Why No Applause When Colombianos Landing in Bogota???

LA_MONA says on Sep 17, 2007, 00:44:

Whenever I have landed I have not seen any applause, however getting outside the airport in Cali I witnessed alot of emotion, sea's of friends and family and the kind of scenes you don't see over here.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LA_MONA says on Sep 17, 2007, 00:46:

In Pereira I seen a huge family with a mariachi band waiting for loved ones...

GS I have heard that about the clapping, singing the national anthem etc and kissing the ground business though.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Sep 17, 2007, 01:11:

Oh? then maybe they were giving applause... for 'yo'! jajajaaa..
I doubt ;(

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Sep 17, 2007, 01:16:

the next time I fly into Bogota, I'm going to start the applause, if no one else does, and see if Los Colombianos will follow.... or if the Rolos are simply too uppity to show that sort of emotion/appreciation.

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

scotty says on Sep 17, 2007, 01:48:

They applaud because they are just happy the damn plane landed with out complications.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

0 funny, 0 helpful.

thur says on Sep 17, 2007, 03:55:

In both the Air France flight from Paris as the Iberia flight from Madrid there was applause when landing in Bogotá...
Greetings,

- pbase.com/thur

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Miamigo says on Sep 17, 2007, 05:17:

I sometimes hear applause either landing in Bogota or Miami. My impression was that it was people who don't fly much and as scotty said are just expressing relief the plane is on the ground.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

gabolicious says on Sep 17, 2007, 06:04:

I haven't seen any applause either... that must be fun!

I want to see that

Elección no canonización....

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bufalo says on Sep 17, 2007, 07:04:

I don't think it has anything to do with pride in their country. I used to see it sometimes in the US as a kid. They just like the fact that they made it safely, clapping for the pilot and stuff.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

0 funny, 0 helpful.

podborski says on Sep 17, 2007, 07:17:

I always thought it was strange to applaud because the plane landed without crashing...

does anyone ever applaud when their bus pulls into the station?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Sep 17, 2007, 07:59:

It used to be a lot more common. I will occasionally still hear clapping on the odd Avianca flight.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

gabolicious says on Sep 17, 2007, 08:03:

It is like watching a movie starring a popular pop star, and when they are on screen people will clap their hands... I have never seen it but I have heard it happened with "A hard days night" (starring The Beatles) and "A league of their own" (starring Madonna). Strange cause none of them, in my opinion, are good at acting....

Elección no canonización....

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Sep 17, 2007, 08:17:

I agree with ColombianoGringo. My first flights to Colombia were in 2002 and people would clap when the plane landed in Bogota. Now I don't hear it anymore. It could be that it's more prevalent on Avianca as I've only flown to Colombia on Delta, Continental and American.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Sep 17, 2007, 08:21:

On one of my only(avianca) Miami to Bogota flights, the pilot had to abort his first landing attempt and on his second attempt, we touched down on the tarmac. Many People (colombian passengers) were clapping and several were muttering prayers Thanking God. What a scene,,,SInce that time, I can easily understand why they(not me, I won't use them anymore, avianca) go thru this routine when traveling on Avianca...LOL

On Sept 17, 2008: Senator John McCain said, as he had many times before, that he believed the fundamentals of the economy were "strong."Hours later he backpedaled, explaining that he had meant that American workers were Strong.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RJQuilla says on Sep 17, 2007, 08:44:

I have experience the applause when landing in Barranquilla the times I have flown there but as you said I dont recall it when I flew into Bogota. I am not sure there may have been applause. I will be sure to take note of it next month during my trip.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Alma del Norte says on Sep 17, 2007, 09:04:

I have always experienced applause when landing at El Dorado. Nothing to do with pride I'm afraid, just relief at landing safely. It goes hand in hand with crossing oneself on take-off. I experienced the most applause I have experienced last Thursday when things got a little hairy on approach. The only thing keeping my companion out of my seat was the heavy bags in her lap!

La vida es una rutina

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lowell says on Sep 17, 2007, 09:08:

Once while landing in Pireira on a clear windless day, the pilot touched down so hard I thought that the tires were going to pop. No clapping that day. A few touched the tarmac with their hands after exiting the plane.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiano_81 says on Sep 17, 2007, 09:19:

disagree completely...The apllause is definetely due to pure joy of landing in our beloved hoem once again. You never hear canadians or people from the United States clapping in relief the plane got there safely. Definetely pure pride..I am a Colombian and I know this is the reason.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiano_81 says on Sep 17, 2007, 09:21:

Bogotanos will clap but not as much as paisas or calenos. Paisas and Calenos have much more sense of pride than rolos and miss their lands with a deep sense of longing and will constantly tell you how wonderful their lands are. This is the reason they clap more than rolos,.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Sep 17, 2007, 09:25:

C81.

I have seen people clapping on Colombian flights since I was a kid. However, I have seen it many times landing in Miami or Houston on a flight from Colombia. It isn't restricted to people coming home to Colombia. For that matter, I have seen gringos do it on domestic US flights after a particularly difficult flight or landing.

Even as a child, I thought it was kind of stupid, but nowhere near as ridiculous as the people that clap at movie theaters.

CG

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiano_81 says on Sep 17, 2007, 09:32:

clapping in Us flights is the exeption. Clapping on Colombian flights is the norm.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiano_81 says on Sep 17, 2007, 09:43:

Doesnt add up you´re right...but I have yet to meet a paisa that isnt as proud as a peacock to say he is paisa and to tell you all about his land and customs.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

LA_MONA says on Sep 17, 2007, 09:45:

Rubito a caleño or paisa can be as proud as hell as their country and still live elsewhere.

Many paisas and caleños are homesick but they are making money and sacrificing being where they love for better opportunities and to help their families.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

0 funny, 0 helpful.

droble77 says on Sep 17, 2007, 09:51:

Just have one experience the previous Saturday. There was definitely a lot of applause on landing in BOG from JFK on Avianca. I tend to agree with what Colombiano 81 said. . . so maybe my plane was loaded with people who were making connecting flights to other parts of the country.

I also think there's a sense of relief of having landed safely. Landing in a Colombian airport is not always a smooth experience. The topography, which is so beautiful to look at, contributes to some treacherous head and tail winds. Everyone on this board knows most Colombian airports have had their fair share (or more) of incidents and crashes.

Like miamimike, I also had a missed approach and a HARD landing with one wing up in the air in my most recent trip to Medellin (due to a nasty tail wind). I was crossing myself and clapping and grateful just like everyone else on the plane was. At least I was upgraded to First Class for free, if you gotta go, it might as well be in First Class. :-)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Sep 17, 2007, 11:10:

Hmm So Odd when the pilot missed his first landing attempt, then why weren't the People clapping???? Instead it was a deathly silence void of any joyous expressions,,,Strange indeed,,,

On Sept 17, 2008: Senator John McCain said, as he had many times before, that he believed the fundamentals of the economy were "strong."Hours later he backpedaled, explaining that he had meant that American workers were Strong.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

morphus says on Sep 17, 2007, 14:01:

I noticed that too when I landed in Bogota. People usually clap on planes as soon as the wheels touch the runway. The plane is still moving at few hundred miles an hour and theres still a chance the plane can crash and burn.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lisa Zee says on Sep 17, 2007, 15:27:

It is pure joy to land in the place we were born, I even cray!. However we did not hear any clapping last August or this past June trip when we flew to Medellin. I was very surprised.

Feliz Navidad!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Sep 17, 2007, 16:22:

what were you waiting for, Liza???
le comenza!

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lisa Zee says on Sep 17, 2007, 16:49:

I cried with joy, but I did not want to be the only one clapping.

Feliz Navidad!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Sep 17, 2007, 17:05:

I have landed in many places, and every one of the countries I have visited occupies a little space in my heart.

Only when I land on my little corner of South America do I get that special feeling lof having just touched down on a place where I have roots that run so deep I could never let go.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lisa Zee says on Sep 17, 2007, 19:32:

I am going to cry... I live in Southern California, and it is very arid. When I am landing in Rionegro I see all that green and I just can`t believe it, my heart swells with such joy. Everywhere I go in the country side, I find myself saying: "It is so green"

Feliz Navidad!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Sep 17, 2007, 19:37:

Lisa, I took the picture above from the plane window as it was approaching the Manizales airport.

Si te parece tenaz ver un paisaje arido, imaginate lo que es tener 4 meses de nieve.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lostgringo says on Sep 17, 2007, 20:45:

Just last year I made a trip from Bogotá to Cuba on Cubana Airlines. All these Colombians clapped like crazy when they landed. Pride..no I don't think so. Happiness no I don't think so. Pure relief at feeling ground underneath them.....yep I think so. Cubana Airlines flies these old Jets from Russia that have been around since J.F. Kennedy put the embargo on Cuba. Well maybe not that old but they are old. I could see where the legs of the seats had been welded a number of times. Unsightly patches all over the inside of the plane. All they had was a shelf to put your carry on luggage on. Everything was written in Russian. Lots of leg space though. Hell I was ready to clap too when we hit the tarmac. Scariest flight I have ever been on. I changed planes on the way back!

Your Home Away from Home www.welovebogota.com and www.apartmentinbogota.com "Luxury apartments and rooms Cheap" Only 2 blocks from the American Embassy! 24/7 hour security.http://www.monsterrakebacks.comCome gamble and get money back!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Sep 17, 2007, 22:21:

Oh. Chit. Then, so many people here are indicating it is/was just a survival thing... and nothing to do with Colombian pride? Do other people clap when landing elsewhere? like, the Philipinnes? India? Venezuela? Switzerland? HEY ZURICHGIRL! WHAT ABOUT THAT???

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

houstongal says on Sep 18, 2007, 12:26:

hey gs....on my flight to amsterdam there was a row of women in my section that did applaud. not sure why. no one else in our section did. i have been on flights to vegas where they applauded (i figured everyone was happy to be on vacation) and the same with flights to hawaii. i think anytime you have people happy to go where they are flying to, you will get applaud.....and whenever the plane lands after a really bad flight with turbulence or other scares (been on one where the engine stopped functioning....luckily the planes are designed to fly on one of 2 engines).

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Cerealkiller says on Sep 18, 2007, 13:40:

Well I think its just a sweet habit to prove that we are warm, law abiding and God fearing human beings. What is there to not love about colombians clapping on planes? If I could get my way, I would put a papayera on the back of every avianca airplane, just to lighten up the mood.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Sep 18, 2007, 19:19:

adrimm says on Sep 18, 2007, 21:53:

There was no clapping last time I landed in Bogota (Avianca), I'll have to listen on this trip to see what I hear (Continental).

While I do think people need to lighten up, I'm not sure that clapping is related to this. I flew a few routes with Ryanair when I was in Europe, and the crew was awesome. Cracking jokes, ready to chat, super relaxed.. not all stiff and formal as some airlines seem to want their crews to appear. Here at home, Westjet crews are also pretty laid back.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Sep 18, 2007, 22:27:

The Finns used to clap before until they realized it was a parrochial and nerdy habit and they quit. Now we (Swedes and Finns) think that people who clap are quaint and perhaps flying the first time or first time away from home, which is not many, since even the kids at the age of five have already been at least Thailand, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkeu and perhaps Mexico and DR.

Personally I find a planeful Colombians clapping at landing in Bogotá or Cali totally charming and endearing.

Cheers,
Desi

(Even Italians used to clap, judging by the video clip "Life in Italy" )http://www.lifeinitaly.com/flash/

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Sep 18, 2007, 23:28:

...Continental, first flight to Cali;
..American, second flight to Cali...
...American or Avianca, first trip to Medellin...
.American to BOGOTA... NO CLAPPING.

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiano_81 says on Sep 19, 2007, 09:16:

Definetely my heart swells up with joy everytime the plane touches the country that saw me grow up for the best 4 years of my life fromthe age of 4 to 7. Chasing chickens and pulling on cow´s tails running around my grandma´s big all around the house yard..playing soccer and falling on puddles the size of small dams... taking la ¨carretilla¨ with my brother and walking through potreros 15 minutes away form home to buy milk for dinner and bread for dinner. Jumping over neighbours backyards to to play with the ducks and dogs and going to a school with no doors on its classes and having full soccer matches with crushed pop cans. Eating tasty foods and taking weekend trips to exotic lands with the family..Celebarating just about anything there is toi celebrate and learning how to dance since i could stand on my own 2 feet...dont make me talk about christams or new yeaars...I could go on and on but i ahve to go but basically my point is ofcourse we´re gonna clap when we reach our country. Whenever I go back to Toronto noone claps when we land. Whats there to clap about? snow? spoiled kids? wannabe badasses everywhere? 4 walls and a car and no life? Actually when I land In toronto i LITERALLY cry softly to myself ..when the tears start rolling down by themselves knowing I am in strange souless country once again and I have left my native land behind.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiano_81 says on Sep 19, 2007, 09:17:

dont you dare tell me there is no pride when we clap when the plane lands...tipical gringos talking...since they ahve no idea what its like to be LATIN.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Man Tequila says on Sep 19, 2007, 09:20:

I recently landed in Bogotá. Beautiful landing, no clap. But when they said welcome to Colombia, people started cheering and saying ¨mi papá¨. Not like they weren´t happy to touch down.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

RJQuilla says on Oct 31, 2007, 21:02:

Just returned from Colombia and landed in Bogota. It was no big deal business as usual with no clap at all on any of my connects in Colombia.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Oct 31, 2007, 22:10:

Quilla, maybe they were afraid they were gonna make ya blush

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

MaSep says on Nov 1, 2007, 10:47:

the only time I´ve seen claping on a plane was when my fiance annouced by the microphone (he´s a pilot) that the love of his life wan on the plane and was the most beautiful woman on earth... so people claped and stande up to see which one was the most beautiful woman hahahaha. It was funny so at the end I had to stand up and say yes is me ok?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

houstongal says on Nov 1, 2007, 11:05:

What a sweet story!

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

0 funny, 0 helpful.

podborski says on Nov 1, 2007, 11:45:

whew, that was risky, lucky no one else stood up at the same time! : )

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Nov 1, 2007, 12:33:

Was Billy Idol on the plane, too?

(that's a reference to a somewhat similar scene in one of the greatest movies of all time - "The Wedding Singer")

;-)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Nov 1, 2007, 13:12:

I clap when I land in Bogota. I don't care if anybody else claps, I clap. Sometimes other people are dying to clap but won't do it because they are afraid of "hacer el oso". Once I clap, all these other people start clapping too "ay tenia unas ganas de aplaudir pero me daba pena"

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Man Tequila says on Nov 1, 2007, 13:21:

In older days, people dressed up for air travel which was a big deal, expensive and infrequent. Clapping was a part of the social occasion. These days, with cheaper prices, tiny seats and frequent travel, it is not a big deal. Some don't clap because, at one level, the pilot is doing his job in getting you there in one piece. You don't clap for your taxi driver even though air travel is safer than road travel,

But I clap. I'm usually thrilled to arrive in a new city.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Nov 1, 2007, 16:13:

If I have flown 50 times or more in my life.... NO ONE EVER CLAPPED...
until... My first trip to Colombia. Cali. And, the second. And the third to Medellin.

then there was Bogota.
Maybe it's true; The Rolas got their nose in de air a lil bit ;)

I still liked Bogota best. But, next trip there.... I'M gonna be like colombiche and ...
Instigate de Clap!
I won't have to worry in a few more weeks... going to Cali

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

MaSep says on Nov 1, 2007, 20:02:

No Billy Idol wasn´t on the plane tks god! next time I will pretend is not me.

my Mom and Dad are flying to my wed in USA and yes... they are concerned about the outfit, and I HOPE they don´t clap when they get there.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 11, 2007, 07:42: