Travelogue 2: An Examination of Beijing Airports

(This was originally going to be published in 2017, before COVID, but since I’m resurrecting this blog from the ashes, I’d figure I’d finish this. I’ll get back to the Travelouges when I can travel again.)

Before the Beijing airport, there was the flight to Beijing. Air China is no joke. When I finally got on the plane, after being raced up the plane ramp, I was floored. The plane itself was quite large, and looked like it could seat about 150 people. There were about ten seats in first class, and the rest were all for economy. They were all filled in record time. I had to help a lady work her screen. Their airline food came in 2 different flavors, a ‘Chinese’ style and a ‘Western’ style, and they were decent. They definitely have better food than United. 

When I finally got off the plane from Jersey, I was shuffled into a wheelchair after a wait of about 10 minutes while everyone else got off the plane. The stewardesses were kind of awkward around me. I knew little Chinese at that point (something that has been slow to change, even while I'm here) and trying to reassure them and keep my own cool was a bit of an ordeal. Luckily, I was able to leave the plane without much incident, besides a few stares.

The Beijing international airport is beautiful. Honestly, it could be a city onto itself. There are myriad shops and even tourist spots right outside of the international flights entrance. There are hundreds of people around the floors and it’s so loud. However, I could feel the air outside of the lane, and it makes me tear up every time. 

I don’t really get much of a chance to explore, however. The agents that helped me stayed with me, and that made it different. I suppose it was their jobs, but I was definitely chafing at the bit. Overall, the experience was exciting but limiting, which was like a lot of my time in Chengdu. Hey, foreshadowing! 

Thanks for reading

—TRR