WmGgW Complete Season:
Part 2: Pearson International Airport
Part 8: Hitting home
Telepathy didn’t work this time, and all I could do was wait until we landed in Sao Paulo. After another couple of hours flying, then landing, immigration and baggage claim, there I once again, in the check-in line up, getting ready for a new confrontation.
“Next!”
“Can I have a piece of ID, please? Where are you going today?“
I decided to launch a full-fledged attack.
“Let me tell you what my situation is. I am moving from Canada to Brasília. Because it’s an international move, I know that it’s going to go over the 23kg limit” (for domestic flights, the limit is 23kg – approximately 50lb – for all pieces of luggage combined) “but could you perhaps give me a discount?”
“Yes, of course! Let me weigh your bags to see what I can do. How many do you have?”
“Three.”
“And do you have any carry-on?”
“There it comes again…” “Yes, I do. Two.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you are allowed only one piece.”
“Ready. Set. Fire!” “You mean that I cannot board with a guitar and a backpack?!?” I said firmly, straightening my back so it was not so obvious that the backpack weighed way over the 10-pound allowance.
“Ah, I’m sorry, ma´am, never mind. Guitars do not actually count towards your allowance. You can take it aboard with you in addition to your backpack. No problem whatsoever…”
And this was how I learned that, be it in Canada or in Brazil, guitars are not considered carry-on luggage. All that was left for me and my guitar to do was to gently weep for joy as we made our way home safe, sound and together.
THE END
