I remember being a kid, watching flights cross the sky and following the lights of planes at night. Those moments gave me a thought: one day I would fly. It may sound silly now, but that was my childhood version of a small ambition.
On July 8, 2026, my team at GrowedIn told me we would swap our usual remote setup for an in-person meet in August. The date was set for 20 August, 2026, and I was so excited to be flying for the first time.
We prepared everything we needed for these days to work with the team till the day before I flew. On the day of the flight, I felt the same excitement I had as a child watching planes, only more joy and anticipation.
My flight departure was at 1:55 p.m. I arrived at the airport about two hours early. In Bangalore, traveling to the airport can take more than an hour and forty minutes, sometimes over two hours, so I left early in the morning to be safe. :)
I arrived at the airport at the expected time and felt both nervous and happy, a common mix for a first‑time flyer. After checking in, getting my boarding pass, and sorting everything, I had a little time to explore. The airport was pleasant, and the drizzling weather, from the cab ride to the plane, was my favorite part.
From the terminal I could see the runways on my left and the restaurants/shops on my right. The experience was fun, and the time passed quickly. When it was finally time to board, I took my seat, settled in, and sent a picture to my mom, saying I was the first in my family to fly, which made the moment especially funny. :D
I had a window seat in the front row, which felt like the best spot for the view. I had no clue about the safety procedures, however, the cabin crew would always explain them, and I fastened my seatbelt as the instructions began.
When the plane started moving toward the runway, I was again so excited and nervous. At first I thought, “Okay, this is it.” My friends warned me that takeoff and landing could be intense, which made me nervous. When the takeoff began, I literally thought, “Oh shit.” It was both scary and exhilarating.
After the plane lifted off, I felt a rush of excitement, like we all get when trying something new for the first time. The ascent was smooth, aside from the usual ear‑blocking sensation. I watched the sunny view for 10-15 minutes: the scenery on the right was beautiful, while the left side briefly turned black before clearing up.
I tried a sandwich, having heard that airline food is often modest in quality and quantity. Indigo provided a decent sandwich that I enjoyed, though the portion was small (anyway, this isn’t a review).
Overall, flying felt magical. The city below was stunning, giving a perspective you can’t get on the ground. The best part of my first flight was that exact feeling, the transition from thinking about flying to actually sitting in an aircraft. It was just amazing.
The flight wasn’t long and passed quickly. I listened to music while enjoying the views. And the landing was a bit scary at first, but overall it felt like one of those moments I’ll remember for years.
Grateful to GrowedIn and the team for making this possible so early. I had thought I would fly someday, but not this soon. When I landed, probably the only thought I had was, “Can I fly again? :D” which I did, just a couple of days later. :)