'I sat next to 80s pop icons on flight and their reaction to my one request amazed me'

I’m off to Amsterdam for a solo birthday jaunt following an utterly exhausting spell at work. So what better way to wind down than treating myself to a break in the land of tulips, cheese and four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen?

Little did I expect that my quest for Dutch delight would lead to an astonishing mid-flight birthday surprise. We had just taken off from Heathrow when a flight attendant came by to ask about my choice of refreshments and snacks.

“Surprise me,” I responded, which led her to list the usual offerings – fizzy drinks, tea, coffee and the stronger options. In a bold mood, I opted for my preferred drink.

“Oooh, I’ll have a gin and tonic, please. I feel great,” I exclaimed, brimming with anticipation. After all, you only live once. The charming air hostess then handed me a plastic cup, some Fever-Tree tonic water and two small bottles of gin.

At that moment, an unexpected twist unfolded – a slim guy with chunky black noise-cancelling headphones in the seat in front turned around, his expression beaming after catching wind of my choice of drink.

Another chap, donning a dark jacket and impeccably groomed hair, sitting next to me, remarked: “Ooh, that’s a great choice!” To which I retorted: “I’m on holiday, mate. It’s a great time to have fun.”

To my sheer millennial astonishment, I realised exactly who these guys were. They weren’t mere regular travellers. They were icons of one of Britain’s most storied pop bands, en route to a gig in the Netherlands. And there I was, sharing the same plane with them.

Level 42 reigned as one of the titans of the global music scene in the 1980s, as their slick, sophisticated and exceptional tunes – blending pop, rock and jazz funk – epitomised the sound of the decade. The band sold a staggering 31 million records and racked up six top 10 hits.

This year is particularly momentous as the group celebrates the 40th anniversary of their most successful album, World Machine, being released with a UK and European tour. Ten dates have already sold out, including their massive show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on October 22.

The man who acknowledged my drink choice with a smile was none other than Mike Lindup, the band’s keyboard maestro and long-standing member. Next to him was Mark King, the bassist and original founder, casually dressed in a black tee and exuding his characteristic youthful vigour.

And the fellow beside me? That was Nathan King, Mark’s younger brother and guitarist who joined the band in 2001 after the initial line-up – which included brothers Phil and Rowland “Boon” Gould – disbanded in 1994.

I was barely out of nappies when Level 42 were belting out their iconic tunes, yet it wasn’t until the tail end of the 1990s that I truly discovered their genius, all while I discovered the heady worlds of new wave, synthpop, alternative rock and goth rock.

The band’s timeless classic, Something About You, still strikes a chord as deeply now as it did in its heyday of 1985, storming the top 10 on both sides of the pond. And who could forget Lessons In Love from 1986? Their catalogue is jam-packed with bangers and I’m over the moon that I tuned in.

In a stroke of luck, I found myself buzzing with anticipation when I asked Nathan for a small favour: “Do you reckon Mike and Mark would have some time for me to say hello to them? I just want to thank them for creating such great music all these years and for sticking around to celebrate World Machine this year.”

Nathan’s reply was nothing short of touching: “Yeah, they will, mate. That’s really nice of you to say that about us.”

Our chat drifted through Nathan’s escapades with Level 42, his Dutch wife and the band’s colossal following in the Far East. “Ah, you guys are probably bigger than Beyoncé and Katy Perry over in that part of the world,” I remarked to Nathan.

The guitarist revealed all about their whirlwind trip to Amsterdam; they were on their way to headline the Dijkpop Festival in Andijk, a village some 39 miles north of the Dutch capital. In a true show of commitment, they had plans to go back to Britain that same night aboard the overnight ferry.

As our conversation drew to a close, I realised I had an extra bottle of gin on hand. “Would you like it?” I offered Nathan.

“You sure? You don’t have to,” he responded. I pressed him to take it as a small gesture of goodwill – it’s not every day you meet such grounded celebrities who are completely devoid of airs and graces.

With Schiphol Airport almost in sight, Nathan introduced me to Mike and then Mark. “It truly is an honour to see you both. World Machine is one of the best albums you’ve made and I’m glad you’re both still here touring,” I told them.

“Thanks very much. That means a lot to us,” Mark replied, shaking my hand, clearly touched by the comment. “It’s really nice to hear our music cutting across many generations, so thank you.”

Then we got onto the subject of football. Mike’s a die-hard Tottenham Hotspur supporter and I showed him a photo of another celeb I’d bumped into at Heathrow earlier. It was Ange Postecoglou, the manager sacked by Spurs despite leading them to their first silverware since 2008.

“I think I shook his hand earlier today at the lounge,” exclaimed Mark. “I don’t think I saw him there,” admitted Mike, which surprised me given his fervour for the club.

After wrapping up our sports discussion, we landed and the band graciously agreed to a selfie. We located the ideal spot in the arrivals area before bidding each other farewell. This encounter was unquestionably the pinnacle of my birthday festivities.

Intriguingly, it appeared I was the only person who recognised them, despite the other passengers being roughly the same age as Level 42’s members. All I can express is that I had a smashing story to recount to my friends back home. Mingling with Level 42 until the sun – or in this instance, the plane – goes down.

They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes due to the risk of disillusionment. However, my recent encounter with one of the most legendary 80s bands proved to be an exception in more ways than one. Or should I say, on more levels?

Level 42’s World Machine 40th anniversary tour runs between September 18 and November 17. Click here for more information.