“Re-accommodating” in Bhutanese airlines

On By DorjiWangchukIn Travel

Flying, which used to be one of the most glamorous ways of travelling, is quite a nightmare these days. In the post-911 era, air travel has become a pain and nauseatingly complicated at times. At best the experience is dampened by airlines jamming more seats and packing us like sardines in tin boxes. And now we have this nightmarish video of a passenger, in the ‘greatest’ country on Earth: US of A, being dragged down the aisle like a mailbag._95586434_5ad21b7b-afb8-42b1-a60e-cb06b4ec985f

Honestly, I was very disturbed by what I saw – to the point of feeling like an idiot – because I have flown United Airlines. Maybe it was because they picked on an Asian-looking guy or maybe, this was the last straw on the loads of racist narratives coming out of the US these days. Anyway it was not just me but the whole world, especially this part of the globe, that is upset.

My father, who was a truck driver, took a better care of his loads of potatoes than how some big airlines from the ‘civilised’ countries – the US in particular, treat their human cargo. On a flight from New York to San Francisco in 2014, I was even made to pay for water.

Still, since flying is the best way to get around, let me share how we in Bhutan also ‘re-accomodate’ our passengers – and where flying is still fun and glamorous. And where passengers are not just payloads or figures on the balance sheets, but human beings.

Flight overbooking is a norm in airline business. But in Bhutan, we never overbook. Instead, we under-book our flights. That’s because the airport is at 7,500 feet above sea level – and engines, like humans, need a good level of oxygen to efficiently burn the jet fuel. And oxygen is bit in short supply at this altitude while the iron birds have to safely soar up the high mountains that encircle the Paro International Airport. The aircrafts are, therefore, handicapped from taking off at full capacity.  Also, our airlines don’t bump off passengers in favor of their employees. On most occasions, it is the other way around. Employees are kept on hold till all paying passengers are checked in.

1985 0827 [7] Druk Air Dornier at Paro airport (1)
Bhutan’s first aircraft was a Dornier that had one pilot, two props and 14 seats and nothing else. The flight left when the weather God smiled and when the only pilot didn’t call in sick.
Nevertheless, giving up seats on Bhutanese airlines happens all the time. But we don’t use computers. We use human beings. They look towards the cabin and identify the most-agreeable looking Bhutanese to give up the seat. It should be Bhutanese because all foreigners are guests in Bhutan. So twice, that person happened to be me. Once it was to hand over the seat of my three-year old daughter. I was asked to put her on my lap. “What’s happening?” I asked. The air-hostess replied that there was an emergency medical evacuation. As I lifted my daughter to take her seat and vacate mine, I jokingly asked, “OK! But what does Druk Air give me in return?” “Anything,” the air-hostess replied helping me to clear the seat. And seconds later I found a soldier who was wounded at the frontier – taking my seat. In Bhutan we rarely ask why we do good things. We just do it. And we don’t limit to offering just 800 bucks. Our airlines offer “anything”, which both parties later forget anyway.

The second time was in 2003 when I got my first chance to fly the business class – courtesy of my Japanese hosts who were paying for my trip. I had just settled on the spacious leather seat when a flight attendant leaned over to me and asked if I could go to the Economy section. “Why?” I asked. In Bhutan we don’t say, ‘I paid’, or protest. Money is not everything and passengers are not just PNR numbers. The flight attendant explained that they had a VIP travelling at last minute and I would be compensated for moving to the Economy. As we were negotiating – and as I was trying to cling to my rare chance to fly business, the chief steward, who was in kindergarten with me, rushed into the cabin. He didn’t even wish me. He instantly turned back to the exit door with, “Oh! It’s Dorji Wangchuk. No problem.” In Bhutan, we can still take our friends and family members for granted. No apologies and public statements are required. However, you can also hit back for being downgraded to the coach. When the lunch was served, I told the chief steward to serve me the food from the business class – and also to pack me some fruits, bread, wine, soft drinks and beer for my long transit time through Bangkok Airport – which he grudgingly obliged. Many flights later I also reclaimed my business class seat, for free, as I wasn’t feeling well that day. The crew members didn’t even ask for proof.

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The jump seat reminded me of a dining chair in a Jesuit school I went. You sit upright all the time.

Another time, the captain was one of my good friends, whom I had not seen for a while. As soon as he saw me boarding the plane he said, “Drop your bags and come over. I know you like flying.” Moments later I was bolted on the jump seat behind him like a child with the seat belt crossing all over my body. The take-off was spectacular and the pit-stop landing in Kolkata was a walk in the park for our pilots used to the treacherous Paro International – considered the world’s most difficult airport. As more passengers joined in for onward flight to Bangkok, my pilot friend informed me, “Now you can’t go back to your seat. It is taken. We picked up one extra passenger here.” In Bhutan, if we have to release a seat, we can tie up someone in the cockpit. It is very uncomfortable in there for a 4-hour flight but the view is simply marvellous.

Of course, we are not perfect. Like, we rarely fly on time. The Bhutan Standard Time has been redubbed as Bhutan Stretchable Time. We are improving though – especially if we have to fly out. But when we fly into Bhutan we have our own definition of time. Few years ago, I met a Swiss couple who was visiting a common friend of ours in Thimphu. They missed their flight in Delhi and arrived a day later. “What happened? You guys overslept or got struck in the traffic?” I asked. They looked at each other and smiled and went, “Well, we actually got to the airport one and half hour before the flight.” “Then?” I asked – bit surprised. “We were informed that the flight was not on time. And that it just left.” “Left? Before time? Did you guys protest?” “Yes, we did. We were told very nicely that our ticket clearly reminds us that because of weather conditions in Paro, flights may not be on time. And that only westerners think that ‘not on time’ means delays. Not on time could also mean before the time.” A brief silence. Then we all bursted out laughing. And my friends continued, “We thought you guys are absolutely right. Why should not-on-time be always behind? It can also mean ahead of the stipulated time. We always learn a new thing every time we come to Bhutan”.

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(PS. The whole of Bhutan has 6 airplanes and 2 helicopters. We are better off than John Travolta by the two helicopters.)

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Bhutanese pilots are some of the best for, there are currently only a dozen in the world certified to land in Bhutan.
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Only on airlines in Bhutan cakes are served to passengers on royal birthdays of the Crown Prince or His Majesty the King.
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There is no inflight entertainment on Bhutanese airlines. If you are a foreigner expect a local seated next to you with “intrusive” questions like ‘where you are from’, ‘how old are you’, ‘how many brothers and sisters you have’, ‘are you married’, picture of your spouse please, etc. This is our way of being nice, which also helps beat the ‘boring’ flight.
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If you are on the left windows seats you get to see tall mountains such as Everest, Kanchenjunga and our own Jumolhari and Jichu Drake (in the pic). Many Bhutanese offer the window seats to uninformed tourists flying into Bhutan for the first time.
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Meanwhile elsewhere in the world this is a regular scene at security checkpoints in the airports.
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And of course there are international airlines that operates a la Bhutanese. Last February Air Macau pulled me to business class after the flight went overbooked. So from the most-agreeable man I think I graduated to the most-decent looking. At least, on that one flight.

23 thoughts on ““Re-accommodating” in Bhutanese airlines”

  1. Every paragraph made me laugh and but at the end I felt proud about our airlines. Thanks for trying to bring back the humanity… I hope the United Airlines reads this story and learn from a small country called Bhutan.

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  2. Kinley Phub

    When I saw the video that has gone so viral in the social medai and now in news made me feel so bad perhaps because it was the Asian they picked up. I have never seen such treatment by human to another human being. Such humilation I can’t imagine his families must have gone through. While I watched video myself, I thought to myself, what if it was me. How bad!!!. Thank you for bringing the better side of our being humble yet effective in the way we do things. We have our share of blames and criticisms but I think we are much better off when it comes to dealing with humans.

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      1. Shorley

        I am a foreigner and asian too and have travelled a fair bit. Chanced upon your pleasant article. Do be careful so long as you travel in an non-asia country as bias still exists. I have witnessed and experienced some as well.

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      2. Diana Demers

        Canada is drawing up new legislation in response to this. It has not ever happened here. We are a pretty great country as well.

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      3. I would not expect something like this to happen in Canada. Among the many things that might have contributed to this incident is the normalisation of hate speech and violence against non-whites in the US. Thankfully there were (white) people who shot the video and posted it – giving us hope that where the current administration is failing, the people of the US can still be trusted and relied on.

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    2. Diana Demers

      What happened to that man was horriffic! Forcing someone should never be a right and that’s where democracy stops. The Dr.’s nose was broken he lost two teeth and sufferred a concussion. As said in the news conference. The airline gave one shotty apology, then made a better one the next day. As I previously said we are introducing legislation change in Canada.

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      1. Diana Demers

        I can’t be quiet about this! I think Bhutan with your environmental policies and peaceful ways and measured in happiness quotient and other things are one of the greatest countries in the world. As well as one of the most beautiful. Size doesn’t always matter.

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    3. Diana Demers

      Dorji’s article has given me more facts on Bhutan. Love that! In Canada especially Toronto every race lives sides by side. It ts an equal crime to hurt any of them. We have a huge asian population in and all around Toronto and in many other places. We are multi racial. It’s normal here.
      You in Bhutsn are much better off agreed. I can’t be quiet about this! I think Bhutan with your environmental policies and peaceful ways and measured in happiness quotient and other things are one of the greatest countries in the world. As well as one of the most beautiful. Size doesn’t always matter.

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  4. Karma Lhendup

    Quite lenghty but didnt bore me at all.since it was about us Bhutanese and the Bhutanese ways.Always proud to be one.Thank u for sharing ur experience la.

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Nikki

    Education increases and humanity decreases on the earth! yet Bhutanese uplift the humanity with an increase in education level. It’s a wonderful piece.Whenever I go through your post I get something new…It is really wonderful!

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  8. Claire Carocci

    Having flown on Druk air, April 2000, I found the flight incredible…incredible that anyone could land a plane on that short runway amid those towering mountains. Yes, I admit, I was terrified. The month I spent with friends in Bhutan was the most exciting and memorable time of my life. I have done considerable traveling, and nothing even remotely compares to that indescribable experience.

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  9. Wangchukk

    Well the article clearly reflects explicit Bhutanese culture following like a spirit even at altitudes above 32000 ft. Most of the friendly gestures by cabin crew,like removing/transferring a paid passenger from one seat to another/ business to economy/ on the jump seat/ are not professional at all. Moreover I quote,only a dozen pilots can land in to Paro is not correct as any Pilot in Command for any type of aircraft with the right performance to fly into Bhutan can land…

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  11. Prof Ashok Shah

    Dear Dorji,
    After the ghastly United video your post was a ray of sunshine . I thoroughly enjoyed it.
    I was brought up in the hills of Kalimpong and Darjeeling and I can relate to your post. My father knew Rani Chunni Dorji well
    I have now superannuated as Director Professor of Respiratory Medicine from the Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi and your article had rekindled my desire to visit Bhutan
    Thank you for a lovely article which did evoke a sense of nostalgia
    warm regards,
    Ashok Shah

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    1. Prof. Shah, You are most welcome to Bhutan. I would be happy to connect you to some people there. Concerning that video, for some mysterious reasons I couldn’t even watch the video the first time. And I still remained deeply shocked by it. I don’t know why.

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  13. SSB

    are you conveniently forgetting the flight where an old apa with mouth cancer was thrown off the plane because of the complaints of the tourists??
    http://www.kuenselonline.com/ailing-passenger-de-boarded-for-safety-reasons-drukair/

    I have no problem with being proud of your country, but romantic selective memory glosses over the fact that no nation’s people are all the same.

    And in this case, despite DrukAir’s claims of safety concerns, this Apa was removed whilst attempting to reach medical aid in Bangkok for his condition.

    Let’s remember clearly, so we can be the one to stand up for people, and not expect others to do so

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    1. Dear SSB, I have clearly mentioned that in this article I am sharing only my own story – not someone else’s. I am sure others will have theirs too – both good and bad, which they can share with the world on their own.

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