There are randomly some winners from the Heathrow shutdown, with a precious few saying fly me for a reason let that diversion be Scotland.
We learned from the many interviews with travellers of parties from New Orleans who had intended on coming up north from London.
And that this had saved them a journey.
Of course, not to make light of the hundreds of thousands of travellers who have been inconvenienced by the disruption caused by the fire at the airport.
But we’re reminded of visitors to this isle being rerouted to Scotland an age ago and causing a mighty stir.
Crazy Horses of the air
The Osmonds were at Beatlemania height when they visited Britain in 1972.
And teeny heart-throb Donny recalled: ‘After our first flight into Heathrow, we were banned from further landings there.
‘When part of a balcony collapsed beneath the amount of fans who had shown up.
‘Gatwick wouldn’t take us either, so we had to fly to Scotland and take a train down to London.’
While Donny was big there was and never has been anyone as big as Elvis Presley who was also rerouted to Scotland.
Return to sender
When on March 3, 1960 The King‘s plane touched down in Prestwick, south of Glasgow for refuelling.
On his way back from American military camp in West Germany he was met by 200 screaming fans.
They’d heard on the grapevine of a VIP arriving in their backyard.
And took a punt that it might be Sgt Presley.
It’s now or never
Lieutenant Colonel Ed Miller recalled: ‘I remember it well. I got the job as Sgt. Presley’s escort.
‘Probably because I was a professional musician before the war.
‘He was an extremely pleasant, sincere young man who took the time and trouble to speak to everyone he met’.
Now, those weary travellers who have found themselves unwittingly redirected from Heathrow to Scotland are right to feel sorry for themselves.
But at least they can say that they have followed in the footsteps of The Osmonds and Elvis Presley.
And maybe others might want to say… fly me for a reason let that diversion be Scotland.