I'm having a wee siesta here waiting for the ladies to get ready and I remembered a story. We were travelling back home to Turkey when the girls were around four and I used my opinion that the 50kg of bacon and cheese over our baggage allowance was more likely to get through uncharged if we joined a check in desk with a lady rather than a man checking in. I also would put charming child on the check in desk and let them chat and take minds off our luggage weight. One of the kids was primed with clear instructions - "be friendly to the lady, they like talking to children". "Talk about what dad?" came the reply. "Well, we need to make them feel happy as their job isn't much fun. Telling them they look pretty might be a good one".
Our turn comes. Child lifted into position. Instigate plan A. "Hello. My dad thinks you're pretty".
