Yes, We Have the Same Law...
Nothing is more unique than French “particularism,” their tendency to make exceptions for good reasons while professing all laws are universal, oui? Exceptionalism in its real meaning.
It was not more than six months after the 9/11 calamity. I am in Paris on my way to Madrid for a meeting in the morning. It’s 8 PM and we are taking off in a huge Air France Airbus 320, me being the only business class passenger. “Ah monsieur Groen, il n’y a plus de manger a bord, there was a strike at De Gaulle.” “Dear flight attendant: that is okay, and please just bring me a cup of coffee; maybe I will talk to the pilot or so to entertain myself. “With the French language one can make even a strike sound like a heavenly event.
Airbus 320 on the runway
…30 minutes later the pilot - Jean-Jacques we will call him for obvious privacy reasons – comes out of the cockpit and he starts chatting me up as the Americans say. In fact, he was checking me out and 5 minutes later invited me into the cockpit. The flight attendant had taken me seriously, and must have asked the pilot to do something special for this ‘poor’ business class passenger…
There I am: in a huge plane’s cockpit having a grand time with the two pilots in the soft light of the cabin, instruments, and controls. Admiring the sky and full moon, flying over the Dordogne, and Pyrenees below. There must be heaven after all, I mused, enlightened by the Napoleon cognac the flight attendant had voluntarily served me next to my coffee.
Pyrenees mountains at night
I vividly remember how the three of us had lengthy discussions about the post 9/11 world and of course the French and Dutch soccer teams.
But all good things must come to an end and having left Catalonian airspace the automatic pilot is being set to a slow descent. “Well, this was great guys, and I should go back to my seat now as you will be busy.” “Mais non, monsieur Bram, strap into the jump seat and watch us landing this beautiful bird. “Wow, this is getting exciting I thought to myself and all this for a one-way ticket in biz class. And, indeed, we descend slowly, bending through the clouds above Madrid and landing safely on the illuminated runway. To me it was a movie come alive. Could not be more impressed with Air France.
Approaching Madrid
Engines off, lights on and checklist done, I profusely thanked Jean Jacques and his co-pilot for making my day. Next, I add: “But, you know, I fly a lot in the States as well and since 9/11 we have laws there that would put the three of us in jail now as bringing a passenger into the cockpit is out of the question.”
Says Jean-Pierre: “Ah oui, we have the same laws in France…”
Crazy but true. I hope you liked this week’s episode. But for those of you how the French and the Germans view each other, it is only natural that my next story is about a flight on Lufthansa to show that the Germans know their rules about hierarchy and status by heart. And can be outsmarted by a Dutchman.
Ready to share your own cherished memories? Submit your story by using the form below! We can't wait to hear your unique experiences and celebrate the power of memories together.