My First Experience of Flying Alone

My heart skipped a beat as I stepped into the airport. I had a mixed feeling—a little nervous and excited at the same time. My anxiety grew as I advanced with each new step. I was traveling alone to Biratnagar for the first time. My father took the pass, and we entered the terminal building. My heart pulsated faster, and I took a deep breath as we approached the airline’s counter.

A staff member requested my father fill out a form to ensure that I would be safely received by my guardian at the destination. My mother was already waiting to receive me at the Biratnagar airport. My father explained to me the procedure to be observed before the flight and gave other necessary advice. He left the terminal after assuring me that there was someone to assist me further.

I had heard that the owner of Buddha Air studied at the same school where I am now. It gave me a good feeling and a sense of confidence. Since I was flying alone for the first time, I was still anxious about how the journey would go. A little relief came from my friends’ stories about their flight experiences with Buddha Air during vacations. A staff member from the airline assisted me. He guided me through the security checks and showed me a waiting area where I had to wait until boarding started.

The waiting area was getting crowded with passengers to multiple destinations. Many flights were delayed due to air traffic. I kept observing people in the waiting hall. As I sat alone, many questions came to my mind: Why do people prefer flights compared to bus rides? What am I supposed to do to pass the time? Will my flight also be delayed due to air traffic? But I did not have answers to all those questions. 

Soon, I started talking to people sitting by my side and asked them why they were traveling by air. It was fun to learn the different reasons they had for choosing air travel. Few said it was convenient; some others said it was faster and time-saving, and a few were flying for a new experience in the sky.

It was a long wait, but the people there were friendly and kind. So I was not bored even when I had to wait a little longer. I was already imagining the fun moments I would have during my flight. There was an announcement that boarding for our flight had started. A bus was waiting to drop us near the aircraft. On the bus, a kind lady was sitting next to me. She let me call my father to inform him I was about to board. Soon, the bus dropped us off near the plane.

After some time, the plane took off, increasing my curiosity and fear. The flight attendant informed me that it would be 35 minutes to Biratnagar. I still thought it was a long time to fly alone in the air. As the aircraft took off, I saw beautiful views of mountains and the land beneath me. I took a deep breath of relief and enjoyed the view.

I had heard about the Jute Mill in Biratnagar and many other interesting places. I was excited about my experiences in a new city and expected to make some new friends during my trip. The journey was becoming adventurous for me. When the flight reached its height, it also scared me. It made me feel like I was on a rollercoaster ride— scary but fun.

I saw a magazine in the aircraft’s seat pockets. It was an inflight magazine called Yatra, which had different stories related to tourism. I was also inspired to share my own experience about my first flight on this magazine.

Finally, the plane landed at Biratnagar airport. The flight attendant let me disembark first and made sure to hand me over to my mother safely upon arrival. I was happy to have completed the journey on the plane alone. I embraced my mother in joy when I met her at the arrival area. The staff of Buddha Air asked my mother to sign a document as proof of receiving me. I cherish the memories of that flight forever. Thank you, Buddha Air, for making me feel safer while flying.