For some people, missed calls have become the best means of communication.

This is the era of missed calls. “Sorry, wrong number” has been replaced by “I’ll give you a missed call on your cell phone”. People across India are giving each other millions of missed calls all the time. Earlier this month, mobile phone companies bemoaned that missed calls are hurting them, because missed calling uses their facilities but are entirely free. Operators do not get any revenue out of it. That is, of course, the point. Missed calling is free and therefore my teenage niece likes to give me a missed call. Her pocket money stays intact while I hurriedly call her back to check out that nothing is seriously wrong. Our maid gives us many missed calls, and we call her back with even greater urgency, because a missed call is anyway better than a missing maid. Economists will soon discover that the phenomenon of missed calls results in redistribution of wealth – from me to my maid, or to my niece, uncle, mama, brother, friend, son / daughter, and so on, because we bear the cost that they would otherwise have borne. Missed calls are truly a great economic leveller. But why should mobile phone companies feel so persecuted by missed calls? Is a missed call not always followed by a real call which earns revenue, as the receiver of missed calls telephones back? This sounds logical, but innovation has overtaken logic. I know of two friends who use only missed calls to convey messages both ways. They use missed calls as a sort of Morse code – one missed call, a brief gap, followed by two missed calls is a code which denotes “can we have lunch together?” With the money they save through this unique mode of communication, the answer is always three quick missed calls, which means “Yes, of course.” or two missed calls which means: "Not today",. End of the day, I hate missed calls; I dont give Missed Calls to any.

Flying the King Air- with the Prince

This weekend we had been to our native on the northern part of Karnataka (Near Hubli), while coming back to Bangalore We thought of taking the flight and since our little one year old son was with us, the ultimate choice was King Fisher, B’coz it is the first flight for our Little prince, and we wanted to ensure that he is comfortable flying and I believed KF handles that very well, and KF did not disappoint me either. It was too good.

HUBLI- Bangalore: 30/09/2007.
We reached airport at 2/00 pm. Hubli has a small airport (Newly opened), when we alighted from the Car a KF escort approached us with a trolly and helped us in getting our luggage scanned and both the Check-in counters were neat and clean and the Check in exec. welcomed us with a usual smile and handed our boarding cards, and asked us to wait for the Security check call, and also advised us to use the Baby Care centre if needed, for the kid.

The flight IT:2432 was at 3/00 pm and the Air craft from Mumbai arrived 10 mins. ahead of schedule, Boarding call was on time. A KF lady ground staff approached us at the waiting launge and offered assistance in handling our Little Prince for boarding.

The Aircraft was an ATR 70 seater, well maintened, clean and had noice -free propellers. The flying crew were smart and co-operative. One of them came to us soon after we settled in our seats to brief about the precautions with the kid, while take-off and landing, and gave an extra attachment for the Seat Belt and cotton buds, and also offered blanket.

The take-off and landing were as smooth as always on KF, (the little prince did not even feel that)

The food quantity and quality were good, neatly packed, and the hostess came up with an idea of offering the food to us one by one ( A unique yet, appreciable gesture), so first I finished my food and then while I took care of the Prince, my wifey dear was served. During the 1 hr 10 mins. flying time, the hostess came to us at least 4 times just to ensure that we were comfortable and the kid is enjoying the flight. (though we never called them).

We arrived in Bangalore right on time rather 5 mins. ahead at 4/10 pm, once again the trolly was brought to us by KF ground staff and they helped in collecting the baggage from the conveyor, these small things add to the feel good factor in favour of KF.

To sum it up :
Yes, it is a great experience that my son took first flight on the Red Bird , the King of Sky, and as usual King fisher brought us joy at the end of the jouney, with our little Prince smiling and winking at the hostess’ bidding good_bye while disemabarking.