There is nothing more interesting than people watching at an airport, as it is a microcosm of the world, but a microcosm where people actually behave differently than they normally do, as they are often in circumstances where they feel a little lost and out of their depth.
Those on a Newcastle stag do or a hen night are often loud and leery, with specially printed t-shirts bearing their destination – often Amsterdam or Greece. They do their best to be loud and cheerful even though many of them look like they would prefer to be tucked up with a hot water bottle.
Then there are the first time flyers who stand out a mile. They arrive far too early and everything is new and wonderful for them. They are the first at the gate for fear of missing the plane, clutching their passports and tickets for dear life.
The seasoned business people are probably the funniest, with their blackberries glued to their ear, shouting loudly to impress their fellow travellers at how important they are. They strut around as if they own the airport, with their business class tickets peeping out of the top of their shirt.
Families are usually the most stressed category, what with having to get the whole family though security and then keep them all in check to make sure no one misses the flight.