P.S. I know everyone has pet peeves and that there are many other things people have to put up with while flying. These are just some that have repeatedly been an issue in my experience. Please feel free to add any other helpful ways to handle such annoyances. That is, good ideas that are "allowed". - I know about the ones such as sticking a shim into the recline mechanism but just wouldn't ever do that myself!

P.S. I know everyone has pet peeves and that there are many other things people have to put up with while flying. These are just some that have repeatedly been an issue in my experience. Please feel free to add any other helpful ways to handle such annoyances. That is, good ideas that are "allowed". - I know about the ones such as sticking a shim into the recline mechanism but just wouldn't ever do that myself!

Bring some good noise canceling or noise isolating headphones. That will solve 80% of your problem. Plus, that way you can use your own headphones for inflight entertainment (when available) and not cheap ones from the airline.

As for people in front reclining, forget about it and just prepare that will happen anyways. They have every right to, so nothing can be done. If you sit properly, the seatback will not whack onto your knees, no matter how tall you are. You shouldn't be folding up your knees up near the tray. During meal service, you can ask that person in front (or have a flight attendant, for certain airlines, ask) to pull the seats forward.

You can't change ANY of that - so good ear plugs and/or noise canceling headphones . . . .

I don't see why your husband couldn't tell the person sitting in front of him that he has a bad knee and politely ask the person, since he is tall, not to recline suddenly all the way back. He would just need to explain the pain it can cause and ask them to be careful.

I am NOT saying he should ask them not to recline, or to recline only partway. That might serve only to anger them. But it just seems like given his knee problems and his height, it is reasonable for him to ask not to be hit in the knee without warning. And that way, if they do it anyway, he could remind them of the request he had made and ask them not to recline suddenly again.

Although my husband is just of average height, he's long from hip to knee, and always feels cramped on planes. Many years ago, a very obese man in front of him kept throwing his seat back and whacking my husband in the knees.

When my husband, a very polite guy, asked the man to just let my husband know when he was going to put the seat back, the man took great offense, got very angry--he and his wife were yelling so much and speaking to my husband in such a threatening manner that the crew had the air marshall meet the plane and escort these two people off, none too gently.

Thanks for the replies. Some good points. However, rkkwan, you are obviously not 6'3", w/much of your ht. due to long legs! For CERTAIN my husband has to sit with his legs either over to the side or spread apart at opposite angles, even though his height is not unusually tall. His knees definitely DO bump into the seatback in front of him on most planes.

I am definitely not 6'3". In fact, I am a lot shorter than that and have an inferior complex. So don't try to get sympathy from me, since tall people have a lot of advantages in life over shorter ones, you have to find your sympathies from others. All I know is that there is a lot of foot room under the seat in front of you. You don't have to sit with your knees against the seat back.

But i do agree with Cranachin - you can politely ask the person not to recline abruptly. Maybe he/she will try to help you out with it.

All these complaints are shared by anyone who travels - so no solution. For this specific trip, book aisle seat with bad knee along aisle - then he can move it around a bit more. Problem of snoring overweight man should be solved by putting you next to him. Never seen or heard anyone shuffling cards on a flight, but agree it would be annoying - sit near engines and that sound will drown it out.

But flying is so hateful these days that no one is comfortable and everyone is doing whatever they can to make it bearable for themselves - unfortunately sometimes at cost to other passengers. (Still hoping my "Pay 20% more and fly like a human being" airline idea will happen - but as long as people demand lowest cost air, they will get lowest level of comfort)

Regarding the fierce seat reclining - somethimes that is the only way to get the seat to actually recline. And it is impossible to determine if the seat reached its full recline level because it reached its endpoint or because it hit your husband's knee. (Unless he screams at offender). I rarely recline my seat - but this is the way they seem to work on most older planes.

More and more international airlines are starting to install premium economy sections in their planes. That 4-8" additional pitch is well worth the price.

I'm 6'7", with back and knee issues. In an airplane seat, my knees are aboutthisclose to the seat in front of me.
I'm not looking for sympathy. I'm only looking for a 'heads-up' type of warning before the person in front of me decides to recline thier seat back.

And I'm going to stay away from the 'height' issue. The door swings both ways. Tall people have a great deal of challenges as well.

Won't work for everyone, I know, but my solution, because I love to travel, in comfort please, and intend to continue doing so as frequently as I can until I'm 84 years old (that's when my Mom finally decided she had to stop) is two-fold:

1)I collect miles every possible way I can for use in upgrading flights/seats, and use all the potential benefits of my airline's frequent flyer club to the max.

2)I cut my expenses to the bone every way I can. All the money saved goes into a travel fund so I can afford upgradeable seats - this means no $4 a day at Starbucks; packing my own lunches from home rather than eating lunches out; driving a perfectly fine, small 15-year-old car; no big fancy house, just the same little one I raised my family in and have lived in for almost 40 years; no big fancy television; borrowing books from the library rather than purchasing; not upgrading perfectly good equipment and clothing simply because something new, flashier or more fashionable comes out; etc; etc; etc - well, you get the idea.

Being able to travel the world in comfort, with long overnight flights in lie-flat beds, makes all the little sacrifices more than worthwhile.

On our recent flight from Fiji to LA on Air Pacific, the flight attendants announced that they would begin serving and to please adjust your seat to the upright position. This was the first time I had ever experienced that!

My brother is 6'8" and his knees actually make kind of an "anti recline"feature for the person in front of him. He has gotten some nasty looks from people when they can't recline their seat with him sitting behind - but there is nothing he can do! Just be reminded that we all have our "handicaps" - some are just more obvious than others...

SQ's FA do tell passengers to return the seat to upright position during meal times as a courtesy to others.

I do it myself on any airline, any flight, unless there's nobody behind me. Whether that person is 4'10" or 7'.

Many US airlines now sell bulkhead or "choice" seats with extra legroom or knee room at a cost; either at booking or at check-in. I hope those tall people who're having it so tough pay that modest fees (from a few bucks per flight to about $350 a year on United). They'll be happier and the person in front will be happier. And I wish they were exclusively flying American Airlines some years ago when they offered "more room throughout coach".

There is not a single thing you can do about any of them, except relax and get over it, try not to obsess. Personally my cure to these and others (crying babies, people who won't quit talking, etc.) is to have a few glasses of wine and listen to the audio programs provided on the plane, sit back and relax and remember I'm on vacation!

The problem, RK, is that not every airline sells those seats -- and they're limited. I'm 6-8, and although I don't fly enough to justify the $350 annual fee on United, I absolutely consider it money well spent to get the PE upgrade on a per-flight basis. If I'm not on an airline with PE, I'll get to the airport extra early to try to get a bulkhead or exit. The problem is those seats are obviously limited, the agents aren't always so sympathetic and the people who do get them sometimes refuse to give them up. That's particularly annoying when they're not tall and really don't need to be sitting there.
And yes, when AA had the extra legroom, I went out of my way to fly them. I'd do the same with Jetblue if they flew more places from where I live.


"Many US airlines now sell bulkhead or "choice" seats with extra legroom or knee room at a cost; either at booking or at check-in. I hope those tall people who're having it so tough pay that modest fees (from a few bucks per flight to about $350 a year on United). They'll be happier and the person in front will be happier. And I wish they were exclusively flying American Airlines some years ago when they offered "more room throughout coach".

I hear people shuffling cards on many flight I take. It is so annoying and don't understand how those doing don't it understand this I hope anyone reading this will not do it and pass it on. .

I know my "complaints" make me sound like a whiner (and yes, I'm whining here), but our upcoming flights will be about 13 hrs. long, so the annoyances will no doubt seem somewhat magnified.

Quark, I'd bring along a few soft mousepads to hand out if I thought the shufflers wouldn't take offense - lol! A big part of my reason for mentioning these issues is for exactly the same reason as you. Maybe, just maybe, someone who hasn't thought of these things will try to be slightly more considerate the next time they fly. (I really try hard to think of those around me when I fly.)

Lance, your comment about a heads up from the person about to recline is the passenger behavior I am after. I usually at least glance at who is behind me in a plane so I know if I'll need to watch how much I recline.

We're not flying on a U.S. Airline and the one we are flying on does not sell bulkhead seats. Since we are part of a group rate, I imagine the seats designated for us are likely to be the center isle seats and fat chance of getting a bulkhead seat.

abram, your comments about the couple who took offense and acted rudely are exactly why many of us don't like having to request of a passenger where their "reclining rights" are concerned, esp. There are just too many people w/chips on their shoulders like the ones you mentioned. I prefer to think MOST people are understanding, but it's surprising how many are not.

julia, like you we collect the miles. EVERYTHING goes on a mileage/points card & we never use the points towards anything else they can be used for. ONLY for free flights.

Someone mentioned that my husband should sit next to the isle with the bad knee torwards the isle. He already does that when possible. It does help w/the bad knee.

rkkwan, I am only 5'5" and, on occassion, people have even hit MY knees when they recline. I "get it" about short people having challenges everyday when I try to reach the top shelves of our cabinets!Also, w/re to your other comment, a tall person's shins sometimes dig into the bottom of the seatback if they try to put their feet under the seat in front of them.

Yes, it's REALLY too bad AA changed those seats they used to have!

Do you use sound cancelling headphones. Seriously!!

Won't help with the seat reclining but should take care of the rest of the complaints.

Also since it's 13 hrs. hopefully that's an overnight flight? And at least most of the passengers will calm down and try to get some sleep when they lower the cabin lights for the night.

I just go to my happy place when flying and wait for it to be over - basically put myself in neutral for awhile.

My pet peeve for airline travel: When you take an overnight flight, and a woman monopolizes the bathroom in the morning to put on her make-up, while everyone else is waiting to relieve themselves! (And I'm female, by the way). I think it's more considerate to use the airport restroom for make-up after landing.

I have found that the older one gets, the easier it is to sit still and/or sleep for 10+ hour flights. And we take several of these trips a year. So you young folks have something to look forward to.

38 years as a flight attendant and I have never seen someone shuffling cards on a flight- but all the other annoying stuff you mentioned I have.Just when I think that I have seen or heard it all on my international flights a new "one" happens.That is why my job is so interesting.
The traveling public never ceases to amaze me on what they do to their fellow travelers in terms of courtesies?

I fly alot and have never experienced card shuffling - perhaps I've just been lucky.

I use earplugs AND noise cancelling headphones. I select a New Age or Easy Listening channel, plug in my Bose noise cancelling headphones, turn the volume very low, and put my headphones over my earplugs. Works for me.

mlbcruiser and I are the only ones who have run into card shufflers. Mine were a pair of guys on a flight from SFO to HKG, in 1st class, when the seats were in pairs instead of suites. 14 hours of aggravating noise, and nothing to be done.

I agree with those who suggest noise canceling headphones or good earbuds (I use Shures), and an IPod with music that's relaxing to you.

What about people who think overnight flights are a time to "catch up"? The first time we took our kids overseas, there were a couple of women in front of us who never shut up. At least it gave me the opportunity to teach my kids a lesson in simple courtesy (Many years ago, on my first trip overseas, I used nail polish on the plane. It didn't even occur to me that others could smell it, and that it would bother people. Someone mentioned it to me, and I'm glad she did. In the 40+ years since, I have been MUCH more considerate of my fellow travelers!

Add me to the "seen card shufflers" group. On more than one flight, but at least they were playing a game in between the shuffles.

Noise-canceling headphones take up too much room.

I just finished a RTW in business class paid for by miles, and am NOT looking forward to going back to the back...

Haha, I was a card shuffler myself. 30 years ago, as a kid, when flying SQ longhaul. They give out playing cards to kids.

Noise isolating ear buds - many companies make them now, though I use Shure myself - are tiny, and no battery required.

"Noise isolating ear buds" - thanks rkkwan. I didn't know they existed, and they'll come in handy for the Y, too.

One huge advantage of the earbuds is that they're enormously easier to use if you're lying on your side, or if you lean the side of your head against the headrest or window. The Shures seem expensive -- I probably paid about $150 for them 10 or 12 years ago -- but they've been worth it, because of the fit (they come with several different sizes/styles of ear fittings, which makes them both comfortable and soundproofish).

I love my Etymotics noise reducing earphones (not noise cancelling-- there is a difference). Mine came with a few different options to customize fit inside the ear for maximum quiet and comfort. I did a lot of research on FT and other sites and also read good things about Shures. People also swear by the big Bose noise cancelling cans, however I think these are difficult to sleep in (bulky, hot, etc., but YMMV).

My bigger pet peeve are people who grab the back my seat when getting out of theirs or when walking down the aisle.

I was flying from London to Sydney and the guy sitting in front of me in economy had the nerve to put his empty breakfast tray under his seat--that is where my feet were. On another flight, I was sitting in First Class in the second row and the people in front of me (bulkhead) put their small bag under their seat. I wanted to say something but I was nice and hoped it was just for take-off and it was.

For economy flights, I'm beginning to like the last row in the front section. With no one behind me, I can put things under my seat, the seat in front of me, and I can recline my seat with no one behind me grabbing my seat when they get up.

"My bigger pet peeve are people who grab the back my seat when getting out of theirs or when walking down the aisle."

Sorry about that, but I'm not as agile as I used to be, and getting out of an economy window seat sometimes requires a little help, especially if the seat in front is reclined. I don't often grab seat backs walking down the aisle on planes (trains are another matter), but if I need to, would you rather I fell on you instead? (If it bothers you that much, try the window seat.)

wally - i thought the last rows at least in economy don't recline? Is that not correct?

Wow some of you people are easily irritated. I try to go with the "we're all in this together" outlook about a plane flight. november-moon said it best. You just need to relax. Getting all worked up about card shuffling, someone needing to hang on to your seatback for a moment, etc. doesn't make it any better.

I'm in the try to zone out and endure group.
But I know what you mean. I've experienced the incessant card shuffling, the 8-hour "catching up" conversation, and most everything mentioned here.
I now wear the Bose noise canceling "cans" for total ear coverage. Inconvenient, as noted, for lying head to side. I will have to try the earplugs inside because I can sometimes still hear too much when it is the couple next to me talking loudly or the card shuffler.
I also find that all this bothers more when I am really exhausted from a difficult trip or not feeling too well. Otherwise I can ignore much more.

Yes, card shuffling. SHUFFLE, SHUFFLE, then BANG BANG BANG to make the stack nice and neat on the tray table. It's not just the sound, it's the intermittent nature of it. And it breaks through the noise canceling headphones. Sigh.

Don't care for the headrest grabbing either, especially when my hair gets grabbed along with the seat.

The seat recline problem is perennial; other than giving fair warning there may not be a solution.

Yes I admit to being easily irritated after 15-20 hours in transit, but I also realize it's a nice problem to have.

Whether last row of economy reclines just depends on how that airline put their seats on that particular model. Some have full recline, some have limited, some have none. Need to check with seatguru.com and then ask around. [Plenty of wrong info on seatguru.com.]

Thursdays,
Try grabbing the armrest instead.

Thursday, that's one of my pet peeves too!

Lucky my last few flights have been way up the front of the plane so that has stopped the seat pullers... but it doesn't stop the sniffers. Oh how I hate sniffing ANYWHERE. Eew.

I love a recent first class flight from Qatar when one arab guy refused to put his seat up when the plane took off. His wives/relatives were so embarassed as the flight attended appealed to them to have him move his seat. He just ignored them. You cannot seem to win sometimes. I feel sorry for the flight attendants having to deal with all the difference traveller nuances.

"Try grabbing the armrest instead."

There is a risk with that strategy. If you miss, your hand could end up on the person't crotch instead.

If you're in a middle seat, the person in the aisle should get up and let you out. Just forget trying to climb over someone. And unless one has fairly serious mobility issues, there is no need to grab the seatback in front of you to get out.

I have some balance issues. And I don't "grab", I put my hand on the back of the seat.

Yes, the person in the last row will want to blow their nose in the middle of the flight, and someone in the front row will want to clear their throat during the flight, but if you get a smooth flight with no babies crying, I think you should give thanks to God. You have had a chance to do something that many just dream about--flying across the world.

(And the person sitting next to you may not have a George W. Bush haircut)

Hopefully, you are flying on a non U.S. airline and you won't have to pay $7 for a glass of wine to put you to sleep.

Many of the above responses sound as though each seat has no relationship to any other, or to people in other seats. Folks, airline seats are not little private enclaves!

Underhill, are you directing your bit of wisdom at the jerks who are rude and abusive or the ones who are bothered by that behavior. Unless one or two of the former slipped in a remark earlier, the ones posting here are the latter.