Ever been hassled by an airline for your carryon baggage?

Rare, right? Well I've never had it happen before.

I was returning from doing some wonderful live shows in Brisbane last weekend. For the first time ever I took both Anton’s Antics and Barista Banter interstate. Anton has travelled before but I never thought I’d be able to do the coffee appreciation show for adults outside of Sydney. Well a church in Queensland just proved with a bit of work and energy, it can be done extremely well, actually. Big thanks to Redlands Christian church who really stepped up. (check out the picture of their set up, with recently serviced Boema espresso machine and a brand new, latte art friendly steam wand installed at my suggestion). I was on such a high that it was a shame to have it spoilt by the airline as I boarded the plane home. But it goes to show how important it is to be consistent in our parenting...Check this out

Watch the video: How inconsistency kills parenting

“Excuse me sir but can you remove your back pack so I can feel its weight?’ says the airline hostess as I’m about to head down the aisle of the plane to my seat.

“Sure, but what seems to be the problem?”

‘You’re carrying a suit bag and a back pack and your back pack looks like it could be overweight for carryon luggage.”

I look down the aisle to see a plane sparsely populated, it must be only 50% full. I wonder, ‘Am I on a re-run of Flying High?’

“But the plane’s practically empty…didn’t you just say that we’ve got room…” I protest.

“Sir you’re going to have to return to the gate”.

“The gate what is it?”

“It’s where you show your ticket to board the plane, but that’s not important right now”. (Okay, bad joke, but I couldn’t resist)

“I have never ever had this happen before.”

“Sir it’s always our policy to restrict carryon baggage … blah blah blah…”

“No it’s not…what about yesterday when the plane was full, you didn’t apply this rule then…”

“Sir, let’s put it this way, you’ve been speeding in the past and today’s the day you got caught!’

Oh so now I’m a criminal because my bag looks a bit bigger than it should be! I did wonder why another passenger was so cranky as he was escorted off the plane, but at the time I was just thankful as I thought maybe they’d discovered something sinister. Turns out his bag was slightly long and he was being subject to the same Spanish Inquisition as I was about to endure.

I mean if they checked your carry on all the time, no problem, but when it’s random and rarely enforced…that’s a recipe for customer frustration.

So I’m escorted back to the gate, yes all the way back to the gate, even though I’m the last passenger and the planes only half full. I repack a few things into the suit bag, stuff I can throw out if I need to like coffee samples and hand my luggage back to the hostess who proceeds to drop it into that metal frame that shows the maximum size and weighs the bag.

My back pack is a perfect fit and underweight.

Next my suit bag…again a perfect fit and ….underweight.

So now the airline staff has to swallow their pride after publicly embarrassing me and allow me back on the plane. The hostess who weighed my bags says grudgingly, ‘his bags are undersize and underweight’.

Inconsistency creates frustration.

During the Barista Banter show I did that morning, one of the key lessons for making great coffee every time is consistency. You cannot make a great cup if you keep changing the steps that go in to keep it all consistent. Same with life. If you don’t listen to the Maker about how to live in His world, you’ll have a pretty hit and miss experience or 'extraction' of life.

Inconsistency kills parenting

School teachers know the importance of laying down clear ground rules and applying them consistently. If you’re in ministry with kids but you fail to apply ground rules to each child consistently, they won’t respect you. Instead you’ll get a bunch of frustrated, angry kids who complain that you have one rule for some and not all.

Parents…if we don’t follow through on our threats of punishment…our kids won’t respect us. If we apply one rule and punishment for one child but then let the other off the hook for the same thing, we are going to cop it. Rules are necessary; rules are for the common good and order of our families. But if we don’t apply them consistently, they’re worthless and only going to be a source of frustration for our kids.

So airlines…have your rules but enforce them consistently so we know how to enjoy our next flight and not face unnecessary shaming in public. I’ve heard that Virgin look after artists with more generous luggage entitlements…looks like my airline just gave me the push I need to go check that out.

All Anton's Antics shows are super consistent in the quality of Bible teaching, entertainment and value for money. Kids and families always love the shows. Book now or enquire through www.antonsantics.com or email me: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To get Barista Banter live shows check out the webpage and youtube videos: www.baristabanter.com.au

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