flying etiquette

gigi · October 2006

I'm so irritated. I just came back from Chicago and before the plane took off this guy behind me taps me on the shoulder and says "Hey, I just wanted you to know that I have EXTREMELEY long legs. Heehhhee." I'm like OK, what is he trying to tell me? To leave my seat straight up? So the whole darn flight this guy is mumbling under his breath, "Oh, you got my knees pinned, you got my knees pinned lady!" As though I have control over what his legs are doing. And I find it so cheap when someone calls me "lady" in that way. Needless to say, I was so annoyed. If he wasn't such a jerk I probably would not have reclined my seat, but did he actually expect someone to inconvenience themself for his comfort. It's not like I was jumping up and down in the seat or anything either. He kept saying crap in between the seat the entire flight and finally I just told him that everyone else's knees were pinned too and that he should consider flying in first class next time. During the snack portion of the flight (peanuts and a drink) he wanted me to put my seat up so that he could "eat". I ignored him and didn't because NO ONE else did. Only have I seen this on the flights to Europe at which time I don't mind. So he was threatening to call on the flight attendant if I didn't quit "pinning his knees". The end of the flight came and he's still mumbling thinking I didn't hear him: "I oughta slap her, son of a bitch... I ought to slap her. Inconsiderate idiot woman." I was so angry but just kept my cool and exited the plane. I am terrible in these kinds of situations. I mean what could I have done! This was such an exaggeration on his part. I was anxious and upset the entire flight but pretty much kept my eyes closed and pretended to sleep. I am still fuming. He really got to me. I like to think of myself as a gracious person and am usually always concerned about someone else's happiness over mine, but this makes me want to become a total "B*&^ch". Ugh. So what should I have done differently? :roll:

idlewild · October 2006

You should have farted in his general direction. I'm talking the moist, feels like yer lightin' a bunsen burner, smells like the garbage in Chinatown on a hot summer's night kinda fart.

sweet tea · October 2006

ignoring him probably bothered him more than anything else you could have done. it sounds like he really wanted a fight -- you probably drove him crazy by not giving him one!

2waterdaughter · October 2006

What an asshat!

Ignore AND fart

idlewild · October 2006

I thought women were supposed to "poot"? :?: :shock:

thesupersleuth · October 2006

When faced with a moron like that, I'd manage!

idlewild · October 2006

Your'e my kinda woman, Flex. A woman who is feminine and yet strong. Someone who isn't afraid to let the gas pass when duty calls. I salute ye!

mav3n · October 2006

As long as you aren't saluting me AND tooting me (and be careful, because I think the flirting police might come after you any minute

)

idlewild · October 2006

Well then arrest me in the name of Luv.....

stacey · October 2006

all right you guys you asked for it:

You have the right to remain silent
Any flirting, inuendo, or winking emoticon will be held against you
You have the right to a sock puppet, if you cannot afford a sock puppet
Annonymous Guest will be provided to you

But since Im a sucker for luuuuv . . . . Ill let you off with a warning,

GiGi - you handled it in a mcuh more ladylike fashion than I would have.

alafairnadia · October 2006

stacey wrote: GiGi - you handled it in a mcuh more ladylike fashion than I would have.

seriously! I woulda flipped my shit.

these (post 9/11) days, if you tell a flight attendant that another passenger is bothering you and acting kinda crazy, they can totally smack down the passenger and tell them to stfu. I've seen them give citations to little old ladies who demanded that they be treated with "respect" so I'm sure they would totally have told the guy to chill out.

if you want to avoid confrontation, though, and just get through the situation, I think the way to handle this situation is to offer to switch seats with the person and say something like "dude, I totally plan to recline my seat. so. should we trade?" maybe if everyone down the line does it, the guy can just sit in the bulkhead. sometimes making the squeaky wheel happy is the easiest solution.

gigi · October 2006

Idlewild wrote: You should have farted in his general direction. I'm talking the moist, feels like yer lightin' a bunsen burner, smells like the garbage in Chinatown on a hot summer's night kinda fart.

That is totally hysterical. I am blushing! Really, though, I am trying to be more assertive and it's not easy.

gigi · October 2006

alafairnadia wrote: [quote=stacey]GiGi - you handled it in a mcuh more ladylike fashion than I would have.

seriously! I woulda flipped my shit.

these (post 9/11) days, if you tell a flight attendant that another passenger is bothering you and acting kinda crazy, they can totally smack down the passenger and tell them to stfu. I've seen them give citations to little old ladies who demanded that they be treated with "respect" so I'm sure they would totally have told the guy to chill out.

if you want to avoid confrontation, though, and just get through the situation, I think the way to handle this situation is to offer to switch seats with the person and say something like "dude, I totally plan to recline my seat. so. should we trade?" maybe if everyone down the line does it, the guy can just sit in the bulkhead. sometimes making the squeaky wheel happy is the easiest solution.

Never thought of it that way. I mean I guess he was threating violence to some extent by saying "I oughta slap her" so maybe I should have complained about him the minute he wouldn't shut up. I think he thought he was going to get his way by complaining the whole time. But I am still laughing about the flatulence attack on him.

idlewild · October 2006

GiGi wrote: [quote=Idlewild]You should have farted in his general direction. I'm talking the moist, feels like yer lightin' a bunsen burner, smells like the garbage in Chinatown on a hot summer's night kinda fart.

That is totally hysterical. I am blushing! Really, though, I am trying to be more assertive and it's not easy.

Well, being born and bred in Kings County, you learn to hold your own. Even if it is by letting a nasty one seep out. Don't take shit from no one, ya know?

pitu · October 2006

You're asking what you should have done differently...

The suggestion to offer to switch seats is a fantastic idea, good one Alfairnadia!

or

You could have not reclined your seat. Is that so terrible?
It's not our god given right to squish fellow passengers just because the chair moves. And you might have given the guy a break, letting him put his tray down so there was a place to put the drink at snacktime. Is that so hard? Airplane steerage brings out the worst in people - we all start fighting for real estate right away!

At least he tried to speak to you directly. Sounds like you decided to punish him cause you didn't like his style of communication. Maybe he was nervous to ask, who knows and who cares. I think it's a small thing to ask.

The later part with him muttering under his breath was f*cked up, and I would have called the flight attendant.

idlewild · October 2006

All in all, nothing beats a good pimp slap. Don't be afraid to wield your wrath from the back of your hand. But this is after you cut the cheese so he never sees the slap coming.

snezan · October 2006

pitu wrote: You're asking what you should have done differently...

The suggestion to offer to switch seats is a fantastic idea, good one Alfairnadia!

or

You could have not reclined your seat. Is that so terrible?
It's not our god given right to squish fellow passengers just because the chair moves. And you might have given the guy a break, letting him put his tray down so there was a place to put the drink at snacktime. Is that so hard? Airplane steerage brings out the worst in people - we all start fighting for real estate right away!

At least he tried to speak to you directly. Sounds like you decided to punish him cause you didn't like his style of communication. Maybe he was nervous to ask, who knows and who cares. I think it's a small thing to ask.

The later part with him muttering under his breath was f*cked up, and I would have called the flight attendant.

I don't agree. He didn't say "hey, would you mind not putting your seat back, because I have really long legs?". He made a half-assed comment and then spent the rest of the flight being passive/aggressive about it.

If he can't fit in a seat, then he should fly first class or bulkhead.

I think plane seats should be bigger, but if you can't fit in one, you should have to buy two.

She has a right to recline (unless not permitted during takeoff/landing and meal service).

His behaviour became more and more hostile and I would have just reported his ass.

gigi · October 2006

Flexichick wrote: [quote=pitu]You're asking what you should have done differently...

The suggestion to offer to switch seats is a fantastic idea, good one Alfairnadia!

or

You could have not reclined your seat. Is that so terrible?
It's not our god given right to squish fellow passengers just because the chair moves. And you might have given the guy a break, letting him put his tray down so there was a place to put the drink at snacktime. Is that so hard? Airplane steerage brings out the worst in people - we all start fighting for real estate right away!

At least he tried to speak to you directly. Sounds like you decided to punish him cause you didn't like his style of communication. Maybe he was nervous to ask, who knows and who cares. I think it's a small thing to ask.

The later part with him muttering under his breath was f*cked up, and I would have called the flight attendant.

I don't agree. He didn't say "hey, would you mind not putting your seat back, because I have really long legs?". He made a half-assed comment and then spent the rest of the flight being passive/aggressive about it.

If he can't fit in a seat, then he should fly first class or bulkhead.

I think plane seats should be bigger, but if you can't fit in one, you should have to buy two.

She has a right to recline (unless not permitted during takeoff/landing and meal service).

His behaviour became more and more hostile and I would have just reported his ass.

Flexi, I love the way you think! I so got over this incident but still feel better hearing how others analyze this b/c I was questioning whether or not I was being a jerk by making him suck it up and not budging. Normally, I would be totally cool about it and leave my seat up if it was that bad, but the guy was a whiny, irritating jack ass. And come to think of it, my legs were longer than his. Anyway, thanks for the comments.

teeks · October 2006

I do have some sympathy for people who can't fit into seats. I'm sure they're uncomfortable, but that's not my issue to have to deal with. For example, what if somebody is too large to fit into a seat? Should they be able to put up the arm rest/divider so they can "spill over" into my seat? I don't think so. Why should they get 125% and I get 75% of what is paid for?

Until and unless plane seats get bigger, people who are uncomfortable in a standard coach seat should just have to pay for 2 seats, first class or bulkhead.

If I pay for a full seat, I am going to use a full seat.

That said, if somebody approached me in a polite way with a request, I'd most likely honor it, especially if it was reasonable (e.g. people who ask to switch so they can sit together, etc.).

furrygreyboy · October 2006

Y'now, his legs didn't suddenly grow 6 inches just before he got on the plane. If it's a situation he's used to when flying, then I think it's up to him to consider that when booking the ticket, and like Flexi said, get either a first class, bulkhead or emergency exit row seat.

You paid the same as him for your seat (most likely) and should not have to modify your plans to acommodate his lack of forethought. That said, if he'd been nice about it, instead of a jerk, then maybe you could have worked something out.

After the muttering started, I think I'd have got my Ipod out and cranked up the volume......

flying etiquette

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