Airplane travel etiquette

[bavaria]

Depends - what do YOU wear when flying? And since you have flown outside the US, you are apparently 'on the list' - the poopyhead list, that is!

 

[KiminChicago]

Before we went shopping for some new luggage, I went on the American Airlines website and read up on what was considered carry-on size. Then DH and I went to the store and I read all the dimensions on each of the rolling carry-ons and we purchased the one whose dimensions fit the description of an acceptible carry-on. Last month we flew to Orlando on a completely full flight. And in spite of trying to follow all the guidelines published on their website -- our carry-on still didn't fit into the little cage measuring device at the gate and we had to check it. So is the website out-of-date? Did the manufacturer of the luggage understate the dimensions? Or is the cage actually undersized? I really do try to follow all the rules regarding carry-ons, but this experience left me confused and I admit, I was annoyed because I was led to believe that the piece of luggage I purchased was the correct size.

 

[bavaria]

I want a link to that closed thread. I'd like to know if it's worth the points...

That thread by the way is in the running for the award of Transportation Board Thread of the Year. It is in close heat with the other classic of the year, 'Porn on a Plane'.

In the Children's Category, the clear winner is 'MOOOOOOOM - make him quit it, he's touching me!!!!', a classic tale about kids misbehaving in the back seat.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Depends - what do YOU wear when flying? And since you have flown outside the US, you are apparently 'on the list' - the poopyhead list, that is!

I'm definitely going to be nice and clean, if I'm sleeping with a bunch of strangers on a plane. My attire totally depends how long I'm on the plane and what time of day.

That thread by the way is in the running for the award of Transportation Board Thread of the Year. It is in close heat with the other classic of the year, 'Porn on a Plane'.

In the Children's Category, the clear winner is 'MOOOOOOOM - make him quit it, he's touching me!!!!', a classic tale about kids misbehaving in the back seat.

Hmmm...I could've whipped those kids into shape.

 

[bicker]

Seems a lot of people traveling these days have a huge sense of entitlement and little disregard for others.

Just people traveling???

 

[maxiesmom]

Before we went shopping for some new luggage, I went on the American Airlines website and read up on what was considered carry-on size. Then DH and I went to the store and I read all the dimensions on each of the rolling carry-ons and we purchased the one whose dimensions fit the description of an acceptible carry-on. Last month we flew to Orlando on a completely full flight. And in spite of trying to follow all the guidelines published on their website -- our carry-on still didn't fit into the little cage measuring device at the gate and we had to check it. So is the website out-of-date? Did the manufacturer of the luggage understate the dimensions? Or is the cage actually undersized? I really do try to follow all the rules regarding carry-ons, but this experience left me confused and I admit, I was annoyed because I was led to believe that the piece of luggage I purchased was the correct size.

Don't trust the size the maufacuturer puts on the luggage tags. I have found they usually tell you the piece of luggage is smaller than it really is. I think some of them don't include the handle or wheels in their measurements, and those DO count.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I fly often with several different airlines as no one airline serves all my needs (generally a non stop flight to my destination).

I have stopped flying first class and now check my luggage (yes, paying for that in most cases) and fly using a less expensive ticket. This allows me to board unencumbered (if what I carry on doesn't fit under the seat, I don't carry it on) disembark unencumbered and generally move along much more quickly.

I do agree that the airlines could be much more diligent on the whole carry on issue. If someone can't afford to check their luggage then I too feel that the budget for the travel needs to be revised. It was nice when checking luggage for free was a given, but things have changed, so the customer needs to change with it.

Oh, by the way, I made the change from first class to less expensive and checked luggage because I got really tired of paying for a first class ticket and having no place to put my correct sized luggage as carry on. First class passengers used the space to store everything from flowers to jackets, and throw an unholy FIT when attendants try to move their things for other first class passengers. I simply refused to play that stupid game.

So, if you are flying an airline that charges for checked bags, incorporate that charge into your budget, or choose one of the few remaining airlines that don't charge.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Most of this can be avoided by the flight crew announcing and enforcing the fact that only ONE bag per passenger goes in the overhead and that they must go in wheels first! Also announcing that once everyone is on board and if there is still room - THEN you may also put your coat up there.

Too many times I see the flight crew walk along and close bins that still have room in them when the plane is only 1/2 loaded.

Any time you notice this, be sure to contact the airline with your observations and recommendations (not just the quoted poster, but anyone). Management can't fix a problem it doesn't know exists - and this sounds like a problem!

Additional note on etiquitte ... if you have a configuration of 3 and you have the window or aisle seat, please DO NOT HOG the arm rests! It's bad enough to sit in the middle without having two elbows from someone else pinning you in. I normally am on the aisle (pay for an aisle seat) and try to be courteous to the middle person.

Rarely does anyone - at least any adult - want the middle seat, however, somebody has to sit there. If we all practice simple consideration and courtesy, it'll make everyone's flight experience better.

What bothers me about this is not the impact of service(although it does a little) but if they are cutting there, how are we to be assured that they aren't cutting back in the keeping up of the planes maintenance.

Monitoring and surprise inspections by the FAA, plus, again, simple common sense. Don't maintain the planes, you lose time and money when something goes 'unexpectedly' wrong.

The rest of us are here because of the awesome food and chic shopping opportunites.

Well, actually, I am trying to figure out a way to just go shopping at Logan's Terminal E, specifically (and impossibly) inside the secure area - since we now apparently have our own Earl of Sandwich that I can't access!

And there are those people that have to grab the back of the seat in front of them, to hoist themselves up. Drives me nuts.

But... but... but.. I do need to use that seatback to hoist myself up! Of course, I have enough consideration to politely let the occupying passenger know, and try to exert as little pressure as possible.

 

[Tasmen]

Just people traveling???

*whistle* Well I have yet to see a labradoodle jaunt down the aisle with a tude.

 

[mhsjax]

Any time you notice this, be sure to contact the airline with your observations and recommendations (not just the quoted poster, but anyone). Management can't fix a problem it doesn't know exists - and this sounds like a problem!

Rarely does anyone - at least any adult - want the middle seat, however, somebody has to sit there. If we all practice simple consideration and courtesy, it'll make everyone's flight experience better.

Monitoring and surprise inspections by the FAA, plus, again, simple common sense. Don't maintain the planes, you lose time and money when something goes 'unexpectedly' wrong.

Well, actually, I am trying to figure out a way to just go shopping at Logan's Terminal E, specifically (and impossibly) inside the secure area - since we now apparently have our own Earl of Sandwich that I can't access!

But... but... but.. I do need to use that seatback to hoist myself up! Of course, I have enough consideration to politely let the occupying passenger know, and try to exert as little pressure as possible.

In re: to maintenence, then why are airlines facing record fines in the past 2 years for their maintenance procedures?

 

[bicker]

It could be better enforcement.

 

[Angelhalo]

Why get mad at the passengers? It seems like the airlines are the ones to blame for encouraging so much carry-on and then not managing it better. It's their nickle and dime attitude that is driving the problem.

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.

 

[Anjelica]

This really isn't an issue when I fly in the rest of the world; I don't know why it is in America. And it wasn't driven by checked bag fees; it was an issue long before then. Why can't people follow instructions and obey the rules? And the airlines don't always enforce them; when they do, I see the reaction of some passengers and can understand why some airline employees are reluctant to confront passengers.

Honest question - please don't yell at the stinky foreigner.... (sorry, that is another thread on the Transportation Board)

In France and Germany one is told very firmly 'that is too big/too much, you must check it in' and when people try and throw a fit they are just told to calm down, or asked 'are you stupid? or don't you think that the rules apply to you?'

Why can't there be the same enforcement on American flights? Why can't passengers with too big/too heavy carry ons be turned away, and told to check the bag?

Sometimes I think that by being too nice we have created so many problems. People here really don't like it when I say 'the rules are the rules', but those people who think that the rules don't apply to them are creating these problems.

I think that the majority of posters agree that there are too many/too big/too heavy carry ons on most US flights, so why shouldn't there be enforcement of the rules? If passengers want to behave like idiots when they are told that their bag is too big, let them, but don't allow them to fly.

I'm stunned at the drama that people make when they know full well that they are not obeying the limits. I cannot think of another industry where customers are so blatantly allowed to flaunt the rules, and where customers fight back when they are held accountable.

Because we have ALOT of people with the entitlement attitude in the states. We also sugar coat to many things in this politically correct world that some travelers just don't get it or their ears are to sensitive to hear/know the truth.

Common sense and personal responsibility went out the window years ago and its a sad display that less and less folks seem to demonstrate those qualities these days. Thankfully, during my travels the last few years there have only been a handful of idiots I have stumbled upon. Don't get me wrong, the heydays of sleeping across 4 seats on a transatlantic flight and having plenty of space were great, but this is the here and now folks.

 

[crashbb]

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.

 

[Tasmen]

Easy! She was acting entitled, not you. Seems like she was flashing the 'disability' card unnecessarily.

 

[safetymom]

She was acting entitled. I also book an aisle seat. I book them for exactly the reason you do. I used to sit next to Mr. Iron Kidneys that took off his shoes and went to sleep for the entire flight preventing me from getting up.

I have had many people demand that I move from my aisle seat for them. If they had ask nicely I will consider it. I will not though take a window on a flight more than 2 hours. I earned the right to select my seat by my status. Ask always works for me rather than demaning that I do something.

 

[joyjoy]

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

Surely you are joking. If it happened the way you described, of course she was in the wrong. Entitled may not be the right description, but she certainly was rude and not worried about what anyone thought of her. Nice upgrade.

 

[crashbb]

Surely you are joking. If it happened the way you described, of course she was in the wrong. Entitled may not be the right description, but she certainly was rude and not worried about what anyone thought of her. Nice upgrade.

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).

 

[bicker]

I think the FA should have had the woman removed from the flight, for violating federal law (failure to follow the instructions of a flight crew), but the general public would be too likely to punish the airline for doing so. Sad.

 

[safetymom]

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."