‘sup?
Hick writes:
So this happened. Stopping off on the way to Dubai, on our next flight from Qatar, a man and his companion (above) boarded the flight, this moment happened mid-flight, when the man went to the toilet…
Everything. As It Happens.
Mid flight on the runway?
Was he listening to Hawkwind? The Eagles? Wings?
Most of the Middle Eastern airlines allow them onboard (you usually only see them in the business or first cabin)
Here’s Etihad’s policy:
Diamond First Class
•Up to 2 falcons per guest (per seat) are permitted. Charge for each falcon (which is considered 6.6 lb/ 3 kg) is 3 times the normal excess baggage rate of the journey.
•Up to 2 additional falcons can be carried when an extra seat is purchased within same class. No excess baggage charges for the additional falcons will apply.
Pearl Business Class
•Up to 2 falcons per guest (per seat) are permitted. Charge for each falcon (which is considered 6.6 lb/ 3 kg) is 3 times the normal excess baggage rate of the journey.
•Up to 2 additional falcons can be carried when an extra seat is purchased within same class. No excess baggage charges for the additional falcons will apply.
Coral Economy Class
•1 falcon per guest (per seat) is permitted. Charge for one falcon (which is considered 6.6 lb/ 3 kg) is 3 times the normal excess baggage rate of the journey.
•1 additional falcon can be carried when an extra seat is purchased within same class. No excess baggage charges for the additional falcon will apply
Also, that doesn’t look “Mid Flight”.
Can it do the Kestral Run in 12 par secs?
Ahhhhhhh, a typo !
* Opens emergency hatch on plane, gets coat *
SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!
Some years back, I was on a flight from Doha to Bahrain, and had a pair of nail clippers taken off me before boarding.
When I got on the plane, there was a Qatari in his thobe with a falcon on his wrist without his hood. So, you can’t bring grooming items but a savage bird of prey is no problem.
Beautiful plumage.
Trained falcons are not “savage birds of prey” and falconry remains a popular sport in the middle east. Also, at the risk of sounding PC, isn’t the “inflight snack” joke just the tiniest tad racist? And is there something unusual about a middle-eastern person wearing ” flowing robes”?
I’m well aware that falconry is popular in the Middle East. I live in the Middle East.
And just watch a falcon attack a pigeon tied to a piece of string and tell me they aren’t savage.
The rules of what you can take on and can’t take on are ridiculous though. You can take on a bottle of deodorant and a lighter but you cant take on nail clippers…
Very low to the ground if mid flight ;-)
Not cool, taking pictures of somebody elses bird..
Take a bow
They’re considered royalty in Qatar (just like the immigrants) and therefore can only travel in Business class or above.