Question about a guy on my flight???

[BibbidyBobbidyBarb]

Last week on my flight home from WDW there was a man in first class dressed in regular clothes who got up a little into our flight and just stood up front sort of behind the first class restroom and watched us for at least an hour I would say. The attendents did not seem to pay any attention to him. Everytime I looked up he was there watching all of us. Now I am a first time flier this trip so this was only my 2nd trip up and I was a bit unnerved by this. A little while before landing he went and took his first class seat and remained seated till we landed. Any one have any idea who this could have been. We were flying Orlando to Chicago. We thought maybe a sky marshall but we don't know. Any thoughts? Just curious!

 

[NancyIL]

While I've never seen one, it sounds like a sky marshall. A regular passenger would've been asked to take his seat.

 

[bavaria]

not necessarily. Sky marshalls are trying to blend in a little more since we frequent flyers pointed out that it was very easy for us to spot them based on their preboarding, manner of dress, seat, etc. (and sky marshalls are not on every flight in the US)

While the FA or purser will normally advise a passenger that they cannot stand near the cockpit door for any amount of time, many of us are 'regulars' and are well known by the crew. I have seen regulars stand for extended periods, and I have done so as well. Normally 'strange to me' crews will ask me to be seated, but the pursers or FAs who know me will allow it, or engage in chit chat.

I see certain UA crew members on a variety of routes; sometimes we have a little 'hey, I know you' session when we meet on different routes. Remember, for many people, taking an airplane to work is commonplace. I don't commute by car - I commute by airplane, and know people in a variety of industries who do the same.

 

[KPtoys]

I would think it was a sky marshall too. Why he stood there and watched everyone would bug me too since I thought they were supposed to be inconspicuos but if the flight attendants didn't pay him any mind I would just let it go.

 

[deedeetoo]

Maybe he had a medical reason for standing so long. I have a friend who has a bad back and sitting for long periods really makes it ache. He finds it much more comfortable to stand for long periods of time then to sit. Maybe this person spoke to the flight attendents when he boarded the plane and asked if it would be OK to stand. This would explain them ignoring him.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'm with Bavaria, I don't think that it is likely he was a Federal Air Marshall; they are not supposed to make themselves conspicuous unless there is no way to avoid it.

My guess is that he was either a known frequent flier on that route, or perhaps an airline executive.

 

[M2DD's]

Last week on my flight home from WDW there was a man in first class dressed in regular clothes who got up a little into our flight and just stood up front sort of behind the first class restroom and watched us for at least an hour I would say. The attendents did not seem to pay any attention to him. Everytime I looked up he was there watching all of us. Now I am a first time flier this trip so this was only my 2nd trip up and I was a bit unnerved by this. A little while before landing he went and took his first class seat and remained seated till we landed. Any one have any idea who this could have been. We were flying Orlando to Chicago. We thought maybe a sky marshall but we don't know. Any thoughts? Just curious!

I know this is off subject but I saw you were form Northern Illinois.My DH and I graduated from NIU. Small world

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I once had something similar happen on a flight. Our United flight was cancelled so we were put onto an AA flight. Naturally it was packed, and we ended up in the very last seats in the back of the plane. Two rows ahead of us, in the aisle seat, was a guy in a suit and tie with an earpiece in his ear that I at first thought was an iPod or something similar. After takeoff, the man stood up at the back of the plane right next to our seats and stood there through the whole flight just looking forward at all the passengers. Very freaky!

 

[banjobears]

I had a situation on an United flight in 1997. I was flying Memphis to Chicago, and a guy went psycho on the plane. Security had to escort him off, before anyone else could get off. I think he had to much to drink. Everyone handled it pretty good.

3 months, 3 weeks, 5 days until I have Christmas with Mickey​

 

[Earstou]

I also don't think it was a sky marshall, since you aren't supposed to know who the sky marshalls are. I know someone who was in law enforcement, who worked as a sky marshall after 9/11. They take great pains to blend in and be inconspicuous. You should only know they are aboard if there is a problem.

 

[ducklite]

It sounds like someone who was taking a series of flights and was just tired of sitting, or as someone else pointed out, had a bad back. He was probably just staring off into space, and you perceived it as starign at you.

I agree with those who say that Sky Marshalls try to blend in, but if you are a frequent flyer, you will be able to pick them out. And they don't have ear pieces in their ears, nor do they talk to their sleeve. They are usually wearing business casual, board either with or right after the crew, seated towards the front of the cabin, often in first class, always an aisle seat, and it's my experience it's usually a starboard seat. I don't know why that is.

Anne