For all of you who have ever tried Internet-, speed-, or being-set-up-by-your-best-mate dating, I can assure you that attempting to meet your match on a flight is MUCH more difficult.
Fellow Lekker and winner Michael & I
Air New Zealand hosted a pre-party in the terminal complete with some social lubricant, AKA drinks, appetizers, speed dating, and a dancing crew! It provided a nice venue for meeting others who would be on the flight and for catching a few drinks.
Once on the plane, we were provided with a completely different set of challenges. For one, airplanes are not optimized for socializing. But more social lubricant was provided and some games were set up to encourage us to walk around and meet each other. The crew did their best to do their in-flight service while dodging all of us mingling singles.
Our first game was to get as many numbers as we could during the flight in a small notebook provided, our “Passport to Love”. Being the competitive person that I am I started a full-court press on Dan, another single on the flight that appeared to be equally competitive. In the middle of the game I found out the only single pilot on the flight had made his way to our section of the plane. With you, my readers, in mind, I abandoned my previous mission of beating Dan at the numbers game and made my way to the back galley where I met Dave. He was dressed in a ‘Matchmaking Flight’ t-shirt like the rest of the crew. Feeling a bit of remorse for abandoning my competition, I asked Dave for his number which he proceeded to happily write down. After a nice chat in the galley with intermittent interruptions by the food carts being rolled out in preparation for dinner, he asked what my plans were for the following evening. I had none. He casually suggested I give him a ring. During our short conversation it quickly became apparent that if I didn’t make my way back to my seat soon I would miss my dinner, so with a new focus I dashed off to my seat without so much of a good-bye to Dave.
Dinner was eaten, a few glasses of wine consumed, and the cabin lights dimmed for sleeping.
We woke up to breakfast and more games, funniest dating story, a visit from Jason and Molly from the last season of the Bachelor, and the awarding of the prizes for the most numbers in the “Passports to Love”. Dan won and shortly after winning proceeded to give me his prize: a walk on the harbor bridge!
After a glorious sunrise we finally landed on the ground. I saw Dave while departing the plane and then ended up behind him in line at immigration where we chatted some more. He whizzed through but my short trip raised some suspicion and I was asked a host full of questions by the cheerful immigration officer. Mid-way through my mini interrogation I looked up and noticed Dave waiting for me on the other side. He waited & waited and waited while I answered, answered and answered some more all the while exchanging several glances and smiles. When I was finally released, he apologized for not warning me that my short trip might raise some suspicion. As we were walking down to baggage claim he asked if I was all right for a ride into the city, which I was, and before departing again suggested that I call him later in the day and of course I did!
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[...] Part II [...]
[...] Part II [...]