.
"I'm going to embrace the quiet moments an airplane seat offers us. When the ding sends most into a frenzy, I am going to sit still."
To read more about Barger and the book, here's an article that was published in the business section of The New York Times.
To win a copy of the book Step Back from the Baggage Claim:
Leave a short comment about an act of kindness you witnessed while traveling. Maybe it was your act of kindness--or someone else's. Even the smallest act counts. The winner will be randomly picked.
Filed under: Stories, United States, Books, Airports, Budget Travel
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DC Apr 27th 2009 3:19PM
I once offered a mentos to the older woman with bad breath sitting next to me on a flight.
lolstebbo Apr 27th 2009 3:20PM
I was traveling from Madrid to San Francisco and was transiting through Atlanta in a large group with my high school's band and orchestra. One of the customs workers, seeing our big group and the massive instruments we were reclaiming, got in line for us as we waited for our baggage and instruments so that we would be able to catch our our connecting flight. We barely made the flight; if he hadn't taken a spot in the line for us, we might not have made it.
Joe F Apr 27th 2009 3:28PM
While traveling out of Barcelona after Sterling Airlines went bankrupt and couldn't book us another returning flight to Copenhagen, a mother was trying to keep her child from fidgeting. Even though we both spoke different languages, a courteous smile, some playful gestures, and an impromptu game of peek-a-boo between the child, my girlfriend, and I allowed the mother to continue with her business while the child remained busy with us.
Greg Apr 27th 2009 3:40PM
As a flight attendant, I witness all sorts of things. This one was the best.
An elderly couple with a mentally challenged daughter was on our flight. They were delightful and the daughter was a sweet, well behaved girl or about 20, but small for her size. As we landed, and the frenzy of deplaning happens, the elderly couple stood to retreave their bags, and 2 men got them down for them. The young girl, after they had done the deed, reached her hands up to the men. They bent down, and she patted them both on top of the head... a job well done. They were beeming, and I was really touched. It was a great moment.
Cindy Apr 27th 2009 5:03PM
My husband and I travel quite a bit so we know how travel can get frustrating. We try and take everything with a grain of salt and eventually we will get to our destination.
On one early morning flight as we made our way through security I noticed an elderly woman that looked dazed and confused.
As I waited for my husband to put his shoes back on, I asked this woman if she was ok or if she needed some assistance.
She explained that she hadn't flown in years and wasn't sure what she was suppose to do next.
We weren't in a hurry because as usual we try and arrive early. So I offered to take her to where she needed to go and as we walked, I think I made a new friend. She was the sweetest woman. When we finally made it to her gate I took her to the podium and explained that she might need some help.
She smiled and thanked us as we went on our way to our own gate.
If you take the time, you can meet some really interesting people at the airport!
Nomedigaseso Apr 27th 2009 4:46PM
I had a wallet stolen out of a pocket in Madrid. There wasn't any money or anything of importance in the wallet, except my drivers license. A few months after I returned home I received a small envelope containing my drivers license and a unsigned note saying "I believe this belongs to you."
Lisette Apr 27th 2009 5:36PM
When I was going to California for spring break during one of my flights, there was a moment where an elderly man spilled his belongings all over the floor. There a lot of people in line behind them, you could just see how frustrated they got! So rude! Well, this little, maybe 9 year old, that was already seated, went to help the man pick up his things. It was so nice and so darn sweet!
Alice Apr 27th 2009 5:34PM
I was on a 20-hour ferry right and while watching a mother divide up a loaf of bread among her 6 children, she ripped off a piece and had her son bring it over to me. I guess I wasn't as inconspicuous with people-watching as I had thought, but it was so sweet of them!
Sharon A Apr 28th 2009 10:47AM
We were arriving hours late from a flight from Ireland to the US. The customs agent called another agent in order to process us as quickly as possible.
christopher h Apr 27th 2009 6:59PM
always love to see people helping out at the baggage carousel, as you mentioned
susan varney Apr 27th 2009 7:30PM
a man watching another mans dog while he went in the bank
desiree kelley Apr 27th 2009 9:14PM
I always bring a book to read
shannon Baas Apr 27th 2009 10:01PM
I don't fly if I can help it and take Greyhound a lot. I have bought people food when it was obvious they didn't have any money and something else you often see is people moving so that a couple can set together.
Margaret H Apr 28th 2009 5:57AM
Saw several people help an older woman who dropped her purse and everything spilled out.
MRS.MOMMYY Apr 28th 2009 12:04AM
last night at the grocery store i gave a woman coupons for items she had in her cart- and some of them were free ")
James Coyne Apr 28th 2009 12:07AM
I love a good book
meredith rogen Apr 28th 2009 8:52AM
I once found a wallet while traveling with money, id and other items in it while traveling. I had the hotel check to see if they were staying there and they were! We met and I returned it.
*NEVER turn in a wallet with cash in it, I always call the person and tell them how much money was in the wallet when I found it and then meet them.
Robert Fantom Apr 28th 2009 8:23AM
I returned a wallet to a man who left it on seat.
Rich Lawrence Apr 29th 2009 2:29AM
I don't fly so my act of kindness is in the auto category and it includes all the times I've broken down in 45 years of driving and all the strangers who have helped me out. There are still good people out there.
Amber G Apr 28th 2009 11:06AM
A little kid sitting next to me wanted the window seat, so I let him switch with me. Granted, I would prefer to have the aisle seat so that I could go to the bathroom and move about without crawling over a sleeping kid, so I guess you could say my act of kindness also had selfish motivations, haha.