BUENOS AIRES AIRPORT

One gets a false sense of better treatment via a single digit seat number when one checks in, kind of a far-from-the-madding-crowd feel of being above the fray. Yes, one is physically away from the herd in flight, there might even be further comfort at Immigration, using the priority line, after which one one wakes up. The privilege class is unceremoniously brought back to reality at the luggage carousel. Mr 1A now rubs shoulders anxiously with Mr 66F whom he never thought existed until this moment of truth. 'Where are my bags, aren't they supposed to have priority tags?'  

Buenos Aires may be a leading gateway to all things South America but navigating her airport can be daunting. Used to or rather spoiled by spacious Asian airports it was quite a challenge here. To make a long story short it took 1.5 hours from disembarking to leaving the terminal. 45 minutes for Immigration and another 45 minutes for luggage to clear Customs. BTW one has to declare one's mobile devices via a 2-page questionnaire which of course no one bothers to check at the exit points. Fortunately everyone was orderly, no loud exchanges, no pushing forward, no queue jumping but it was nonetheless a test of one's civility after a 13-hour long haul.