Ever had this happen on a plane?

[allicat]

We always manage to get sandwiched in between wierd people!
Last time, the family behind us had hacking coughs for the whole flight and I dont think they covered their mouths once.
The family in front of us consisted of 2 grandparents with their 2 bratty grandchildren.
The grandparents slept the entire(and I do mean entire) flight while the kids proceeded to get on our last nerve. They were throwing things, pushing the seats back but my husband lost it when one kid started spitting water out of his straw and it was landing on us. DH stuck his head through the seats and told him to knock it off. The grandparents continued to sleep and woke up after we landed.
It was a miserable flight.

 

[SB in KY]

My absolute favorite "Oh-sorry-but-you-really-deserved-that" story...when my daughter was 10 months old I flew with her to Miami to visit friends. I had her in her carseat and she was actually being quite happy and fell asleep shortly after take off.

She was in the middle seat and we had a seat breaker in front of her that got ticked because they refused to serve her alcohol (I presume she was already intoxicated based on the fumes floating back in my direction). So she is bouncing in the seat and of course she wakes my daughter up, and what does a baby do when someone keeps bouncing into their lap??....she starts grabbing at the lady's hair and kicks the seat, because she thinks it is a great game, but this just further agitates this woman, who then becomes verbally abusive and goes nuts bouncing the seat.

I tried to tell her if she would stop for one moment I would release the car seat and move so the baby wouldn't bother her, but she just swears some more and keeps going, I turn on the flight attendant light and right as she comes to our seat, without any fussing or prior warning, my daughter just barfs everywhere...

It was disgusting, and as you have probably guessed, her explosion was perfectly timed with a seat bounce, so this woman gets a face full....hair, blouse, down her neck.....everywhere. I was SOOO embarassed....my DD is also pretty well slimed, but very happy.

The flight attendent was grinning from ear to ear!! She made 2 trips bringing us wet towels and plastic bags and paper towels before she even offered to do anything for the screamer... the woman spent a good 45 minutes in the lavatory trying to clean up and made some vague threats about suing us and the airline, but her seat stayed in the "Full upright position" for the rest of the flight!!

Every flight attendant on the airplane came by to tell me what a cute baby I had before we landed!! I waited until the now slimy woman had been off the plane for several minutes before I attempted to get off. Apparently word of the incident had made its way to the cockpit, because as we are leaving they stuck a bottle of champagne in my carry on and the pilot asked me if I could train other babies to "handle unruly drunks" for the airline!!!

 

[peter1706]

This is the funniest thread i've read in a long time.


I havent flown in 3 years and will be going to Disney in 2 weeks.

You actually have me nervous about all these crazy people.

Seat breakers?!!! I've never heard of such a thing...it is amazing what people will do....

At least i'll have my 3 month old to use as a barf weapon..

 

[goofy4tink]

My dh is 6'4" tall. As you can imagine, flying is not a terribly terrific thing for him. But, since we love WDW so much, he sucks it up and flys. He used to fly on a corporate jet and used to complain about flying with the little people when he had to fly commercial, with us. I think it's quite wonderful that he no longer works for that company. But, I digress. We were flying to Orlando in August '03. THe lady in front of us just had to recline as soon as possible. Well, obviously she couldn't recline nearly as much as she wanted since my dh's knees were right there!! So, she kept banging away, trying to get past the 'obstruction'. At one point she turned around and glared at my dh. So, out came his newspaper. It was truly incredible so see what that man could do with a newspaper!!! THen he would try to move his legs. So, the lady has a newspaper fluttering around her head, her seat is banging around. She was not a happy camper. Said something to the effect of 'I've paid good money for this seat!!' My dh very nicely asked her where he should put his legs? Said he was sorry she was inconvienced but he had nothing else he could to with those nasty ole legs; they were always getting in someone's way.

I love the pepper idea. Think we'll keep that one in mind.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Several years ago I was flying solo with my then 4 month old DS. We had three seats to ourselves so we were pretty comfy. Here comes the interesting part. The man directly across the aisle from me strikes up a conversation. No harm, right?

This man proceeds to tell me his life story, including all of his exploits with various women. I try my best to busy myself with my baby and maybe he will get the hint. It was a pretty long flight and I had to nurse my son. I moved into the middle seat and discreetly placed a blanket over my shoulder and started to nurse. This man reached over and lifted the blanket saying, "Whatch doin'?". I pulled the blanket down and said, "I am feeding my son."

His response - "That's great. I love nature women."

No joke.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Thankfully I have never encountered any of these people throughout my travels. However, I must ask this question...

Why is it, without fail, my seat only reclines one inch, while the person in front of me, his seat will recline enough for me to do dental work???

 

[SStJean]

Originally posted by SB in KY
...without any fussing or prior warning, my daughter just barfs everywhere...

It was disgusting, and as you have probably guessed, her explosion was perfectly timed with a seat bounce, so this woman gets a face full....hair, blouse, down her neck.....everywhere. I was SOOO embarassed....my DD is also pretty well slimed, but very happy. ...

This is the first time I have ever busted out laughing at a post I read in an internet forum. My wife now has proof that I am a certifiable loonie. Thank You so much!

 

[RUDisney]

We took a charter flight in 1999 to WDW. DH and I got the last 2 seats on the plane. One was in first class and one was in coach. We decided to share the larger seat by one using it on the way down and one on the way back. Unfortunately, I decided to take it on the way down.

DH had a grand time with the family with whom he was sitting. He and the other man had a great and long conversation.

On the way back, I had the worst headache ever. But, DH wouldn't give up his chance to have the big chair. I was supposed to be on the aisle, but I had seen how rambunctious the young boy was on the way down, so I explained to his mother that I'd be happy to take the window if he was going to keep jumping around. He said that he probably would be up and down, so they let me have the window so I could close my eyes and try to get rid of the headache.

So, here it is, me at the window, Mom in the middle and boy on the aisle. Little did I know that Mom had ADHD and would fidget and bounce so much that I wanted to deck her by the time we landed.

 

[SB in KY]

Steve...happy to entertain!!!

Tyler...we must get the sam seats!! I was a late boarder on a SW flight last year and wound up in the center seat of the last row right in front of the lavatory. My seat back will not move an inch, the man beside me wants to make an airphone call (phone is on the seat back in the center), but the cord will only pull out 4 inches, so he practically has his head on my right thigh, the man in front of me lays his seat all the way back, and I swear I could count his nose hairs!!.... of course my left breast was about 3/16ths of an inch from his eye brow...my DH laughed so hard he nearly choked on his peanuts (he deserved to after all he got the aisle seat!!)...

It all felt just a little to personal to me!!!

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

High density seating configurations in aircraft cabins certainly make it uncomfortable for many! I can certainly understand your frustrations. Recently, I flew as a passenger from Honolulu to Chicago O'Hare non-stop on a United 777. Being non-paying customers, they sat me and my family in the tail section where the fuselage tapers. We were literally in a row that when the customer in front of me reclined her seat, we could not get out of the row! Talk about inconvenience! But aircrafts are designed to maximize revenue, especially today. Consequently, you sit oftentimes very close to the customer in front of you.

Someone in this thread mentioned Knee Defenders. Knee Defenders are BANNED by most airlines as they prevent the airline seat from operating as designed. If an airline crew discovers the use of them (and they do, as it prevents seats from reclining) they are instructed to confiscate them. I wouldn't use them anyway as it will only cause a problem for the person who brought them on board the aircraft. Your best bet is to involve the Flight Attendants in a situation that might develop into friction. They are all trained in negotiation and mediation techniques.

Your situation is not uncommon. Hopefully next time, your seating assignment won't be changed.

 

[delilah]

Our last trip from Indianapolis to Orlando on ATA will likely be our last on that airline. When I made our reservation, I requested that our family be seated together. There are three of us, mom, dad and 6 yo. It was too early to assign seats. When I checked in at the airport, we were split up, and the plane was totally booked. Interestingly, we were there 2 hours before the plane left and were nearly the first people at the gate.

Getting on the plane, there was an adolescent girl in the aisle seat of our row, with her mom across the way. I asked her to please let us (my son and I) enter the row, and she gives an eye roll and lifts her legs. I said, no, please get up, we can't crawl over you. (I was handling two carryons and my son).

Then, apparently the people in front of us liked our side of the plane better than the other. As boarding proceeded, the rightful owners of the seats in front of us arrived. These two parties had an altercation that was downright scary. My husband was still outside waiting to board, and they stopped boarding the flight, and had called security. The flight attendants finally got everyone into their correct assigned seat, but the woman ahead of me was still angry. She said she could feel my briefcase on the back of her legs. Now, I always thought there was a stop for luggage under the seat, but, I moved my briefcase back (so it wasn't completely under the seat). I sure didn't want her to fight with me like she did the others. Personally, I think that those two parties who had been fighting should not have been allowed to stay on the plane.

 

[dudspizza]

I have laughed so hard at this thread. I bet the OP never thought it would turn in to a very funny thread.

I was flying 15 or so years ago with a few friends. There was a large African American woman in front of us with her kids. One of her children was very obnoxious, similar to some of the other kids mentioned in this thread. This woman had no control and all she would say is, "Chill out, Willis!" in a very loud voice to get him to settle down. I must have heard this over 100 times on the flight.

To this day, Chill out, Willis is a phrase that I use. It became of phrase all of my friends used back home. It is just one of those frustrating instances that has be burned in to my brain. We have all turned it in to a funny thing.... but it was really frustrating at the time..

Have a good one.... hey, my 100th post! Cool.

duds

 

[ZuZugal]

We'll be flying soon........with DS 11, DD9 and first time flying with DS 21 months. I'm sure my post will take the cake with our wonderfully curious and oh-so busy little boy. I'm still deciding who should get the drugs before the flight.......me or our "flight neighbors"!

I am literally in tears over these posts? Anyone have any more? I love to laugh!

 

[inkkognito]

This thread has indeed turned into an amusing one! We flew again this past weekend, and thankfully this time everything was fine with our seats. I had a little boy behind me on the way to Orlando, and although he was a bit fidgety and kicky, he was NOTHING compared that woman! He had much better manners.
The post about the bag under the seat reminded me of another incident...I think I sat behind that woman once! My husband and I were flying standby to get on an earlier flight, so of course we had to take whatever seats were available. We were separated and put in middle seats. There was NO overhead space left, since we were the last to board. Thankfully, my bag was a soft tote that easily fit under the seat. But all of a sudden the woman sitting there turned around and totally lit into me about how it was in HER space! I know there is a bar there (it was ATA, and I know there 753 aircraft as well as I know my own house). I repeated, "You are saying it is sticking out in your foot space? You can see it protruding?" and she said, "Yes!" Finally I said, "Okay, I'm going to come and look, and I want you to show me that," and suddenly she had nothing else to say. I bonded with the woman next to me, and we spent the flight snickering about the crank in front of us.
Barb

 

[seashoreCM]

Originally posted by delilah
There are three of us, mom, dad and 6 yo. When I checked in at the airport, we were split up, and the plane was totally booked.

If all three of you are split up, one of the persons sitting next to your child will almost surely switch with either of you (his choice) just for the asking.

Getting on the plane, there was an adolescent girl in the aisle seat of our row, with her mom across the way. I asked her to please let us (my son and I) enter the row, and she gives an eye roll and lifts her legs. I said, no, please get up, we can't crawl over you. (I was handling two carryons and my son).

Yes you can get over her but she will wish she had gotten up instead. And she will when you or your son need to use the bathroom.

 

[delilah]

Actually, the adolescent girl was seated next to us, and her mom was directly across the aisle, and wanted to be seated next to her daughter. I didn't even ask, since mom actually had hijacked her seat from another passenger, who meekly went to another seat. This flight was just full of incredibly rude fellow travelers. I didn't even want to broach the subject with this woman. She refused to move even after being asked to do so by the flight attendant. The woman just said that there must have been two people who happened to have the same name on the flight when the flight attendant confronted her with the fact she was in someone else's seat. How disingenuous. My son was the one who was originally split up, so, I thought that having one parent was better than none.

 

[Walter & family]

Originally posted by Captain Blue Sky
If an airline crew discovers the use of them (and they do, as it prevents seats from reclining) they are instructed to confiscate them. I wouldn't use them anyway as it will only cause a problem for the person who brought them on board the aircraft.

Captain Blue Sky, that is an interesting story about knee defenders. As far as I know, an airline captain can keep anyone or any thing off his plane. Like the old ship captains, they rule their vessel. He can say, "No plaid shirts today. Sorry." He can even land the plane and kick someone off at his whim. But unless there is some FAA or TSA rule or imminent danger, an airline cannot "confiscate" anything from a passenger and not give it back. Unless you fly for maybe Air China, but not any US carrier, AFAIK.

Your best bet is to involve the Flight Attendants in a situation that might develop into friction. They are all trained in negotiation and mediation techniques.

FAs are almost always great, doing a sometimes tough job on a crowded plane. But I have never seen one tell a pax to not recline, except at a meal (a meal?) or on takeoff/landing. They say "people have a right to recline" or they just shrug their shoulders. After all, who needs to care how long the legs are of the person behind the recliner? Coach class is crowded. As you say, "aircrafts are designed to maximize revenue, especially today." But people being hit in the legs or hit in the head when leaning over to get something from a carryon, it's not right. Or worst of all, my lap baby being hit in the head by a reclining seat.

In any event, I've got long legs and no matter how straight up I sit, on most planes in coach (though not the AA planes that still have the extra room) my knees hit the seatback in front of me as soon as I sit down. I usually take out the airline magazine just to have room. With or without some device, my knees stop any seat reclining. If someone in front of me does try to recline, they go almost nowhere but I get pounded. And geometry being what it is, it is not physically possible for me to stretch my legs under the seat in front.

Sorry for the tone, but a friend of mine who frequents this forum sent me a link to your post (with her own smilie) while I was on the road and now that I'm home I wanted to note my exception to what I think is at best a wrong-headed approach. Airlines should find a better way. It's not just about "comfort". It's about health (DVT) and safety. For example, they could limit reclining or have no-recline sections, all without cutting rev. Maxing rev is fine, but airlines have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in the cabin - health and safety always come first.

Or, the FAs might say, "Welcome to our flight today to Orlando. Please be sure that your seatbelt is fastened. And, when we get up to flying altitude and you want to recline your set, please take a look first to make sure there is enough room - that you won't hit someone's knees or a baby sitting on his mom's lap." But they don't want to say that because then the airline would acknowledge the problem - but they do not want to do that. FWIW.

 

[chipscinderelly]

Hey Walter & Family - welcome to the DIS! I'm sure you will understand that I hope when I fly long distances that you are not sitting behind me so I can recline if I need to.

Love the stories everyone - I am cracking up! I don't have anything funny to add now, which is amazing since I fly about 40 segments a year.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Gee Whiz, sounds like that lady needed to Grow up. Bouncing in her seat like a 5 year old that didn't get her way.

I just can't image sitting there having to deal with her.

 

[Walter & family]

Originally posted by chipscinderelly
Hey Walter & Family - welcome to the DIS! I'm sure you will understand that I hope when I fly long distances that you are not sitting behind me so I can recline if I need to.

chipscinderelly, thanks for the welcome. And, I certainly understand. Some people do LOVE to recline. Some feel it is a necessity. All I can do is plant my fanny in the assigned seat, my legs go in front of me, and the room that is left over, if any, is all that there is. So, a downside of being tall is that people in front of me on planes are disappointed there is no room for them to recline. I try to balance that out by helping shorter (or is it "less tall"?) people at the supermarket etc. get stuff off the top shelves. BTW, unlike some, I do not care so much about a lack of room. Coach seats can be cheap, so a small amount of room is OK, even though I am not so small. As long as I do not get actually hit, then I'm OK. The fact is that my knees "interfere" with a seat's recline function, no way around that. That's not my fault, and actually it is not the fault of whoever is seated in front of me - though a look-before-recline would be nice. Some people feel closed in and retaliate. That's not me. But if some object is moving in my direction and a collision is imminent, I'll try to stop if I can. That's all.

By the way, Miss Manners wrote about reclining seats and rudeness in the paper recently. I don't have a link but a google news search should find it for anyone interested.