What would you do?

[PotNoodle]

Just wondering what would you do if the person sitting in front of you is a constant fidget on the aircraft?

Do you 'grim and bear it'?

Do you try and kick and elbow their chair?

Ask the person politley to stop? or report the matter to a member of cabin crew?

Basically on the flight home today, almost immediately the woman sitting in front of my wife put her seat as far back as possible and for the seven and a half hour flight constantly moved up, down, left and right on her chair and was a real menace.

My wife's journey home was spoilt and although I did offer to swap seats - she declined and I even told her to put her knee into the back of her chair, but she's convinced that may have provoked her and felt the woman passenger was being a nuisance deliberately.

If anybody even as had any other similar scenarios, please let me know as I'd be interested to see how you coped/suffered.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

she declined and I even told her to put her knee into the back of her chair, but she's convinced that may have provoked her and felt the woman passenger was being a nuisance deliberately.

Well that just isn't pleasant... glad that your wife had sense.

Fidgeting is unpleasant, but there probably just isn't much you can do: you are just stuck in a small metal tube with a lot of other people and not much personal space.

If someone is behind you kicking your chair or sitting next to you and keeps elbowing you, you could say something. If someone is fidgeting in the seat infront (but not invading your personal space), what do you say "stop fidgeting!" (I might say it to my own child, but wouldn't say it to an adult stranger...).

I think that you are suffering from "airplane rage"... one of the reason why a lot of people look at upgrading their flights - ok, you can still have annoying people seated around you, but at least you have a bit more space in between them and you

Boo

 

[Red-Snapper]

I dont believe "fidgeting" is an offence - criminal or otherwise, nor is putting your chair back so not entirely sure what you are going to "report" to the cabin crew or what you think they are going to do.

Relax and watch the film - what other people do in their seat isnt really anything to do with you. It might be irratating but the whole business of flying economy is not really very pleasant for anyone.

As to kicking the seat in front - - grow up maybe ??

 

[Pawpaws]

I had the same thing happen to me on a (full) flight back to UK a couple of years ago, but unfortunately the idiot kept 'letting off' continually all through the flight as well. I ended up standing in the aisle apart from when the stewardesses were going past (they kept smiling at me so I think they realised what was going on - couldn't miss the 'aroma'!!!!!!!) Sorry this is so disgusting, but why can't people behave!!!!!

 

[UKDEB]

I would definitely grin and bear it. It would take a huge leap for me to be convinced that someone was deliberately trying to annoy me. I could believe that the person was ignorant and inconsiderate, but kneeing them in the back would hardly make me a better person. You could learn a lot from your wife.

 

[UKDEB]

unfortunately the idiot kept 'letting off' continually all through the flight

Hey! Some of us are nervous flyers, you know!

 

[Pawpaws]

Hey! Some of us are nervous flyers, you know!

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I had the same thing happen to me on a (full) flight back to UK a couple of years ago, but unfortunately the idiot kept 'letting off' continually all through the flight as well. I ended up standing in the aisle apart from when the stewardesses were going past (they kept smiling at me so I think they realised what was going on - couldn't miss the 'aroma'!!!!!!!) Sorry this is so disgusting, but why can't people behave!!!!!

Ick! What you didn't tell him to "stop leeting off!"

Actually "letting off" is one of those things on the plane... as fly higher the air pressure drops (yes the cabin IS pressurised, but NOT to the same degree of air pressure at ground level). So as the pressure decreased any "gas" in your digestive system EXPANDS in comparison and often looks for a way out... some people are affected more than others. Some people just feel "bloated" (which is why I avoid fizzy drinks on airplanes... I don't count champagne as a fizzy drink ).

Boo

 

[ariel75]

I kinda had the same problem but it was on the coach going to DLRP
There were two women single parents(nothing wrong with that i am too) who decided to sit together and had the two kids in the seat behind them which was in front of me.
On the journey the sun was glaring through the windows so i pulled the blind down to which they pulled it back up so i pulled it down and leant on it so they could not get it back up.The kids were still tugging at it so after a while i asked them politely but stearnly"can you stop playing with the blind please"
The little kid then said "mummy that lady just shouted at me" and the lovely woman told her not to listen to me!!!
The nerve i then told her that i did not shout at her i asked her to stop playing with the blind.She just said no i really thought at the next stop we were going to kill each other!!Well never again on the coach there for me i flew last time.
Don't get me wrong i am not a confrontational person but if you annoy me you know about it or else the other people will carry on regardless

 

[ariel75]

That Is Gross I Thought It Was Bad Enough When I Was At The Cinema And That Happened

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I kinda had the same problem but it was on the coach going to DLRP
There were two women single parents(nothing wrong with that i am too) who decided to sit together and had the two kids in the seat behind them which was in front of me.
On the journey the sun was glaring through the windows so i pulled the blind down to which they pulled it back up so i pulled it down and leant on it so they could not get it back up.The kids were still tugging at it so after a while i asked them politely but stearnly"can you stop playing with the blind please"
The little kid then said "mummy that lady just shouted at me" and the lovely woman told her not to listen to me!!!
The nerve i then told her that i did not shout at her i asked her to stop playing with the blind.She just said no i really thought at the next stop we were going to kill each other!!Well never again on the coach there for me i flew last time.
Don't get me wrong i am not a confrontational person but if you annoy me you know about it or else the other people will carry on regardless

Ah the joys of "public transport"... it is really difficult where the boundaries of personal space isn't clear. If you have your own window/blind, then you have 100% control. If you have a shared window/blind, then who has the right to say whether the blind should be open or closed?

Boo

 

[mikki.young]

It can be difficult to eat the meals if the person in front has their seat all the way back when you are in economy. Given it was the flight back it seems possible the person was trying to sleep and not very successfully!

 

[Cyrano]

Ick! What you didn't tell him to "stop leeting off!"

Actually "letting off" is one of those things on the plane... as fly higher the air pressure drops (yes the cabin IS pressurised, but NOT to the same degree of air pressure at ground level). So as the pressure decreased any "gas" in your digestive system EXPANDS in comparison and often looks for a way out... some people are affected more than others. Some people just feel "bloated" (which is why I avoid fizzy drinks on airplanes... I don't count champagne as a fizzy drink ).

Boo

I might keep this excuse for future use

 

[CustardTart]

The worst thing that happened to me occured when I had an aisle seat and the person across from me took their shoes off - needless to say their feet had an aroma only a mother could love! I spent the entire flight (LGW to JFK) with my face buried in my scarf, which I sprayed with duty free perfume, trying not to retch - it certainly was an experience...

 

[Lizzybear]

I don't see why any adult would deliberately annoy another person on a plane, a child maybe but an adult purposely fidgeting to annoy the person behind?!
I'm of the 'grin and bear it' camp, I find confrontation like that a bit scary and try to avoid it at all costs =/

 

[paulh]

i`ve always been of the opinion that the seat shouldent recline.give people a little more room and they won`t nead too
Paulh

 

[Frances999]

i`ve always been of the opinion that the seat shouldent recline.give people a little more room and they won`t nead too
Paulh

They aren't going to "give people a little more room" at the economy price-tags. Either grin and bear it or upgrade for more room. I wouldn't survive any flights if the seat didn't recline.

 

[jdybnsn]

Personally, I don't think it is worth confronting people yourself on such a long flight ...if they are that way inclined they are likely to entertain themselves by annoying you even more...unfortunately there are some people who are like that

I think first step for me would be to have a discreet word, away from your seat, with the cabin staff who, if you are lucky, might either move you , or perhaps may enquire from the culprit on your behalf, if they are having problems with their seat/indigestion (!)/ hot feet ...if the cabin crew indicate that they have noticed the misdemeanor (rather than just you) it puts a bit more pressure on them to behave themselves ....especially these days when the airlines do take passenger behaviour more seriously.

I suppose the other avenue to try might be to ask the person yourself in the most amiable tone possible, if they would like you to try to get them another blanket / pillow etc as you had noticed they were not comfortable / having problems;.... that way if they are not deliberately fidgeting to annoy you, you have let them know subtley that you are being affected by their behaviour, and any 'nice' person would make for effort to cease - besides you never know ...perhaps that extra pillow could be the answer for you both !

 

[Boo Boo Too]

i`ve always been of the opinion that the seat shouldent recline.give people a little more room and they won`t nead too
Paulh

It was a night flight that the OP is complaining about.

Those economy airline seats are (in my opinion) WORSE than "bolt upright" in the upright position. I am not convinced that they are even "bearable" in the reclined position... I find it VERY difficult to sleep in economy airline seats.

To be considerate to the person behind, I always keep my seat upright during meals (to give them more room to eat their meal) and only recline after the meal. But, at the end of the day, the seat reclines (and you can bet the person in front of you will recline) so you can recline it...

One of my worst experiences was on a Virgin a few years ago. On the flight out to LA we had been upgraded to Upper Class (fantastic! But it does spoil you completely... ). On the way back from LA the flight in economy was PACKED. We could barely get our bags in the overhead. We sat down and it just felt COMPLETELY claustrophobic! I was in the aisle. There was a young boy (probably 8/9/10) in the seat across the aisle from me. He was STUFFING himself with sweets, BBQ pringles (lovely smell), then his kids meal, then more crisps and sweets. Well I went went to sleep, slept for a couple of hours and opened my eyes JUST IN TIME to see the kid across the aisle throw up everywhere! No surprise there then! It was all over him and his blanket, none on me fortunately, but at less than 3 foot away... not pleasant! Did not enjoy that flight and it was the start of us spending quite a bit on upgrading flights...

My other bad experiences have generally been on longhaul charters in the late 90s - their seating was just RIDICULOUSLY tight! No leg room and no shoulder room (and I am only 5'4" and size 10, so I hate to think what it was like for anyone bigger!). They made economy on schedules airlines look good!

Boo

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I think first step for me would be to have a discreet word, away from your seat, with the cabin staff who, if you are lucky, might either move you , or perhaps may enquire from the culprit on your behalf, if they are having problems with their seat/indigestion (!)/ hot feet ...if the cabin crew indicate that they have noticed the misdemeanor (rather than just you) it puts a bit more pressure on them to behave themselves ....especially these days when the airlines do take passenger behaviour more seriously.

I would like to see the cabin crew keep a straight face when you ask them to stop the person in front of you from "letting go"... I think they will help with anti-social/dangerous behaviour, but maybe not so helpful regarding un-sociable/annoying behaviour. Where people draw the line is difficult... the thing is, being trapped in a small metal tube for 8 hours means that our tolerance gets lowered and generally very quickly.

I think that airlines are more concerned with terrorists/drunks than the "phantom raspberry blowers"...

Looking for a new seat is a good idea, although can be difficult on a busy flight.

Boo