A Different Type Of Flight Annoyance

[CamColt]

Since people often complain about seat kickers or babies crying on planes, I thought I would share my unusual encounter with a new kind of annoyance on my recent flight to Florida.

We were getting ready to take off and there were 2 men behind us (in the last row). They had the window seat and aisle seat and from what they were saying it seemed they purchased these in hopes no one would get the middle seat and they would have extra space. They were out of luck, it was a full flight.

All of a sudden I noticed the man behind my DS had his hands up on DS's seat. He had to have been leaning forward, sitting on the edge of the seat to do this, but I couldnt see. So, while this was annoying me, it wasn't too bad. His hands then came forward so his wrists were on top of the seat and his hands were directly over DS's head. Ok, its bugging me more, but again no harm done. When it finally started getting to me was when he began picking at his fingernails...right over DS's head.

So the next time you are flying and getting annoyed with that screaming kid or the seat kicker, remember it could be worse!

 

[Bill From PA]

Please tell me you did something about this! Forgive me if you're heard this one before, but ever since airline de-regulation and lower prices, there are too many people flying who really should be riding a Greyhound.

Bill From PA

 

[NotUrsula]

I had something similar happen on a SWA flight. We were ready to depart, and the FA's were repeatedly paging a missing passenger; his wife and children were already on board, and the wife was getting frantic. Finally he boards, and of course the only remaining seat is a middle next to me. I really wished he had stayed wherever he was

When the FA came round with the peanuts, he asked for extra. No big deal, until he started eating them. His method was to turn the bag into his palm, but only extract one peanut, which he ate, and then shook the salt off his hand -- right onto my lap. He ate 3 bags of peanuts this way, one nut at a time: shake, crunch, flick; shake, crunch, flick. After 20 minutes of this my suit was awash in salt. I tried everything I could think of to get him to stop it, but he didn't speak English, so he just kept smiling at me and doing it some more. (I think that he was late boarding so that he wouldn't have to sit with his wife and kids -- I'm guessing she didn't like getting covered in salt, either, and probably let him know it.)

When I arrived I had to go into the restroom and take my suit off so that I could thoroughly shake it out.

 

[brendrek]

I'm sorry that's just the way I like to eat them..JK

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, for a minute there I thought you were going to complain about people trying to hip,hop harry on the plane, or those that coughed and sneezed all over you!!!
I think if it had been me, I would have raised my hand above my ds's head and said, "Oh, honey, it's not a bug, it's this gentlemans hand!" in a somewhat loud voice. Or perhaps the old 'honey, that's nice of you but I don't think the lice will jump that far. we don't need to tell the man.'

 

[mrg013]

Eww that's awful. That's similar to something that happened to me before, but I guess in the opposite direction. The guy in front of me, of course just had to recline his seat the first possible moment. Then, he somehow managed to put his hands over the top of the seat, so that they were basically in my face. He was moving them, shaking them, and doing every other possible thing that he could to annoy me. After a while, I got so irritated that I had to do something. After one quick self-induced cough, as well as my hand brushing against his, the hands were quickly moved.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Along the same lines...
On a recent red-eye flight, I had a bulkhead seat, aisle. The passenger in the window seat was up moving around, sitting on the floor, stretching, talking, active, getting ice... all night long! Never mind that the seatbelt sign was on most of the night. The flight attendants finally gave up trying to get her to stay in her seat

I swear, next time I fly across country, I'm buying three seats across in the middle of the plane somewhere.

 

[CamColt]

Wow, what stories! Those crying babies are looking better and better to me.

And yes, once he started picking the nails I was shooting DH looks across the aisle, whispering/mouthing to him about it. I knew if I said something I would have freaked out (I tend to get hyper easily when I'm grossed out) and I think DH knew too. Since I was freaking inside, I don't even really remember what DH said, but he finally did speak up. I like your come backs Dianne. I'll remember that for next time.

Well, for a minute there I thought you were going to complain about people trying to hip,hop harry on the plane, or those that coughed and sneezed all over you!!!

ROFL! Actually right before this incident I had DH and DSs put on TLC so they could see Hip Hop Harry (it was the same time flight). They thought I was nuts!

 

[seashoreCM]

, and then shook the salt off his hand -- right onto my lap. He ate 3 bags of peanuts this way, one nut at a time: shake, crunch, flick; shake, crunch, flick. After 20 minutes of this my suit was awash in salt. I tried everything I could think of to get him to stop it, but he didn't speak English, so he just kept smiling at me and doing it some more. (I think that he was late boarding so that he wouldn't have to sit with his wife and kids -- I'm guessing she didn't like getting covered in salt, either, and probably let him know it.)t.

Now what if you had pushed the flight attendant call button and asked the flight attendant to please make him stop?*

Or stood up partially and shook the jacket off on him?

(one or the other, not both)

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

*Same goes for the man picking his fingernails.

 

[inkkognito]

...Or stood up partially and shook the jacket off on him?

That would have been my method...when someone is causing an issue for you and will not stop, simply turn it right back around on them. You're getting salt on me? Right back atcha! I mean, what is he going to say (assuming he DOES speak English)? If he said anything, I'd respond, "You tossed this salt on me, so I'm simply returning it to you." and I'd keep saying that to whatever he said. There's not much he can do, short of physical violence, and if it got to that point I'd certainly press charges.

With the hands on the head, they're in your space so they have to deal with what happens in that space, be it wet sneezes etc. As they say, actions speak louder than words, especially with clueless people on airplanes. If they don't get it when told (which I try first...although it's amazing how many will pull the "Don't speak English" routine), follow up with a demonstration.

 

[n2mm]

I agree, I'd taking a crying baby any day. Some of my pet peeves are when the bald guy in front of me starts scratching his head, then starts digging at it and picking at the bumps and scabs....yuck..... But one of the big ones for me is the stinky feet. While I know some folks feet swell, taking off your shoes really bugs me, especially when the person is right behind me and I have to smell it for 2 hours....barf...

 

[dvc guy]

I have a way to deal with these issues. I give the offender ZERO wiggle room , has soon as the behavior encroaches on my "little" space I say something quickly. I refuse to be squeezed, poked, kicked, coughed on and any other behavior that is not within norms. This is public not a private aircraft and they best behavior as such.

 

[2poohbears]

The worst I ever had was on a flight with a friend of mine to NYC. My friend was in the window seat, I was in the middle and a well dressed business man sat on the aisle. He proceeded to work on his laptop & do paperwork, which was sort of crowding me, but no biggie. THEN, he decided to start picking his nose. YUK. Did he think the rest of us couldn't SEE him?!

 

[inkkognito]

The worst I ever had was on a flight with a friend of mine to NYC. My friend was in the window seat, I was in the middle and a well dressed business man sat on the aisle. He proceeded to work on his laptop & do paperwork, which was sort of crowding me, but no biggie. THEN, he decided to start picking his nose. YUK. Did he think the rest of us couldn't SEE him?!

He probably figured that it was a great way to get even more space...after all, who's going to want to touch or be touched by him?!