Normally I work in business class, which is the most junior position on the airplane due to the amount of work involved, but that’s okay because I like to work in business class. I even like business class passengers. I do! And because I work so often with people who fly in business class on business, I can spot a digital nomad a mile away.
Last month when I found myself working in coach on a flight from Los Angeles to New York, a passenger rang her call light and wanted me to ask another passenger sitting a few rows ahead in a seat that had a power port if he’d be willing to switch seats. Right away I knew the answer would be no - just by looking at him. What can I say? I’m a flight attendant. I know people.
“Can you ask him anyway?” the woman pleaded, eyeing the man who looked to be in his early fifties.
“Sure,” I said, knowing full well the man would not move, not when he looked like the type of passenger who uses Seatguru.com to pick a seat, that seat, several months in advance.
Now I can’t tell you exactly what it was about him that screamed digital nomad, but maybe it had something to do with the fitted black sweater that had been paired with the dark blue jeans and leather loafers. Or maybe it was the leather carry on bag, a Tumi I bet, which had already been placed underneath the seat in front of him. Whatever it was he had that vibe, the-I’m-connected-vibe, and it was swirling around him as I approached his seat, the one located on the aisle, right next to the business class galley. You know the one.
“Sir, are you traveling with a laptop?” I asked, smiling politely.
He gave me a funny look. “Yes. Why?”
“Oh because there’s a mother traveling with her five year-old son a few rows back and they need a power port for his DVD player, but don’t worry about it,” I said, scanning the cabin for someone else, anyone else - Bingo! Found him.
The long black hair, sleek dark shades, and cool leather bound notebook tucked under his arm told me this passenger was not a digital nomad, as he walked down the aisle to his seat, a seat that had a power port. Oh no, this was an artist for sure. Frantically I waved at him from across the aisle, and not only did he, and his seatmate, an elderly woman traveling with a printed out stack of Sudoku puzzles, willingly trade seats, he spent the entire flight scribbling in that mysterious book of his. During the beverage service I couldn’t help but wonder what he wrote about.
Digital nomad, frequent flier, it’s all the same to me.
Whenever I’m at the airport traveling on a day off, meaning I’m not wearing the navy blue polyester dress, I scan the security lines for digital nomads. If there are six nomads in one line and three regular people in the other line, I’ll choose the longer line because I know it’s the faster line. Digital nomad knows how to travel. Trust me, the nomad has already taken off the shoes and the bin is ready to go before it’s time to walk through the metal detector, regardless of how many electronic devices the nomad has placed in that bin, unlike other passengers who keep having to go back and forth through the metal detector, emptying out pockets, taking off belts, removing watches…you get the picture.
Digital nomads have a plan. They come prepared. They know how to take care of themselves. And they never, ever, ring their call light and ask for a charger. In fact, they probably have an extra one on them.
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Nomad Contributors
by Ryan McLean / June 4, 2009
Ha! That’s it. I’m not a frequent flier, but I am definitely a Digital Nomad. Seatguru? Check. (I spend the 3 months between booking the flight and the flight in morning if I’m flying Southwest, or a plane without power ports).
Security Line? Check that too. On my last flight I had some extenuating circumstances that required me to carry…not 1 laptop, but 2! Big laptops too, a MacBook Pro and an older PowerBook. I didn’t want to hold up security though, so I reconfigured my carry-on situation before hand so it would go fast. You know, stuff keys and stuff *in* the carry-on so you don’t even have to worry about little odds and ends in the bins, get the laptops ready to send through the x-ray…all that good stuff.
Hilarious.
by Chris / September 9, 2009
The most impressive sight you can see in an airport is a family of nomads going through security, especially with small children. Not only are the non-walking children strapped to a parent in some fashion but they are de-metaled ahead of time wearing slip-on shoes & they have everything neat in plastic bags at the top of the back-packs (no pooh bear diaper bags for these people). I have witnessed a nomad family of 5 go through security faster than 1 non-nomad. I myself have done it alone with a 4 week old. (I was very proud of my competence–it is much easier with 2 adults)