A Delay that Becomes Less Tedious Thanks to an Airport Bench

Mateo is 54 years old and has a clear mission: to reach New York for a business meeting. He is a methodical man, the type who never leaves anything to chance.

The night before, he had booked a private car. His ticket, printed and carefully stored in a folder. Two fully charged power banks, two plug chargers and an international adaptor. A suitcase precisely measured and wrapped in cling film to avoid mishaps. His greatest fear is missing the flight, and he is determined that it will not happen.

He arrives at the airport four hours before the scheduled departure. He passes through security checks without incident and, more relaxed, decides to have a coffee while observing the comings and goings of the other passengers. Time seems to flow calmly.

Everything is going smoothly until, twenty minutes before boarding, the loudspeakers shatter his peace:
—Flight NY0689 to New York, delayed due to weather conditions.

An uneasy silence spreads across the café. Mateo slowly sets his cup down on the table and checks his watch. Perhaps it is just a delay of half an hour. He takes a deep breath and, with a certain resignation, heads towards his boarding gate.

He finds a corridor full of restless passengers, tired faces and gestures of annoyance. Yet, among the crowd, something catches his attention: a purple airport bench with integrated tables between each seat, equipped with sockets for charging devices. It offers a direct view of the flight information screens and enough space to rest his yellow suitcase. Mateo does not hesitate and sits down.

The difference is immediate. He plugs in his phone, opens his streaming platform and chooses a comedy. While others glance impatiently at their watches, he makes himself comfortable on a Carttec airport bench—surprisingly comfortable, with enough room to relax without feeling trapped. Time ceases to be a problem for him.

When the film ends, he finally hears the boarding announcement. Mateo smiles, surprised: nearly two hours have passed, yet for him it felt like the blink of an eye.

Already in the queue, a couple behind him mutters in irritation. The woman complains of aching legs after having stood the entire time. She looks exhausted and bad-tempered. With his usual calmness, Mateo turns and says politely:
—Sit there, on that bench —he indicates the purple bench—. I have been waiting there these past two hours and the difference was remarkable.

The woman hesitates at first, but eventually accepts. Fifteen minutes later, calmer, she admits to her husband that she feels much better.

Although the flight was delayed, for Mateo it was not a major inconvenience. He discovered that, even in the most tedious situations, good design can very positively transform a passenger’s experience.