Winston Aldworth: To laugh last, don't joke first

It's worth remembering that airport security staff aren't automated humourless drones. Photo / Thinkstock

In last week's editorial, I probably did an injustice to border officials the world over.

I wrote that passport control was the wrong place to crack a joke. I stand by that, but it's worth remembering that the staff aren't automated humourless drones.

Reader Dave Pitches recalls landing at Brisbane.

"Several rows of inbound passengers; several desks of officials," writes Dave.

"Suddenly realise that the official at the head of the adjacent row was beckoning me, and I was slow to register. 'Sorry,' says I. 'I'm easily confused.'

"'Don't say that,' says he. 'Or they will make you work here.'"

So, give the officials a smile, but maybe let them make the first wisecrack.

A pretty safe MH370 prediction

Expect a lot of "lessons-to-learn" tips from the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.

Here's my first offering: Expect to see calls for a massive overhaul of the black box system.

Why can't they send all the information immediately via satellite to storage facilities that allow the information to be held for a long time?