It’s not hard to be polite. Being courteous, using your best judgement and being kind should just come naturally no matter where you are. Shouldn’t it? This is why I find it so odd that when some people find their butts in airplane seats all bets are off! They lose they manners and become walking, talking, spoiled children lost in their own little bubble of self-entitlement. How does this happen? Maybe this small group of peeps just didn’t have any manners in the first place? What I do know; the more I fly, the less tolerant I become of the rude, ill-mannered or inconsiderate flyer. Here’s my list of flying friends I could really do without:
- The Party Boy: For the love of all things decent, brush your teeth before you fly. Yay for you that you had a wicked good time last night. We can all smell ( I mean tell) that you were on quite the bender last night, but I think you could have squeezed in four minutes to brush your teeth before you dashed to the airport today.
- The Aromatic Flyers: Deodorant, it’s for all our pleasure. Try it.
- The Sicky: If you or your child has a constant case of the sniffles. Hand them a freaking kleenex. Please. If they are cough, cough, coughing, and sneezing with abandon into the tin box we are all flying in together, is it too much to ask them to cover their mouths? Gross. There is not enough hand sanitizer in the world for me to feel comfortable sitting next to you.
- DJ in Seat 16A: Headphones. If you have them, use them. If you don’t have them, you can buy them for about $3.00. I get that you love your tunes and video games, the rest of us aren’t enjoying them as much as you.
- The Seat Kicker: Just Stop. I beg of you don’t kick the damn seat.
- The Fast Recliner: Everyone has the right to recline their seat. Would it be okay if we all agreed to recline at a slow and steady pace instead of a “throw it back and scare the crap out of the person behind you while busting their knee caps rate?”. Ouch.
- Must Pee 10 Times Lady: Perhaps you are a nervous flyer. Maybe you just had too much coffee before your flight? Whatever your reason, if you know you are going to have to get our of your seat 9 or 10 times….or even just 5 or 6 on a three hour flight, perhaps you should request an aisle seat the next time you fly. Food for thought!
Here’s hoping the next time you take to the air, you don’t end up squashed in between the rude, the obnoxious or the entitled flyer. If we have to share that air up there in that flying tin can, it would be nice if we could just all get along.
kathy downey says
I just got a seat kicker last month and after telling him very kindly to give it up! People can be so rude!
kathy downey says
The screaming kids get me seat kickers,oh and let’s not forget the loud mouth
Debbie White Beattie says
I hear you when it comes to annoying air passengers. The crying or seat kickers kids are the worst in my opinion.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
Seat kickers really really annoy me, makes for a very disturbed flight. The worst thing is if it’s a child and the parents seem to think that it’s ok for the child to keep kicking the seat in front of them. Smell is another thing that can easily make me feel sick.
Victoria Ess says
Oh, all of these characters were so familiar to me!
Lynda Cook says
Loved reading your article..lol.. I have heard a lot of complaints about reclining the seats, between that and crying babies are the two most hated on an airplane!!
mrdisco says
you can add the chatty cathy to the list. sometimes you just want to sleep but the person next to you just wants to talk
Lana Hood says
Great description of some of our familiar fellow travellers.
Karen Glatt says
People can be so rude on Airplanes, just look at all the rude drivers on the road now! It is so crazy. At the movies, and on a plane, I can not stand it when my seat is kicked! And why do people not cough in their sleeve or tissue when sick like the are supposed to. This is so unkind!
Krista M says
Oh “The Sicky” is the worst! Just knowing you are trapped on the plane, sharing the same air for hours, inhaling the germs.. knowing you’re gonna end up sick too is brutal!
Stephanie says
Face masks for all who cough on a plane! LOL It’s the only way 🙂
Elizabeth Friesen says
And don’t forget the armrest hog! They are often space invaders as well. Grrrrr. >:(
Stephanie says
The space invaders! How are they so oblivious??
Elizabeth Friesen says
Your guess is as good as mine! I always try to be conscious of other people’s personal space. The space invaders have no problem sticking their pointy elbows into my ribs or, even worse, into my boobs! >:(
Melinda L. says
Omg I agree to all of those!!! I was on a plane last month and seriously how hard is it to slap on some deodorant?! I felt like I could puke, luckily it was a short flight.
Stephanie says
Maybe airlines should pass out mini deodorants when we board!
Parent Club says
I was on a flight last week and somewhere in my seating location there was an aromatic flyer (brutal B.O.!) It made my journey a lot less nice.
Stephanie says
That’s when you wish you had some Noxema to smear under your nose. Yuck!