Airplane travel etiquette

[DVC Sadie]

The poll was rather tongue-in-cheek. It just struck me as funny that she actually used the term "entitled" during her rant (referring to me).

What gets me are the people who demand aisle seats and want someone else (usually me) to give them up but they don't book the aisle seat. Whats up with that?

 

[Anjelica]

Okay, so let's have a little poll - was she acting entitled or was I??

I had a flight the other day and had booked (as always) an aisle seat. It was a 2x3x2 plane and I had an aisle on one of the 2 sections. I get to my seat and a woman is sitting in it (she had pre-boarded during boarding for those with mobility problems). I double check my boarding pass and then inform her (kindly) that there appears to be a mix-up because I have a boarding pass for the seat she is in (I always approach these situations assuming that an error has occurred, rather than assuming seat poaching).

She informs me that she is supposed to be in the window seat but is more comfortable in the aisle seat so she is taking it. Further, I am going to have to climb over her to get to my seat since she is unable to get up without help and she will not be getting up during the flight (again, because she cannot without help) so I better not need to get up either. Please note - this was about a 5 hour flight (and I always take aisle seats because I get up quite a bit).

I'm about 5 foot tall - I cannot climb over people in seats (even I can squish between the two rows).

I got the attention of the flight attendant and informed him of the issue. I further informed him that I was NOT sitting in the window seat because I felt it would not be safe. In an emergency, if she couldn't get up, I was going to be stuck in a burning plane (yes, I know that emergencies are very unlikely, but many things done on the plane are done in case of emergencies). I knew that pulling the "safety" issue was going to work much better than pulling the "but I booked the aisle seat".

The woman refused to move (I was now standing in the galley area, so not blocking traffic) and I felt bad for the FA, so I offered to sit in another seat (though I stringently requested it be an aisle, or at least not a middle). I ended up in Executive Class. The woman then pointed out that she (with her mobility issues) would be much more comfortable in the suites and I could have her (well my) aisle seat.

I sat up front. She whined about how I wasn't entitled to the aisle seat (or the upgrade). I don't think it made a difference but I have status with airline (I never mentioned it, but is it printed on my boarding pass, if the FA looked).

Anyway, I'm sure that her version of the story is totally different (though, honestly, I don't really see how it could be), but I still feel that she was teh entitled and rude one, not me.

A classic example of someone thinking they are entitled (the lady with the mobility issue). Apparently she lives in the world of her and no one else exists.

Folks, and I know I will get flamed for this, but life sucks sometimes. Sometimes people have disabilities but it doesn't mean you/they are entitled to anything more in life than anyone else.

My husband is legally blind yet he's not an "entitlement" guy by any means - had to work twice as hard through college and still graduated magna cum laude and is one of the best in his business - has NEVER expected anything to be given to him. My brother lost his leg in Iraq and travels quite a bit to see family and friends - and he doesn't feel entitled to a specific seat, etc. when flying.

My point - I have seen some of the most gracious displays of humanity towards those that have disabilities but at no point should anyone think they are above/beyond someone else because of their disabilities.

 

[laurie31]

Haven't read the whole thread so this might have been mentioned already but besides the $25 (which I don't care about at all) the other problem is that airlines lose too much luggage. Back when I used to check my luggage, I never had a single flight where a bag wasn't lost. So now I don't check ANYTHING and occassionally, yes, that does make me one of those people with the giant personal bag. But, I always make sure that it fits where I am told to put it.

THANK YOU!!! This is exactly why we refuse to check luggage!!

When they started the $25 thing, we actually considered it, since before we were told it was a "courtesy" that they checked luggage, so now that it was a separate service we were PAYING for, we thought maybe that might help ensure that we actually saw our luggage again. Nope. The $25 doesn't mean anything except that the airline gets $25. No guarantee that your luggage is not being mishandled.

We do NOT have oversized bags for carry-on, but we bring the limit of what's allowed. It's not because we're too cheap to check it, it's because we want to see it again. We NEED those things when we get to our destination.

Also, the baggage claim is often a nightmare. The first time we flew carry-on only, and walked off the plane without wasting an hour waiting on our bags to hopefully show up (and if they didn't, wasting another hour standing in lines to fill out forms for missing bags), the freedom was exhilarating. Wow. We will never check another bag again if we can help it, even if checking was free and carry-on was an extra charge. Not until they can offer me either the promise that my bag will arrive when and where I do, or that there will be decent compensation if that doesn't happen. (and I'm not holding my breath for either of those things...)

As for crashbb's story....wow, no words!! Why on earth didn't SHE book the aisle seat if she needed it so badly??? How bizzare! Glad you didn't have to get stuck (literally!) sitting next to her for 5 hours!

 

[Quiksilvr]

What gets me are the people who demand aisle seats and want someone else (usually me) to give them up but they don't book the aisle seat. Whats up with that?

I haven't had someone do this. I usually pay the fee for either an aisle seat or for the exit row. If I have paid extra money for the seat, I am going to sit in it. I don't care what's wrong with the person or who they are. If they didn't pay for it, it's not theirs. I think I would be so shocked that someone did this I wouldn't know what to say offhand. I'm glad to read this thread; it gives me the opportunity to devise a strategy for confronting the circumstance in the event it occurs in the future.

I expect the airline to honor its agreement with me that it will give me the seat I selected in return for the extra dollars paid...and if the airline does not honor its end of the agreement, I will sue it.

Sometimes it's good to be a lawyer.

 

[safetymom]

I have flown hundreds of flights and only had my luggage temporarily delayed 3 times.

I think lost luggage is one of those urban myths when traveling. Most people hardly ever fly but they all know a relative or two that told them their luggage was lost. So they lug all their worldly goods onboard. Many of them seem to think their time is more valuable than mine when they hold up the entire plane trying to get their luggage in and out of the overhead bins.

They should charge those people that lug their stuff onboard. Only allow your personal carry on items and charge for luggage brought onboard.

 

[Planogirl]

I have flown hundreds of flights and only had my luggage temporarily delayed 3 times.

I think lost luggage is one of those urban myths when traveling. Most people hardly ever fly but they all know a relative or two that told them their luggage was lost. So they lug all their worldly goods onboard. Many of them seem to think their time is more valuable than mine when they hold up the entire plane trying to get their luggage in and out of the overhead bins.

They should charge those people that lug their stuff onboard. Only allow your personal carry on items and charge for luggage brought onboard.

Continental lost my luggage twice. I did get it later both times but they're not my favorite airline.

As for charging for carry on, I couldn't disagree more. Our bags are well within the size limit and we keep them under the seat in front of us so we aren't bothering anyone.

 

[Tasmen]

I have flown hundreds of flights and only had my luggage temporarily delayed 3 times.

I think lost luggage is one of those urban myths when traveling.

I would tend to agree. I check luggage 99% of the time we fly. One of the few times I did not check luggage, my bag got lost. I had a friend that whined and whined about me checking luggage so I promised him I would not check on our flight to SF. I had a carry-on roll tote that would easily fit on the plane in an overhead compartment. Unfortunately, by the time we boarded, there was no room on the plane for my bag so the FA made me check it gate side. I never saw my bag again.

 

[ols386]

THANK YOU!!! This is exactly why we refuse to check luggage!!

When they started the $25 thing, we actually considered it, since before we were told it was a "courtesy" that they checked luggage, so now that it was a separate service we were PAYING for, we thought maybe that might help ensure that we actually saw our luggage again. Nope. The $25 doesn't mean anything except that the airline gets $25. No guarantee that your luggage is not being mishandled.

We do NOT have oversized bags for carry-on, but we bring the limit of what's allowed. It's not because we're too cheap to check it, it's because we want to see it again. We NEED those things when we get to our destination.

Also, the baggage claim is often a nightmare. The first time we flew carry-on only, and walked off the plane without wasting an hour waiting on our bags to hopefully show up (and if they didn't, wasting another hour standing in lines to fill out forms for missing bags), the freedom was exhilarating. Wow. We will never check another bag again if we can help it, even if checking was free and carry-on was an extra charge. Not until they can offer me either the promise that my bag will arrive when and where I do, or that there will be decent compensation if that doesn't happen. (and I'm not holding my breath for either of those things...)

As for crashbb's story....wow, no words!! Why on earth didn't SHE book the aisle seat if she needed it so badly??? How bizzare! Glad you didn't have to get stuck (literally!) sitting next to her for 5 hours!

Out of curiosity, do you ever fly when going on a long trip? If so, how do you pack so that you only carry-on the size-appropriate luggage?

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

I have flown hundreds of flights and only had my luggage temporarily delayed 3 times.

I think lost luggage is one of those urban myths when traveling.

Yep, I've been on a couple hundred flights (too many to count), and DH takes at least 50 flights a year (and has for the last 12 years). I've had my bags delayed twice, while DH has had his delayed six or seven times. Most of those times our bags were delivered within 12 hours. Only once did a bag of DH's go permanently missing, and he was reasonably well-compensated for it.

I've tried flying with just carry-on luggage a couple of times, but I've never felt it was worth the hassle of lugging around a suitcase in the airport and onto the plane. I'd much rather just heave a backpack over my shoulder and enjoy the journey.

 

[safetymom]

Continental lost my luggage twice. I did get it later both times but they're not my favorite airline.

As for charging for carry on, I couldn't disagree more. Our bags are well within the size limit and we keep them under the seat in front of us so we aren't bothering anyone.

That would be ok if everyone did it but they don't.

 

[laurie31]

Out of curiosity, do you ever fly when going on a long trip? If so, how do you pack so that you only carry-on the size-appropriate luggage?

This is what we took for a 13 day trip to France and England.

The kids were 7 and 9, so their personal items were small backpacks filled with snacks and things to keep them entertained on the plane, plus they insisted on having their personal blankets, neck pillows, stuffed animals, etc.

We will NOT be bringing those things next time, they can use the dinky plane pillows like we do- lol, and they will be occupied just fine on the plane with an iPod and a DS now.


We are planning 24 days in Italy and Germany next year, and we plan to take only about half this much. We're each bringing one backpack significantly smaller than the carry-on allowance that will fit under the seat, plus I might bring a purse. That's it. We can buy anything we find we don't have and wish we did.

I must confess, however, that we DID check luggange coming home. We don't care if they lose our dirty clothes - lol. And yes, when we went to London years before, our luggage was "delayed" for three days, leaving us wearing the clothes we left 100 degree Alabama in, in 50 degree London. We nearly froze absolutely to death! We did go shopping and buy pants and sweaters, but we shouldn't have had to. Plus there was all the extra time at the airport wasted waiting for it, then filling out forms to get it back. That was Northwest. American and Delta have lost our luggage too. So it's not just an urban legend for us. It's happened to us nearly every time we fly. I don't know what we do wrong; we arrive at the airport in plenty of time, our luggage is well-identified. We have always gotten it back eventually, but the hassle is just not worth it; even on Southwest, we don't like to check. If it's a direct flight, then I will risk it, but if it's a trip of any length, there's no such thing as a direct flight.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I have flown hundreds of flights and only had my luggage temporarily delayed 3 times.

I think lost luggage is one of those urban myths when traveling. Most people hardly ever fly but they all know a relative or two that told them their luggage was lost. So they lug all their worldly goods onboard. Many of them seem to think their time is more valuable than mine when they hold up the entire plane trying to get their luggage in and out of the overhead bins.

They should charge those people that lug their stuff onboard. Only allow your personal carry on items and charge for luggage brought onboard.

I don't think I've flown "hundreds" of times, maybe 150 or so. I've had luggage delayed twice. Both times, the airline delivered it to me at my destination (once my home, once a vacation rental beach house) within 8-10 hours.

I always watch them put the tag on my luggage as I check it, to make sure it's the right tag with the right destination and getting put on securely. Someone once told me this would decrease the likelihood of it getting lost. I've never had to tell them they put the wrong tag on, but I keep doing it.

 

[MiniGirl]

Okay, so let's have a little poll - was she acting entitled or was I??

I had a flight the other day and had booked (as always) an aisle seat. It was a 2x3x2 plane and I had an aisle on one of the 2 sections. I get to my seat and a woman is sitting in it (she had pre-boarded during boarding for those with mobility problems). I double check my boarding pass and then inform her (kindly) that there appears to be a mix-up because I have a boarding pass for the seat she is in (I always approach these situations assuming that an error has occurred, rather than assuming seat poaching).

She informs me that she is supposed to be in the window seat but is more comfortable in the aisle seat so she is taking it. Further, I am going to have to climb over her to get to my seat since she is unable to get up without help and she will not be getting up during the flight (again, because she cannot without help) so I better not need to get up either. Please note - this was about a 5 hour flight (and I always take aisle seats because I get up quite a bit).

I'm about 5 foot tall - I cannot climb over people in seats (even I can squish between the two rows).

I got the attention of the flight attendant and informed him of the issue. I further informed him that I was NOT sitting in the window seat because I felt it would not be safe. In an emergency, if she couldn't get up, I was going to be stuck in a burning plane (yes, I know that emergencies are very unlikely, but many things done on the plane are done in case of emergencies). I knew that pulling the "safety" issue was going to work much better than pulling the "but I booked the aisle seat".

The woman refused to move (I was now standing in the galley area, so not blocking traffic) and I felt bad for the FA, so I offered to sit in another seat (though I stringently requested it be an aisle, or at least not a middle). I ended up in Executive Class. The woman then pointed out that she (with her mobility issues) would be much more comfortable in the suites and I could have her (well my) aisle seat.

I sat up front. She whined about how I wasn't entitled to the aisle seat (or the upgrade). I don't think it made a difference but I have status with airline (I never mentioned it, but is it printed on my boarding pass, if the FA looked).

Anyway, I'm sure that her version of the story is totally different (though, honestly, I don't really see how it could be), but I still feel that she was teh entitled and rude one, not me.

This actually happened on several of the flights I have worked. I always tried to do exactly what the f/a did in this case. If I was able to upgrade the inconvienced passenger, I did. (Truthfully, it was more to tick off the other pax than to be nice to the one inconvienced though.) I always loved the stammering that went on when I told the pax, "Sir, I have a seat for you up in first class, can you follow me, please?" When the pax causing all the fuss would say that they'll take the seat and the other pax could have his original seat, I always declined. I would say, "No sir, you insisted that you HAD to sit there, so that is now your seat."

It never really mattered if the pax had a gagillion miles with the airline or not. I always did it to make a point with the pax who would decided his needs outweighed the other guys needs.

 

[DancingBear]

Oh man...you've hit on so many of my pet peeves. The FAs, on my recent flights, have announced that only a bag that does not fit underneath the seat is allowed in the overhead bins..no coats at all. Why? The flight is full. But, of course, there are those who don't want to squeeze that bag under the seat and don't want to worry about their coat in their seat..so they put all their stuff in the bin!!! Thank heaven I have seen FAs going around and removing coats/jackets!!

OTOH, I generally check my bags and I feel like I should be able to take up some space in the overhead bins for my one small backpack or laptop. I've got bad knees and being able to stretch out my legs into the space under the seat in front of me makes a big difference in my comfort.

 

[bavaria]

I have flown hundreds of flights and only had my luggage temporarily delayed 3 times.

I think lost luggage is one of those urban myths when traveling. Most people hardly ever fly but they all know a relative or two that told them their luggage was lost. So they lug all their worldly goods onboard. Many of them seem to think their time is more valuable than mine when they hold up the entire plane trying to get their luggage in and out of the overhead bins.

They should charge those people that lug their stuff onboard. Only allow your personal carry on items and charge for luggage brought onboard.

Millions of miles and my average is about the same over the last few decades.

But then again, I really enjoy travelling in the parallel universe with you and the other sane, reasonable flyers. It is so much less stressful in our world!

 

[bavaria]

This is what we took for a 13 day trip to France and England.

Unless those bags are 20 inches or smaller, and weigh 8kg or less, they won't be permitted as carry on on many flights around the world, including intra-Europe.

 

[bavaria]

Man Denied Access to First Class Because of Track Suit
myfoxdc.com

A corporate executive says he was denied a first class seat on United Airlines because he was wearing a track suit, according to an exclusive story by myfoxdc.com.

Armando Alvarez said he wanted to use his miles to upgrade to first class on a flight from Dulles to Connecticut. Instead, the Best Buy vice president said the gate agent told him that he was dressed "too casually" for seating in first class, the story said. Alvarez has sent e-mails to United Airlines and the airline's board of directors, but he has not received a response from them, the story said.

"I was humiliated and embarrassed," Alvarez, who is not seeking compensation, told myfoxdc.com. "If this happened to me and I'm a United Airlines Red Carpet Club member then I believe it's happening to other people and this must stop."

HEY, you wouldn't be trying to reopen a closed thread topic, would you now?

 

[dzorn]

I am proud to be a poopyhead

Where is that tag fairy when you need them!

Denise in MI

 

[TLSnell1981]

Well, I've never had my luggage lost forever. I guess, technically...it was delayed. Once it was left in Chicago...found out when I reached Dusseldorf. It finally caught up with me in Rothenburg. It's happened three times in the states (and this doesn't include DH, although he's usually the one left on the tarmac for hours). I've also had a limo driver leave my bag on the curb at the airport. I was fortunate security didn't blow it up!!

Delta lost all my son's luggage this summer....even his baby's carseat. They found some in Amsterdam and the rest in Paris. It kind of ticks you off to spend thousands of $$$$ on BC or FC tix and spend 3 days waiting for your baggage.

 

[bavaria]

Where is that tag fairy when you need them!

Denise in MI

I think that she's in First Class getting tipsy on the free booze - witness my last tag which was not something I said - she said it to me!