Trivial Airplane Etiquette Question
#41
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Back to the original question, I'd think that using a barf bag to dispose of a wad of gum is an awful waste of a barf bag? Wouldn't a small piece of paper, or a wrapper, suffice?
Then again, barf bags can be used for all sorts of purposes. Personally, when making my transcon commute I like to have 2 beers enroute. When I order the beers from the FA I will have her put them into a barf bag, and have her top off the bag with ice. Then, I fold the top closed and put it in the seatback for a few minutes. Then, as soon as the urge hits, voila! Ice cold beer! Sure does beat the luke-warm crap that travels up and down in the FA cart, and the FA's like that I am ordering in advance and not bugging them each time I would like to order.
Then again, barf bags can be used for all sorts of purposes. Personally, when making my transcon commute I like to have 2 beers enroute. When I order the beers from the FA I will have her put them into a barf bag, and have her top off the bag with ice. Then, I fold the top closed and put it in the seatback for a few minutes. Then, as soon as the urge hits, voila! Ice cold beer! Sure does beat the luke-warm crap that travels up and down in the FA cart, and the FA's like that I am ordering in advance and not bugging them each time I would like to order.
#42
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OK Jason, then I don't want to hear word one from you when 350 pound smelly person sits next to you. After all, it's their right to be huge and smelly and they paid for their seat as well. People who don't want to sit next to whomever they end up next to should walk.
#44
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90% of the time, my husband and myself who are both tall (I'm 5'11 and he is 6'8) do upgrade to FC if not, we usually get bulkhead or emergency row.
Unfortunately for the person in front of my husband, they cannot recline. The seat will not go back.
It has only been an issue twice. A gentleman in front of husband started yelling at him to move his legs so he could recline his seat and another time a teenager started slamming the seat into husband's legs.
Unfortunately for the person in front of my husband, they cannot recline. The seat will not go back.
It has only been an issue twice. A gentleman in front of husband started yelling at him to move his legs so he could recline his seat and another time a teenager started slamming the seat into husband's legs.
#47
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Grasshopper -
Poor comparison.
Someone who weighs 350 lbs should buy two tickets. If they do not buy two seats, then I'm fine with them sitting next to me provided that not one square inch of their body overhang the armrest onto my side. That armrest is the air traveler's version of the DMZ and should not be crossed lest they run the risk of my massive chemical gas retaliatory strike.
Being smelly (i.e. BO) is anti-social behavior. Reclining in a chair that allows you to recline not anti-social, and is completely acceptable per airline etiquette.
Poor comparison.
Someone who weighs 350 lbs should buy two tickets. If they do not buy two seats, then I'm fine with them sitting next to me provided that not one square inch of their body overhang the armrest onto my side. That armrest is the air traveler's version of the DMZ and should not be crossed lest they run the risk of my massive chemical gas retaliatory strike.
Being smelly (i.e. BO) is anti-social behavior. Reclining in a chair that allows you to recline not anti-social, and is completely acceptable per airline etiquette.
#48
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jor,
I think a mosh pit is a bit different than an airplane. My being shorter than you doesn't make me any more of a tripping obstacle unless I'm lying on the ground. And anyway, when I'm in the mosh pit, I don't expect to be (and never am) treated any different than anyone one else. Nor do I biatch about it!
I think a mosh pit is a bit different than an airplane. My being shorter than you doesn't make me any more of a tripping obstacle unless I'm lying on the ground. And anyway, when I'm in the mosh pit, I don't expect to be (and never am) treated any different than anyone one else. Nor do I biatch about it!
#49
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Getting back to the barf bag topic, I have to preface this by saying that I would classify myself as fairly considerate and much opposed to littering. That said, I don't have a huge problem with her leaving her gum in the bag. My thinking is that if I'm about to get sick, I'm probably not going to be too concerned about how sanitary the barf bag is. Although, good point about the possibility of the bag sticking. Hopefully, she at least had the courtesy to make sure the gum made it to the bottom of the bag.
Great tip on using the bag as a mini cooler.
Great tip on using the bag as a mini cooler.
#50
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I personally do not recline my seat. The extra 0.00008 of an inch does not provide any added comfort for myself. However, when the seat back is reclined on me- it feels like 12 inches taken out of my leg room. Thats when I make sure I kick their seat as often as possible.
#51
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After reading all this I have a question. If a fat person can't sit in one seat s/he is offered (at least by Southwest) to pay for a seat next to him. What about tall people? Should they pay for the seat in front to keep it non-reclined?
#53
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Don't even think about it, Gail, or I'll be the stereotypical seat-neighbor from hell and pester you with annoying questions, stare at you over the headrest of my reclined seat, and do my "sneeze attack" routine that would make even the most seasoned of travelers absolutely sure that I have SARS. You'll regret it.
#54
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jor - although I'm firmly in the recline camp, I have lots of sympathy for you, 'cause my husband is a big guy too. Air travel is misery for him. The worst thing is when fat FAs run into his shoulder every time they go up and down the aile (approximately 3 times/minute). It jars him to the point that it jars MY seat too. I thought maybe he was going to strangle one of them on our last trip. I think fitting completely in the aisle should be a job requirement for FAs. But, you know, I've never heard him complain once when the people in front recline.
Tiberius - not "scream to regulators", change airlines or upgrade. That legislate-everything attitude is a huge problem in this country. People who want to pay for more room have that priviledge. The free market will decide how much room people need. (there are very few benefits to being 5'2"...but being comfortable in a coach seat is one of them...let me enjoy it!)
Tiberius - not "scream to regulators", change airlines or upgrade. That legislate-everything attitude is a huge problem in this country. People who want to pay for more room have that priviledge. The free market will decide how much room people need. (there are very few benefits to being 5'2"...but being comfortable in a coach seat is one of them...let me enjoy it!)
#55
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I would just like to say that I have never said anything to a "recliner", nor do I dispute that it is indeed your prerogative to recline. It is just a huge pet peeve of mine. My cattlecar "DMZ" zone includes my leg area and when someone reclines and I cannot even cross my legs without some sort of contortions, I feel cranky. And I am only 5'7". I still contend that even though it's a feature, I don't feel it is considerate. I just hope I'm never behind Tiberus' flatulant butt.
#56
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Sorry I have no sympathy for seat recliners. I'm tall myself, fly all the time and NEVER recline my seat. I would never do that to the person behind me. A reclined seat in front of you means that that you can't access the things under the seat, have great difficulty eating (God forbid the recliner return their seat to the upright position to eat like the FA's request), lack of ability to exit the seat to use the restroom etc. Yes, we all paid for our seats, and I should have the ability to use the room around my seat as well.
I guess it all comes down to the way you treat people. You're either a "me" person or not.
Personally, I wish I could own my own airline and I'd ban reclining seats (unless I could reconfigure the plane to give adequate leg space) and carry-ons.
I guess it all comes down to the way you treat people. You're either a "me" person or not.
Personally, I wish I could own my own airline and I'd ban reclining seats (unless I could reconfigure the plane to give adequate leg space) and carry-ons.
#57
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kkj, I'm so glad to hear that people like you are out there. I foolishly had presumed that traveling rendered a person more aware and somehow a "better" person. Clearly, there are a lot of "me" people out there.
United has Economy plus seating, available for their premier members. It's worth loyalty to United, in my opinion.
United has Economy plus seating, available for their premier members. It's worth loyalty to United, in my opinion.
#59
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I think reclining your seat is rude. I would never do it unless there is no one sitting behind me, or if the person in front of me is fully reclined into my lap (then I will recline partially due to claustrophobia). If the person in front of me is reclined, then I have to grab the back of their seat every time I get up, often jolting them awake. Ha!
My bf is 6'3" and cannot bear to have a coach seat reclined on him. I have seen him cry in pain from it, though he tends not to say anything, because after all, it's "allowed". Our solution is to get to the airport 2-3 hours before flight time and get us (or at least him) exit row seats. I guess a lot of other people have the same idea, because there is usually only 1 left so we wind up sitting apart.
My bf is 6'3" and cannot bear to have a coach seat reclined on him. I have seen him cry in pain from it, though he tends not to say anything, because after all, it's "allowed". Our solution is to get to the airport 2-3 hours before flight time and get us (or at least him) exit row seats. I guess a lot of other people have the same idea, because there is usually only 1 left so we wind up sitting apart.
#60
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Suzanne....your bf can recline his own seat and problem solved. Seats recline for a reason,I cant believe people think it is poor etiquette. Should we keep trays in their upright position not to bother the passenger in front? If people REALLY feel cramped when a seat is reclined,fly first class,and quit complaining.