Most irritating person near you on a flight.
Aug 14th, 2003, 10:03 AM
#4
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Some people are civilized. The rest you have to learn how to ignore or tolerate unless you're willing to confront. Who wants to confront a selfish idiot when you're traveling for pleasure? I wish they'd all just stay home.
Aug 14th, 2003, 10:10 AM
#5
I was flying from Los Angeles to Miami. When I got to my seat, I saw that the man sitting next to me weighed about 500 pounds (no kidding). He had put the armrest up and was flabbing (new verb) over into my space.
I asked the flight attendant if I could have another seat, and she apologetically (really) said the flight was completely full. They even went up to first class to see if anything was available.
Somehow my seat neighbor was able to put the armrest down for takeoff, but as soon as we were in the air, up it went and his body encroached into my seating area (think "The Blob" with Steve Mcqueen). I wanted to say something, but what could I have said, "Hey buddy, could you please get skinnier for the next 5 1/2 hours?"
As soon as I could get up, I went over to the area where the flight attendants were and they said I could hang with them for as long as I wanted (obviously this was prior to 9-11).
So I spent much of my flight dividing my time between uncomfortable sitting next to "the big guy" and standing and chatting with the flight attendants. They felt badly for me, so they gave me free cocktails (no mai tais, however).
This situation is why I believe a person who is grossly overweight should definitely have to pay for two seats.
I asked the flight attendant if I could have another seat, and she apologetically (really) said the flight was completely full. They even went up to first class to see if anything was available.
Somehow my seat neighbor was able to put the armrest down for takeoff, but as soon as we were in the air, up it went and his body encroached into my seating area (think "The Blob" with Steve Mcqueen). I wanted to say something, but what could I have said, "Hey buddy, could you please get skinnier for the next 5 1/2 hours?"
As soon as I could get up, I went over to the area where the flight attendants were and they said I could hang with them for as long as I wanted (obviously this was prior to 9-11).
So I spent much of my flight dividing my time between uncomfortable sitting next to "the big guy" and standing and chatting with the flight attendants. They felt badly for me, so they gave me free cocktails (no mai tais, however).
This situation is why I believe a person who is grossly overweight should definitely have to pay for two seats.
Aug 14th, 2003, 10:18 AM
#9
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Hi Janda!
I travel quite a bit for my job and the person I HATE to sit next to "THE TALKER." You know, the one who doesn't shut up the whole way! I usually try to pre-empt any in-flight talking by having my handy-dandy Walkman out and ready to go. Nine times out of ten this works.
One time, however, this woman got on board (I was already there with my headphones on and book open) who actually tapped me on the shoulder and, when I took my headphones off expecting her to tell me something A) Important and B) Brief said, "HI, my name's Kayla! What's yours?" I was like, "Nice to meet you Kayla. I'm Jennie. (all polite like my mom taught me.)" and started to put the headphones back on BUT she was like, "So . . . are you coming or going!" Just as chipper as could be!
Well, before you know it, despite all my best efforts, I am deep in conversation with Kayla who was on her way to Chicago to live with her sister because her (Kayla, not the sister) husband had left her for their dog groomer and she (Kayla, not the sister) just felt so betrayed she couldn't even be around the DOG anymore (?!) and how lucky I was to not be married because men are awful creatures and, if I did get married, I should NOT get a dog that needs professional grooming because apparently dog groomers are KNOWN for this kind of behavior (?!), etc., etc., etc. . . . for 2 hours. I mean, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! I mean, by the end of the flight I hated men too! Ha-Ha!
Now, don't get me wrong. I felt for Kayla, I did. I mean, to not only lose your man but your DOG to the same floozy must really suck. But still . . .
Jennie
I travel quite a bit for my job and the person I HATE to sit next to "THE TALKER." You know, the one who doesn't shut up the whole way! I usually try to pre-empt any in-flight talking by having my handy-dandy Walkman out and ready to go. Nine times out of ten this works.
One time, however, this woman got on board (I was already there with my headphones on and book open) who actually tapped me on the shoulder and, when I took my headphones off expecting her to tell me something A) Important and B) Brief said, "HI, my name's Kayla! What's yours?" I was like, "Nice to meet you Kayla. I'm Jennie. (all polite like my mom taught me.)" and started to put the headphones back on BUT she was like, "So . . . are you coming or going!" Just as chipper as could be!
Well, before you know it, despite all my best efforts, I am deep in conversation with Kayla who was on her way to Chicago to live with her sister because her (Kayla, not the sister) husband had left her for their dog groomer and she (Kayla, not the sister) just felt so betrayed she couldn't even be around the DOG anymore (?!) and how lucky I was to not be married because men are awful creatures and, if I did get married, I should NOT get a dog that needs professional grooming because apparently dog groomers are KNOWN for this kind of behavior (?!), etc., etc., etc. . . . for 2 hours. I mean, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! I mean, by the end of the flight I hated men too! Ha-Ha!
Now, don't get me wrong. I felt for Kayla, I did. I mean, to not only lose your man but your DOG to the same floozy must really suck. But still . . .
Jennie
Aug 14th, 2003, 10:20 AM
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I think the prize winner for obnoxious and disgusting nearby passenger on a trans Atlantic flight was a physician from India who was sitting next to my wife in the 3=3=3 seating arrangement on a B777 headed for Paris.
He actually started telling her about his sex life with multiple wives and urging her to drink wine.
Finally I said in a normal tone:
Is that ((*&^*(( bothering you? If so we trade seats.
He heard me and shut up.
The most charming airline seat mate on a 3-3-3 confiuration was a physican from Spain who spoke no English. He did however speak very good German having gone to medical school in Germany. He was very patient with my broken German, and we had a nice conversation.
He of course did most of the talking.
I did a lot of head nodding.
But the overall, total winner for all time has to be the elderly Swiss man who sat beside me on the train from Bern to Spiez when we were enroute to Interlaken Ost. He spoke no English but like the Spanish physician he was willing to pick up the pieces of my broken German.
He spoke to us of his past when he was a mountain guide. He talked emotionally of climbing axes, crampons, rope, and pitons, avalanches, blizzards, and the death once of a climbing companion.
Before he left us, he reached in his carrying case and emptied out some polished minerals he had worked on.
He showed them to us and then gave me and my wife one each.
My wife and I have often speculated over why he gave us the minerals. We decided that perhaps he was making this trip to say farewell because he was going to visit old friends who lived across the Thuner See. Or, perhaps it was because I made a tremendous effort to communicate with him even though my spoken German is poor. Perhaps he understood that I too had climbed peaks in Colorado, or, possibly, he appreciated a strange from another nation taking the time to talk to him. I don't know.
This much I do know, however: No souvenier I purchase will ever rival those polished minerals. There are keepsakes that money cannot buy.
He actually started telling her about his sex life with multiple wives and urging her to drink wine.
Finally I said in a normal tone:
Is that ((*&^*(( bothering you? If so we trade seats.
He heard me and shut up.
The most charming airline seat mate on a 3-3-3 confiuration was a physican from Spain who spoke no English. He did however speak very good German having gone to medical school in Germany. He was very patient with my broken German, and we had a nice conversation.
He of course did most of the talking.
I did a lot of head nodding.
But the overall, total winner for all time has to be the elderly Swiss man who sat beside me on the train from Bern to Spiez when we were enroute to Interlaken Ost. He spoke no English but like the Spanish physician he was willing to pick up the pieces of my broken German.
He spoke to us of his past when he was a mountain guide. He talked emotionally of climbing axes, crampons, rope, and pitons, avalanches, blizzards, and the death once of a climbing companion.
Before he left us, he reached in his carrying case and emptied out some polished minerals he had worked on.
He showed them to us and then gave me and my wife one each.
My wife and I have often speculated over why he gave us the minerals. We decided that perhaps he was making this trip to say farewell because he was going to visit old friends who lived across the Thuner See. Or, perhaps it was because I made a tremendous effort to communicate with him even though my spoken German is poor. Perhaps he understood that I too had climbed peaks in Colorado, or, possibly, he appreciated a strange from another nation taking the time to talk to him. I don't know.
This much I do know, however: No souvenier I purchase will ever rival those polished minerals. There are keepsakes that money cannot buy.
Aug 14th, 2003, 10:26 AM
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Oh, Bob Brown, how lovely ~
Actually the worst thing that has happened to me has been to sit in a fog of garlic from someone sitting behind me. That and the people over the years who feel they must talk loudly and kick the seat on night flights.
Actually the worst thing that has happened to me has been to sit in a fog of garlic from someone sitting behind me. That and the people over the years who feel they must talk loudly and kick the seat on night flights.
Aug 14th, 2003, 10:34 AM
#13
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I was once sitting next to a young man that was either emotionally or physically disabled. Perhaps both. He rocked back and forth nearly the whole flight, making noises, kind of talking to himself. It was a full flight. I was relieved when it was over.
Wed., on a return flight from NYC, a woman and a young boy, perhaps 7 years old, sat behind us. When they first walked by, I could tell that something wasn't quite "right" with him. During the flight he was mostly quiet, but would occaisionally erupt with noises that were unintelligible. At first I was perturbed, then I started to think...there but for the grace of God...and tried to imagine myself with a child with such a disability. I went from mildly aggrivated to feeling a bit of pity, and thinking that this woman was obviously an angel.
Wed., on a return flight from NYC, a woman and a young boy, perhaps 7 years old, sat behind us. When they first walked by, I could tell that something wasn't quite "right" with him. During the flight he was mostly quiet, but would occaisionally erupt with noises that were unintelligible. At first I was perturbed, then I started to think...there but for the grace of God...and tried to imagine myself with a child with such a disability. I went from mildly aggrivated to feeling a bit of pity, and thinking that this woman was obviously an angel.
Aug 14th, 2003, 10:38 AM
#14
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This isn't really too bad, but I was already irritated because our flight was delayed and I was on my way back from vacation, not on my way...I was sitting in the middle and the man who had the window seat was already seated when I got on (he didn't board with the correct "group"). He had his briefcase underneath the seat in front of him but it actually took up most of the space underneath the seat in front of me too. He took off his shoes and put them under my seat - no socks! Not only that, he already had two pillows which he placed on both armrests. So, I had no room for my bag and couldn't put my arm on the armrests. And, every time he needed something out of his briefcase, he would jab me in the foot as he was taking it out.
Aug 14th, 2003, 10:43 AM
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The first time I ever flew to Europe, I was 16 and with my parents. It was a charter flight for regular and adjunct faculty of a major university (my father had been supervising social work grad student interns, so was "faculty" and eligible for this extra cheap flight), so this nut sitting in front of my father was apparently a well schooled nut. Throughout the flight she spouted off about the perils of sitting near the escape door, announcing to anyone within earshot that we were in danger of being sucked out if the hinges were loose or the lock was insecure. She apparently had some weird fetish about not having unsightly scraps on her dinner plate. At meal time, when she finished eating her apple, she poked her bony arm back through the space between seats and placed her apple core on my father's plate!
Aug 14th, 2003, 10:46 AM
#16
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Once, on a evening flight by myself many, many years ago, the man sitting next to me had a few too many cocktails and decided that I was his "pumpkin." (I kid you not.) I was more shocked than anything else, because I was wearing a wedding band! I was young enough and newly married enough to think that my band made me invincible to airline Lotharios. Now of course I am an old battleaxe, and pumpkins seekers are quickly turned into pie.
Aug 14th, 2003, 10:55 AM
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maitaitom, The worst thing that happened to me on my first and only flight was when you embarrased me in front of everyone around me by refusing to sit next to me. I tried so hard to keep myself out of your personal space but could not.
When you and the flight attendant were laughing about me it was unbearable. I overheard the passengers behind me making jokes about it. I couldn't afford a first class seat with more room. Before I boarded I was dreading the thought of someone sitting next to me, humiliating me like they do at work and in public.
It doesn't hurt me that you call me a Blob because I have heard it so many times. But I wish you would have resonded to me when I said Hello. I'm not a bad person.
Aug 14th, 2003, 11:22 AM
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On a flight to Paris: After meal service, I take a nap. I have been sleeping with my legs stretched out in front of me, and I wake up and tuck them under my seat. Only I hit something when I do that, and look down to see that the man in the next seat has stretched himself along the floor along all 4 seats in the middle section! He angrily says something to me (that I didn't understand)and then proceeds to rearrange his jacket/pillow and goes back to sleep. I had no place to put my feet except back in the original position. A flight attendant asked him to move and he sort of curled up a little, but was still mostly under my legs!
Aug 14th, 2003, 11:22 AM
#20
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I've got several options to choose from:
1) On a recent flight from Baku to London, I got bumped to first class because the flight was overbooked. Yippee! Wrong. I got seated next to a man who had THREE cocktails before lunch was served, FIVE glasses of wine with lunch, and then THREE more cocktails after the meal service. Needless to say, he wreaked of alcohol after the first two drinks! But then he got so tipsy that he knocked over a glass of whisky (his), and then the armrests and part of seat got soaked. All I could smell was whisky for the rest of the 6.5 hour flight!
2) On another recent flight from Boston to London, I was trying not to congratulate myself on having the first row in economy to myself when a family of four (parents, 1 year old and 4 year old) weer moved into the seats next to me. I had an aisle seat and hoped for the best. Well, I won't fault the kids because they are just kids, but the parents were just horrible. The one year old was placed in one of those bassinet things and cried most of the way there--I don't blame her! Her parents let her pee in the bassinet, didn't put any diapers on her, and then just looked the other way when she started to decorate her seat with baby food--ala Jackson Pollock. It was truly disgusting and I tried very hard not to notice. But then the 4 year old, who was seated next to me, started to fall asleep (he was actually very well behaved compared to the parents) abd kept falling on me. I would move him gently back into his seat. The father saw me do this several times and not once acknowledged any of it. Not once did he move his son for me. Neither parents said a word to anyone throughout the flight. I was so glad when the plane landed.
1) On a recent flight from Baku to London, I got bumped to first class because the flight was overbooked. Yippee! Wrong. I got seated next to a man who had THREE cocktails before lunch was served, FIVE glasses of wine with lunch, and then THREE more cocktails after the meal service. Needless to say, he wreaked of alcohol after the first two drinks! But then he got so tipsy that he knocked over a glass of whisky (his), and then the armrests and part of seat got soaked. All I could smell was whisky for the rest of the 6.5 hour flight!
2) On another recent flight from Boston to London, I was trying not to congratulate myself on having the first row in economy to myself when a family of four (parents, 1 year old and 4 year old) weer moved into the seats next to me. I had an aisle seat and hoped for the best. Well, I won't fault the kids because they are just kids, but the parents were just horrible. The one year old was placed in one of those bassinet things and cried most of the way there--I don't blame her! Her parents let her pee in the bassinet, didn't put any diapers on her, and then just looked the other way when she started to decorate her seat with baby food--ala Jackson Pollock. It was truly disgusting and I tried very hard not to notice. But then the 4 year old, who was seated next to me, started to fall asleep (he was actually very well behaved compared to the parents) abd kept falling on me. I would move him gently back into his seat. The father saw me do this several times and not once acknowledged any of it. Not once did he move his son for me. Neither parents said a word to anyone throughout the flight. I was so glad when the plane landed.
