White Courtesy Telephone

Years ago if you wanted to talk to someone at the airport you would call the airport and they would page the person, a voice would gently ring out “Mr. K, please pick up the nearest white courtesy telephone”. Try and imagine a courtesy phone.

Last time I spoke to an airlines I had to remind the person that the sound coming out of my mouth was actually a sophisticated communication system that in the past was studied and occasionally used to trade disparaging comments.