The airport pickup is a binding social contract. There is
almost no one more important than he who picks you up from the airport. I find
great satisfaction when I am asked to pick someone up from the airport, and
when perfectly executed – the airport pick up gives a feeling of euphoria like
none other. Let me explain:
You
only ever ask someone to pick you up from the airport who you completely trust.
They are a reliable individual who you know will not let you down. Seeing their
face the moment you touch down is something you look forward to. Ideally this
person can make enjoyable conversation for the drive home, but hopefully you
have some interesting stories from your trip to keep them busy. When I am asked
to be this person I get a feeling of utmost gratitude. It’s almost like I’m in
the spotlight, all eyes on me. Not that I enjoy attention…
How do
you perfectly execute an airport pickup? As an experienced pickerupper and
pickeruppee, I have the knowledge to execute the airport pickup to a tee. If it
is someone extremely important to you, you want to be waiting at the gate as
they arrive. For someone less formal, perhaps an old friend that you see
regularly, you just want them to walk out of the airport and see you in the driver’s
seat in your car and jump in. How can you time something so perfectly? You must
take everything into consideration. Treat this like a black-ops mission. Leave
no stone unturned, consider all contingencies. Before the pickup you check the
flight ETA. Once you have the ETA you have to allow for the time it takes to
get off the plane, walk to baggage claim, get the bags, and leave the airport.
In a small airport I allow 17 minutes for this chain of events, in a larger
airport I wait 27 minutes. I have never forgotten to pick someone up, nor have I
been late. My timing is impeccable.
Why is
the airport pickup a binding social contract? It solidifies relationships;
romantic, friendly, professional, or otherwise. It is an issue of respect and
trustworthiness. If we are late to the pickup we are in another world of
stress, letting someone down on this day is the ultimate act of betrayal. For a
social exercise that we never think about, as a collective society we have
revolutionized the airport pickup into an imperative relational measure.
If the
flight is cancelled, however, does the pickerupper still get credit for the
pickup?
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