#MidweekMusings: The "geekiest" article you will read this week, but you will thank me for it...
I have a little secret to share...I am very much an AvGeek. For those who aren't aware it's a combination of aviation and geek i.e. people who love planes and travelling. Most people will select the best time for their flight or the most convenient airport, but often you'll find anybody who enjoys flying going out of their way for a better flying experience e.g. picking a widebody plane like the Boeing 777 or Airbus A350 over a narrowbody such as the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 if you can. Being an AvGeek has made this past year very long at times and I've been yearning for the chance to start another trip to locations afar - which still seems distant, but there are glimmers this could happen in the next year or so. Something many normal travellers may not consider is boarding music, the sometimes annoying or pointless music that is playing when you are taking your seat on a plane or disembarking the aircraft. There are numerous reasons for airlines investing in boarding music such as:
- making passengers more relaxed
- represent the sounds of a country or region
- or creating a signature, recognisable sound for the airline
Why am I telling you this? I've curated a selection below of my favourites...yes I did warn you this would be very geeky so please bare with me. I'd like to go back to that point of "making passengers more relaxed". Why should a piece of music only be suitable for boarding a plane? If I am having a busy or stressful day whilst working, I will often play this music in the background to create a more relaxing environment or to make me think of travelling. I would recommend this to anybody, so I've curated a short list below of my favourites.
Qatar Airways
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX0XhBmeWO0]
Etihad Airways
One of the ones I can listen to time and again.
Turkish Airlines
Three (!) pieces of music this time, with the first being the current and in my view most relaxing.
Air France
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMgoEdE-lmg]
Finnair
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcKxBqUGHT8]
Cathay Pacific
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I0teH_8nEM]
Singapore Airlines
And finally...my favourite from an airline I have not even flown before! Although this is not strictly boarding music, but one that accompanies the airline's safety video.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se1LKyf5Ups]
If you want to listen again, feel free to save the Playlist on YouTube.
Feel free to save the Playlist on YouTube or return to this webpage to listen again -
As I promised at the beginning, extremely geeky but hopefully you can get some of the same relaxation benefits or productivity boost I get from listening to these tracks. What is your favourite? And do you have any other recommendations?