nananan

Kim, is there a reason you MUST have the last word?

Dora

Kim doesn't get the last word just yet: <BR>Now she's assuming that everyone traveling in coach willingly chooses it instead of business class or better -- as if we're all just too stingy to shell out the money. Or is she bragging that she doesn't have to? <BR> <BR>And since I'll never know myself, do the people in business class take a vote about shades up or down for the movie, or do they get live entertainment instead? <BR> <BR> <BR>

kim

You guys have absolutely no sense of humor.

john

I don't understand the vehement hostility towards Kim, who, after all, was just expressing her opinion like the rest of us. <BR> <BR>But anyway, the blinds issue is just one of many irreconcilable differences that occur when a number of people have to share a tiny, uncomfortable space for a prolonged period of time. I believe that the way to handle these things is to communicate with fellow travelers in a pleasant way. For instance, I would prefer to have to shade down during a long flight so that I could sleep. If someone just kept the shade up the whole time and just completely ignored the fact that I might have a preference, I would be annoyed. If, however, that same person said "Do you mind if I leave the shade open so that I can read?," I would be perfectly agreeable. Similarly, I get annoyed when people with screaming children just look around and smile like we are all supposed to think it is cute. But when they say something like "I hope my child doesn't disturb you," or "I'm sorry he's crying. His ears must be bothering him," or something like that, it reminds me that its not their fault, that they're not being deliberately rude, etc. <BR> <BR>As for the blinds issue, most people keep the blinds down during the flight. Its therefore probably what most people prefer. Carole of course has a right to keep the blind up if she wants, but I think the best way to handle it would be to say right off to the person next to her "Hello. I prefer to keep the blinds up on flights so that I can read. I hope that doesn't bother you." Most people are reasonable. <BR> <BR>By the way--in my opinion, a worse problem than the blinds is the issue about putting your seat all the way back. I believe that should be reserved for after the meal has been served and people start going to sleep. Nothing irritates me more than people who put their seat all the way back as soon as the plane takes off, so that I have even less room and can't use the tray space.

ohnomrbill

I don't believe it!

lola

Has anybody had the nerve to ask the passenger in front of you if he/she would put the seat up while you're eating, and if so, what happened? <BR>My own feeling is that in a closed capsule 35k feet up we should all give a little, lighten up, and be thankful we're moving forward.

kim

At the risk of being accused of "having" to have the last word I'd like to thank John not only for supporting me but making several salient points. And to clarify, I travel in coach like just about everyone else I know. I jokingly refer to it as "steerage" because that's how it feels like we're treated sometimes and that appears to be what is fueling "air rage." And, apparently, based on some of the dour responses here, robbing people of their humor.

Dave

Many times I sat in back of the only person in the plane who puts his/her seat all the way back as soon as he/she can. Very infutiating. But when I ask him/her to please put up the seat while the meal is served, no one has refused. Ask nicely. What bother me is the lady who waers

Dave

What bothers me is the lady who wears smelly perfume. There should be a big sign telling people to please not apply perfume when in a confined area such as a plane or theater. It is a matter of being considerate to others which can't stand perfume. It is just not reasonable

Sandy

Reply to Jordan: <BR> <BR>If you had actually read my message correctly, I said that I suffered the sun in my face for 1 hour of the cross-country trip - NOT to entire trip (yeah, I know about geometry and geography, etc. duh!) My point was merely to add my opinion that his boorish lack of consideration for a fellow passenger's situation was nothing but cruel. (Yes, put yourself out for a stranger for no other reason than it would be the right thing to do -What a concept! Apparently foreign to some of you on this board). I do not consider asking someone to lower a window shade a great hardship to endure under those circumstances. What if it had been you with the glare of the sun in your eyes, hum?

judy

Put on your sun glasses!!!!!!!!!!

Scott K

Seriously!!! <BR>Do you "own" the right to that seat and the shade?? I have wintessed ONE flight attendant on ONE airline threaten a passenger that if the did not pull the shade it would be just as if they had not put out a smoke!!! <BR>I am nutral in the argument but am interested to see any response.

Dora

I would have taken that flight attendant's name and raised hell later. It's not even a close parallel. Cigarette smoke is a health problem, and smoking is clearly against published rules on non-smoking flights. Until sunlight is proven a health risk and there are required-closed-shade flights, no one should be able to require a closed shade -- especially if, as would be the case with me, someone's health is threatened by a closed shade: if I can't orient with the horizon during turbulence or take-off or landing, I will throw up(not willingly or purposely out of spite, I assure you.)

kam

Since the airlines charge for headphones in coach, I would be interested to know what percentage of the passengers purchase them on average! In my last several flights around the U.S., most of the passengers on our flights were NOT watching the movie! Wondering if that's true in your experience as well. If so, maybe we could open the windows and look at the clouds, if we so chose! Just a thought!

Joanna

It would seem that the sooner the personal video screens become standard on all long haul flights, the better! You can then please yourself and they don't require darkness to work. You can control the brightness yourself.

skank

I like fresh air, so you can imagine my annoyance at being asked to close the door on my last flight. It was very upsetting as I was horribly air sick as a result.

julie

Folks!Folks! Why all the rancor??? Who would have guessed? Can't you put it behind you. Listen, I got chastized for complaining more than once about the fat guy (who had the bulkhead already) refusing to put his seatback up at mealtime. He flatly said "no" "I am too fat to eat unless I lie back" and when the steward asked him nicely to consider the lady behind him, he said "I don't care". Now, I have gotten pretty much over that, but my message is IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE CONSIDERATE, I GUESS NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU. But remember, you could sometime be on the receiving end of the rudeness too! So folks, let's get over it, and get a life. Maybe some of you out there need more to do.

paul

Just go by the golden rule here, tempered by your own needs for comfort. Maybe offer to shut it and nap during the abbreviated movie 90 minutes or so. And have it open the rest of the time to read. I probably would not close it for the entire flight. After all you are a paying customer just as everyone else is. If its very important to you, don't shut it.

Tim

Yes, please close the blind.

Stephanie

Shade up or Shade down? Seat up or seat back? Too much perfume, cig smoke, or whatever! All of these things would not be so much of a problem if everyone thought of the other fellow first. Also, there is more than one way around the block. Like Roger said, see if you can reach a compromise. L@@k for other solutions to the problem. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar and I have found that I get a much better response from people when I treat them kindly instead of insisting on having things MY WAY. L@@k at the big picture - ask yourself "how important is it that I get my way on this"? If it's not that important, let the other fellow have is way. It's only one measly day out of your whole life... so don't worry, be happy!