Bugged on Delta flight

[Liz]

I was on a flight recently in an aisle seat. A man and woman came down the aisle and they were taking the window and middle seat on my row. I stood up and stepped back so they could get in. The woman said to her (I assume) husband "do you want the window seat?" He said "no" then noticed me standing there - I guess he thought they were going to have the entire row. He said "ahhhhhhhh" as he looked at me. His wife laughed and said "I told you! That's why I offered you the window!" She sat at the window and he sat next to me in the middle.

But the thing that annoyed me was he flew the entire flight with a large backpack in his lap. It never went under the seat. I was annoyed a flight attendant never told him he had to put it away. When the flight attendants missed it as they checked the flight for take off I thought surely they would see it when they checked for landing. Is it not a rule anymore? I am a big rule follower in life in general so it really bugged me. For landing his tray table wasn't even fastened. The only reason it wasn't totally flopped open was because the backpack was leaning against it. When we landed his wife had to close the tray table to get out.

This was a big backpack stuffed so much it wasn't even zipped close. Would you have said anything? I wasn't about to say anything and figured it's not my place, but it did annoy me and I couldn't understand why the flight attendants let it go (unless it's not required to put it away anymore and I am unaware.) I didn't watch or stare at them the whole flight. I even fell asleep for a little bit.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

If it wasn’t actually bothering me personally like bumping me or something then so be it. Obviously Delta and/or the attendants have slacked off on the previous rules. I’d never complain on a plane unless it was a dire situation. You just don’t know what somebody might do anymore and that could make matters worse.

 

[SirDuff]

I mean, yes, he should have been told to put it away for take-off and landing, but unless he was between me and the aisle, I wouldn't have worried about it. If he's in the window seat, he's not impeding anyone's access to the aisle (which is why the rule is in place).

 

[Living42Day]

They sound really immature. We had a woman in first class that fully reclined her seat the entire time, the flight attendant said not a word to her. I didn't have much room to eat or get out of my seat because of the angle of the reclined seat. She didn't even get told to put it up right for landing. It was ridiculous, people are just entitled.

 

[fly girl]

I was on a flight recently in an aisle seat. A man and woman came down the aisle and they were taking the window and middle seat on my row. I stood up and stepped back so they could get in. The woman said to her (I assume) husband "do you want the window seat?" He said "no" then noticed me standing there - I guess he thought they were going to have the entire row. He said "ahhhhhhhh" as he looked at me. His wife laughed and said "I told you! That's why I offered you the window!" She sat at the window and he sat next to me in the middle.

But the thing that annoyed me was he flew the entire flight with a large backpack in his lap. It never went under the seat. I was annoyed a flight attendant never told him he had to put it away. When the flight attendants missed it as they checked the flight for take off I thought surely they would see it when they checked for landing. Is it not a rule anymore? I am a big rule follower in life in general so it really bugged me. For landing his tray table wasn't even fastened. The only reason it wasn't totally flopped open was because the backpack was leaning against it. When we landed his wife had to close the tray table to get out.

This was a big backpack stuffed so much it wasn't even zipped close. Would you have said anything? I wasn't about to say anything and figured it's not my place, but it did annoy me and I couldn't understand why the flight attendants let it go (unless it's not required to put it away anymore and I am unaware.) I didn't watch or stare at them the whole flight. I even fell asleep for a little bit.

I am a retired FA (for said airline.) It is a requirement. Bags need to go under the seat for take off and landing. As well as stowing the tray table. No excuse for missing this, but it happens.

With all that said, would I have said something knowing it was a blatant breech of the rules? Probably not. I have seen many rules similar to this broken even when I was an active flight attendant riding as a passenger. Unless it was a HUGE breech of safety, I keep it to myself. For your circumstance, you are in the aisle and his tray table not being latched would not impede your evacuation (it would for his wife in the window.) Now if you were in the window, I would have likely said in a non confrontational tone as if it were an accident, "Oh, I think your tray table became unlatched."

 

[brockash]

I was on a flight recently in an aisle seat. A man and woman came down the aisle and they were taking the window and middle seat on my row. I stood up and stepped back so they could get in. The woman said to her (I assume) husband "do you want the window seat?" He said "no" then noticed me standing there - I guess he thought they were going to have the entire row. He said "ahhhhhhhh" as he looked at me. His wife laughed and said "I told you! That's why I offered you the window!" She sat at the window and he sat next to me in the middle.

But the thing that annoyed me was he flew the entire flight with a large backpack in his lap. It never went under the seat. I was annoyed a flight attendant never told him he had to put it away. When the flight attendants missed it as they checked the flight for take off I thought surely they would see it when they checked for landing. Is it not a rule anymore? I am a big rule follower in life in general so it really bugged me. For landing his tray table wasn't even fastened. The only reason it wasn't totally flopped open was because the backpack was leaning against it. When we landed his wife had to close the tray table to get out.

This was a big backpack stuffed so much it wasn't even zipped close. Would you have said anything? I wasn't about to say anything and figured it's not my place, but it did annoy me and I couldn't understand why the flight attendants let it go (unless it's not required to put it away anymore and I am unaware.) I didn't watch or stare at them the whole flight. I even fell asleep for a little bit.

Definitely odd, but definitely wouldn't have even thought to say something. What could you say that would matter? He seems like an idiot...generally they don't think they need to take "advice."

Pretty surprised the flight attendants didn't say anything though.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

They sound really immature. We had a woman in first class that fully reclined her seat the entire time, the flight attendant said not a word to her. I didn't have much room to eat or get out of my seat because of the angle of the reclined seat. She didn't even get told to put it up right for landing. It was ridiculous, people are just entitled.

Call me entitled. I only fly Delta and only First Class. I always recline my seat for the entire flight as do my wife and kids. If we are not supposed to recline our seat, the option would not be there. It's my seat, I paid for it and I like to be comfortable. However, we will put our seats upright for meal service and always let the person behind us know we are about to recline and do it slow, not slamming the seat back.

 

[Dan Murphy]

They sound really immature. We had a woman in first class that fully reclined her seat the entire time, the flight attendant said not a word to her. I didn't have much room to eat or get out of my seat because of the angle of the reclined seat. She didn't even get told to put it up right for landing. It was ridiculous, people are just entitled.

It's too bad when passengers are like that. I like to think of those around me, as well as myself.

 

[Living42Day]

Call me entitled. I only fly Delta and only First Class. I always recline my seat for the entire flight as do my wife and kids. If we are not supposed to recline our seat, the option would not be there. It's my seat, I paid for it and I like to be comfortable. However, we will put our seats upright for meal service and always let the person behind us know we are about to recline and do it slow, not slamming the seat back.

Ok? I only fly United and only First Class. I didn't say it was entitled to recline your seat, so not sure why the defensiveness. I said it was entitled to recline your seat from the plane taking off to touching down and never once putting it back up. The flight attendant comes on and says "all seat backs need to be fully upright for take off and landing", but that rule only applies to everyone else. Oh well, screw safety in the name of comfort for some I guess.

 

[_19disnA]

Unless they were first time travelers, they should know that it is a safety requirement to stow carryons and tray tables for takeoff/landings. On most flights I have been on the flight attendants are very good about 'reminding' people of these things. I wouldn't say anything to them since it isn't my issue and could escalate into some sort of confrontation.

 

[VandVsmama]

Let's face it...that guy was a total butthead.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

Ok? I only fly United and only First Class. I didn't say it was entitled to recline your seat, so not sure why the defensiveness. I said it was entitled to recline your seat from the plane taking off to touching down and never once putting it back up. The flight attendant comes on and says "all seat backs need to be fully upright for take off and landing", but that rule only applies to everyone else. Oh well, screw safety in the name of comfort for some I guess.

Oh, no defensiveness here, just posting my thoughts on a public forum. And for the record, I did quote you and you did not say from take off to landing and you did say the flight attendant did Not tell them to put their seat upright. But I do understand the frustration. Airlines are making legroom less and less to cram more people on the flight. I have noticed The Airbus A320's seem to have less legroom than the Boeing 757's in first class.

 

[Living42Day]

Oh, no defensiveness here, just posting my thoughts on a public forum. And for the record, I did quote you and you did not say from take off to landing and you did say the flight attendant did Not tell them to put their seat upright. But I do understand the frustration. Airlines are making legroom less and less to cram more people on the flight. I have noticed The Airbus A320's seem to have less legroom than the Boeing 757's in first class.

They sound really immature. We had a woman in first class that fully reclined her seat the entire time, the flight attendant said not a word to her. I didn't have much room to eat or get out of my seat because of the angle of the reclined seat. She didn't even get told to put it up right for landing. It was ridiculous, people are just entitled.

Of course, as was I. But from your message, that was quoting my post, it read like you were being defensive about the right to recline by stating that everyone in your party reclines the entire duration of the flight and it is your right to do so because you paid for the seat. True- but there is a reason why flight attendants request that the seat be upright for landing. I was in the window seat and my ability to get out was impeded by a seat being fully reclined for the duration of the flight. If there was an emergency, the people with their seat fully reclined would have no problem getting out. But for me, a 6 months pregnant woman in the window seat, would have much more difficulty getting out. And I did, I had to lean to the side to be able to get out because they still didn't have their seat up when getting off the plane.

And I did say in my original message that she didn't put it up for landing.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

Of course, as was I. But from your message, that was quoting my post, it read like you were being defensive about the right to recline by stating that everyone in your party reclines the entire duration of the flight and it is your right to do so because you paid for the seat. True- but there is a reason why flight attendants request that the seat be upright for landing. I was in the window seat and my ability to get out was impeded by a seat being fully reclined for the duration of the flight. If there was an emergency, the people with their seat fully reclined would have no problem getting out. But for me, a 6 months pregnant woman in the window seat, would have much more difficulty getting out. And I did, I had to lean to the side to be able to get out because they still didn't have their seat up when getting off the plane.

And I did say in my original message that she didn't put it up for landing.

I do agree they should have put it back up for landing and it should not be reclined till takeoff is complete.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I do agree they should have put it back up for landing and it should not be reclined till takeoff is complete.

Although FA's do give FC passengers a bit of leeway. We often get to keep our drinks during takeoff too. So yeah maybe a bit of "privilege".

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes the bag should have gone under the seat.
Yes the FA should have had the person stow it.
BUT, you get good/bad FA like you have good/bad workers in EVERY industry. Although maybe the FA just blanked out for that flight/day for some reason.

I was flying Delta last month and a person across the aisle from me had a phone holder attached to the seat in front of him... like this:

Sure enough, the FA had him take it down when it was time to land.

Many years ago we were flying to MCO. For some reason, DD was by herself in the row in front of us. She was in the window. A couple with an infant boards with a car seat. They strap the car seat into the middle seat next to DD. I was thinking "that's not allowed". FA didn't say a word. Maybe they thought DD was with the family?

 

[fly girl]

Although FA's do give FC passengers a bit of leeway. We often get to keep our drinks during takeoff too. So yeah maybe a bit of "privilege".

See, that one is so ridiculous to me. Bottle water, you can keep them all day long as long as they are stowed in seat back pocket for takeoff/landing. (A while back FAA got very nit-picky with those small bottles of water.)

But sorry, I pretty much worked FC exclusively, I took your drink. Man, some F/A’s are lazy. If they’d ask to keep it my reply was always, “I’m sorry I have to take it, but as soon as I can get up I will make you a fresh one.” Unless there’s turbulence on ascent and the captain tells me to remain seated, I’m up after I made the 10,000 feet announcement. You’re without a drink for a very short time. Surprisingly, no one ever got huffy. Probably because they knew it was the rule, I had a kind approach, and they got a fresh drink in 8-10 minutes.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I would not have said anything, but I would definitely have been bothered by it.

 

[fly girl]

Yes the bag should have gone under the seat.
Yes the FA should have had the person stow it.
BUT, you get good/bad FA like you have good/bad workers in EVERY industry. Although maybe the FA just blanked out for that flight/day for some reason.

I was flying Delta last month and a person across the aisle from me had a phone holder attached to the seat in front of him... like this:

Sure enough, the FA had him take it down when it was time to land.

Many years ago we were flying to MCO. For some reason, DD was by herself in the row in front of us. She was in the window. A couple with an infant boards with a car seat. They strap the car seat into the middle seat next to DD. I was thinking "that's not allowed". FA didn't say a word. Maybe they thought DD was with the family?

First scenario, glad she had him take it down.

Second scenario, ugh! You’re correct, not allowed. This is still the rule I see screwed most of the time, but in a different fashion. They tell parents car seat has to always go in the window. It doesn't if it is a family member in the window seat. To be fair, FAA has waffled back and forth on this rule over the years.

For your case, they could have moved your daughter to the aisle to make it compliant. My guess is you are spot on, the FA assumed your daughter was with them.

 

[BrianL]

On my most recent flight home, I took the aisle seat next to a nice woman in teh window (Southwest, so no assigned seats). The flight wasn't full, so of course we were hoping nobody would take that middle seat. There was a kid directly in front of that seat who just started bouncing against the seat - HARD. The seat must've moved 2 inches every time she did it. Her parent said nothing and just let her do it. I said, "Well, on the plus side, NOBODY is gonna take that seat!" Intermittently throughout the flight the kid would just rock that seat, which was annoying too, but at least the one behind her was empty.