I’m curious if any other frequent travelers take note of these things as much as I do…
Chimes I immediately associate with airports
Let me just cut to the chase — in recent days I’ve traveled through both Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Paris Orly Airport (ORY), and I can’t get the airport chime out of my head. Ahead of any announcement in the terminal, there’s this chime that can’t help but bring me joy, and I’m not sure why.
For days now, I’ve been just randomly humming it to myself, and I kind of can’t stop (and it’s not pretty, let me tell you — it’s not very “hummable,” so I think I sound like I’m having a stroke). It’s almost as addictive as Turkish Airlines’ phone hold music from back in the day.
To me, the chime at airports in Paris is the single most memorable airport chime there is. But it got me thinking about some of the other ones out there. For example, the one at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is also pretty memorable, but I believe that’s also used at some other airports.
Then there’s the chime at Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT), which I immediately associate with the airport, though it’s not necessarily the most memorable, since it honestly sounds like so many other chimes and sounds in Japan.
I’m sure there are many other custom airport chimes that I just can’t think of at the moment, so I’d love to hear from OMAAT readers about ones that you remember. Now that I’ve started digging into this, I find it almost as interesting as airline boarding music (which I realize is of zero interest to the average person, but then again, I never claimed to be normal…).
The lady with the comforting airport voice
On the topic of sounds at airports, you can’t help but give a shoutout to a lady who hundreds of millions of people have heard, but have never seen. I’m talking about that easy to understand and friendly voice that makes announcements at airports and other transportation hubs around the globe.
She has been featured in the news many times over the years… what a fascinating career! From her little home office, she’s heard in every corner of the world. Give me the Paris chime followed by an announcement from her, and I’m in ASMR heaven!
Bottom line
As humans, we’re constantly bombarded with all kinds of sounds and chimes. To me, there are some airport sounds that just can’t help but put a smile on my face, for reasons I don’t know. Chief among those is the sounds at Paris’ airports, before any announcement is made.
Do you have any favorite airport chimes or sounds?
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