There was a crying baby on my flight last night...

[huskerlaw]

and yet, she wasn't half as annoying as the jackass in the seat in front of mine.

The guy in front of me was in his early 20s (at least 21, judging by the multitude of Mardi Gras beads he and his buddies were sporting). He put his seat back at the first available opportunity. Which, in itself, isn't a big deal. However a) I really, really needed to get some work done on my laptop and b) he didn't actually lean back and go to sleep.

To clarify: with his seat back, I couldn't open my computer all the way. Which means, not only could I not type effectively, but I could only really see the top 1/4 of the screen without craning my neck or contorting myself in some weird position.

And yet, even then, I would have been ok with it if he would have put his chair back for a purpose. Instead, he spent the vast majority of the flight either sitting straight up (such that his back was nowhere near his seat) or...and this was the ultra-annoying part...actually ROCKING the seat back and forth. Yeah. It's real pleasant to have your laptop slam into your chest every few seconds. Whee.

Did I mention his iPod was on loud enough that I could sing along with his music. And I'm not talking about the first few minutes at the gate. No, I could hear Ludacris over the freakin' plane engines AND my own iPod! I like Pimpin' All Over the World as much as the next person, but I prefer to choose my own music, usually.

Obviously, this guy's mama didn't raise him right. If only she hadn't let him say "Bye-bye plane" back when he was 1, he might know how to behave properly on the airplane now. It's really too bad that the stewardess ran out of Benadryl. :evilgrin:

[skygazer]

1. Have planes gotten a lot smaller or is it just me?

It seems like it used to be you could function fine if the person in front of you had their seat back. Now, it seems like my knees wind up in my face and there is no way I can reach the bag I've stowed under the seat until I stand up to get off the damn plane.

They're like toy planes. Oh, how I wish I could afford to fly first class!

[huskerlaw]

4. It really depends on the plane, I think

I've been flying a LOT recently and have gotten on quite a few different styles of planes. This one had really nice, wide seats, but the leg room was HORRID. They had an option to pay about $45 more for the ticket to get some sort of Coach Plus seating, which I think had the regular amount of leg room as opposed to the rest of the cabin. I should have gone for it.

Some of the other planes that I've been on have been a little bit more roomy. The sad thing is that I'm a very average-sized person. I'm about 5'5" and not overweight, but seriously, I couldn't even open the laptop. I had to put my own seat back just to be able to type. It was ridiculous.

[Gormy Cuss]

41. Nearly all of the planes have extra rows of seats crammed into them.

United Economy has been horrible since they started the EconomyPlus abomination. I doubt the seat pitch is even 30 inches on 757s.
seat pitch explained here:
http://www.seatguru.com/help.php

The next time you fly, note the position of the windows relative to the rows. Windows should align with rows if the plane is flying with a standard row configuration.

[huskerlaw]

42. Ah, that explains it.

It was a United flight with the EconomyPlus option. And you're right about the windows...the seats are in between, not aligned.

[Writer]

2. Only twenty years ago, that kid was a crying baby, too.

;)

I bet his mama also told him how special he was... how entitled he was to throw his seat back and listen to his ipod loudly. Ahhh, parenting!

;)

:hi:

[huskerlaw]

6. Hee hee...

Probably true. And yet, he really was FAR more annoying than the poor baby who was obviously having ear pressure issues (since she was perfectly fine until we started descending into LA).

I guess my tolerance for little people who can't articulate their problems or understand why they can't be helped right then is a lot higher than it is for people who are old enough to understand how their actions affect others.

:hi:

[Writer]

9. The little people are always fine...

it's the parents that I always wonder about... and someone didn't teach that kid in front of you respect for others.

I'm sorry about your plane flight. :(

[nini]

29. yep.. exactly

:thumbsup:

[ThomCat]

3. It's always the adults that piss me off.

x(

I hope it wasn't a long flight.

[huskerlaw]

5. Long enough.

New Orleans to Los Angeles. x(

And yeah, adults piss me off WAY more than children do.

[pitohui]

11. what flight goes directly from msy to lax?

not saying it didn't happen, just saying i would like to know the flight because i haven't been able to get one

flyers have a right to recline but what's the point of going there again? it is not the fault of the uncomfortable flyer, who is restless because he's in pain and confined to a small space, that you left your computer work to do until you were on the airplane


it would be nice if planes were bigger, as they aren't, if you absolutely must work on the plane, book in first class

[huskerlaw]

22. My flight info...

Sat, Jul 14, 2007 - Los Angeles, CA (LAX) to New Orleans, LA (MSY)
United 1620
Operated by: United For Ted Depart: LAX 11:05 AM
Arrive: MSY 04:41 PM Non-stop
3h 36m
32S
1,671 miles traveled Fare basis code:
TA7AN
Booking class: T
Economy
1,671 Award miles
Food for Purchase 21A



Tue, Jul 17, 2007 - New Orleans, LA (MSY) to Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
United 1623
Operated by: United For Ted Depart: MSY 05:25 PM
Arrive: LAX 07:24 PM Non-stop
3h 59m
32S
1,671 miles traveled Fare basis code:
LOA14NA3
Booking class: L
Economy
1,671 Award miles
Food for Purchase 19F


As for the reclined seat, as I stated in the OP, if he was actually using the seat in such a way that he needed it to be reclined, I would have been fine with it. If he's in pain or uncomfortable, he's an adult...he doesn't need to share that with the people around him. If he can't handle it, he shouldn't be flying.

As for leaving my work until the airplane, what do you know about how I spent the rest of my time? I was at a work-related conference. I didn't "leave" my work for the flight home. I was working the entire time and had some things that needed to be finished up, relating to the conference. Jesus.

[fudge stripe cookays]

47. Don't worry.

This poster is incapable of not being a rude asshole. Seriously.

[Midlodemocrat]

25. Good God.

1. How do you know he's in pain and not just an asshole?

2. How do you know she left her work to do until she got on the plane? She's an attorney, which means work 24/7.

3. How do think you come across when your comments are so incredibly judgmental and rude?

[Shakespeare]

26. Then you don't know how to search for a flight.

I routinely take SW from LAX into New Orleans. If you're incapable of finding those flights, either work on your skills or call a travel agent.

[Shakespeare]

7. I think we should be allowed to just whack people like that right in the back of the head.

Clueless asshole.

Feel free to join my "I hate people" thread today. :7

[huskerlaw]

10. I did get a little bitchy at the end of the flight...

After the flight attendant said to put the seats back in the upright position, jackass didn't comply. So I pushed on the seat back rather forcefully until he got the clue. And then, once he had to turn his iPod off, he switched over to the little player they have in the arm rests...and he cranked up the volume there too. He left that on after we landed and were gathering our things to depart. I actually stuck my arm in between the seats and turned it waaaaaaaay down, because every one around him was complaining about being able to hear it, and he didn't seem to give a shit. I was popular for that move. ;)

[pitohui]

12. it sounds like he is hearing impaired

i think you should be ashamed of yourself, honestly

[huskerlaw]

15. Considering that

he was talking to his buddies in a normal tone of voice prior to the flight, I think his hearing was perfectly fine.

It won't be in a few years, given the volume of his iPod, however.

[Shakespeare]

18. It sounds like you are once more in need of a clue.

Shame, shame.

[Rabrrrrrr]

28. Hearing impaired, my ass. He's a fucing jackass, plain and simple.

Part of the current crop of child-demons raised by overly permissive Boomers who were all absolutely positive that little Dakota was the most important person in the world, and so didn't to learn or be bothered with such petty things as protocol and etiquette.

[Writer]

13. Seriously...

this is the "entitled" behavior that some social scientists are talking about.

[pitohui]

14. seriously this didn't happen, this is pretty much a tall tale from start to finish

how many msy-lax flights are you pulling up on the menu? seriously

[Writer]

16. I flew from Denver to New Orleans in May.

I think this one is believable.

[huskerlaw]

17. Would you like my flight info?

I left New Orleans last night at 5:32, the flight was delayed, scheduled to leave at 5:12. It was a TED flight (a United subsidiary). We got into LAX about 7:30. (on edit: to clarify...we boarded at 5:32, rather than 5:12).

The story is 100% true. But thanks for doubting my integrity.

Actually, here, I'll save you the trouble of replying:


Sat, Jul 14, 2007 - Los Angeles, CA (LAX) to New Orleans, LA (MSY)
United 1620
Operated by: United For Ted Depart: LAX 11:05 AM
Arrive: MSY 04:41 PM Non-stop
3h 36m
32S
1,671 miles traveled Fare basis code:
TA7AN
Booking class: T
Economy
1,671 Award miles
Food for Purchase 21A



Tue, Jul 17, 2007 - New Orleans, LA (MSY) to Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
United 1623
Operated by: United For Ted Depart: MSY 05:25 PM
Arrive: LAX 07:24 PM Non-stop
3h 59m
32S
1,671 miles traveled Fare basis code:
LOA14NA3
Booking class: L
Economy
1,671 Award miles
Food for Purchase 19F



Care to apologize?

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Writer]

20. Well... my question is: Why would someone lie about something like this?

What a bizarre assumption to make about another person.

[Shakespeare]

21. They wouldn't.

The other poster is just engaging in her usual rude and bizarre behavior.

[Writer]

23. Yeah, I know...

so here we are engaged in a conversation that has little if nothing to do with the OP because this person has decided to kick up the dirt a bit. :wtf:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

34. Don't mention corsets!

:rofl:

[Shakespeare]

39. Oh, man--I must've missed that one.

So what'd I miss? :7

[Midlodemocrat]

43. Advanced search

keyword corset.

:rofl:

[fudge stripe cookays]

48. .

Dayum! How'd I miss this one?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=5723110

:rofl:

Warning: Unknowledgeable idiot dispensing diet and girdle advice!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

45. See Midlo's response.

:rofl:

[Midlodemocrat]

24. You rock, girlfriend.

:yourock:

:rofl:

[Shakespeare]

27. .

:*

[Midlodemocrat]

32. There's a line forming for the apologies.

:rofl:

[huskerlaw]

33. I'm not holding my breath.

;)

:rofl:

[bicentennial_baby]

38. I'm there!

:rofl:

[fudge stripe cookays]

8. I would have pulled a Miss Swan on him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SALUH6iCw3Y

"What you smiling for, smiley boy?"

[huskerlaw]

37. OMG!

"What? You only believe what you see?!" :rofl:

[fudge stripe cookays]

46. You can thank..

Call Me Wesley for alerting me to that gem in the last annoying flyer thread. Being a Miss Swan fan, I have to pass it on.

:D

[jobycom]

30. Did you ask him if he could sit his seat up a bit?

I've had good results in life with polite requests.

[huskerlaw]

31. I don't think he could have heard me

over his music. ;)

Actually, the person sitting next to him kindly asked him to turn down the music and he refused, so I didn't bother.

[jobycom]

36. Eh. Sounds like a lost cause, then.

:shrug:

I wonder how many people I pissed off behind me as a teen. My headphones were always loud, too. No one could steer me right, but momma tried, momma tried. :rofl:

[MsKandice01]

35. Oooh, early seat leaner-backers are the worst!

I'm 6'1" and, even for my height, I have unusually long legs. (I wear a 36" inseam in men's pants.) Oooh, how I enjoy it when someone leans their seat back as soon as I get up off the ground and ends up basically laying in my lap, to the point where I can damn near do their dental work. I usually have to get up once during the flight to keep the circulation moving in my legs and I am NOT SHY about using the top of their seat as leverage to pry myself out of the seat, even if it causes their little nap to be disturbed.

[huskerlaw]

40. I can't imagine

trying to cram myself into one of those seats if I was tall! I don't know how you survive, lol.

I'm only 5'5" and I was totally uncomfortable the entire time. sigh.

[HughBeaumont]

44. Fuckers who do that on the bus get a KNEE!

They want to recline, they can GO ELSEWHERE. DAMN I hate that shit. You WILL not recline as long as I'm sitting behind you, asswipe. The last thing I want to see after nine hours in cubeprison is your balding, dandruffy head. And it's NEVER women that do this, it's always dudes who look like they live in dorms, golf courses or sports bars.

Some fuck tried that on the plane on the last DC trip. He got the block.

[fudge stripe cookays]

49. Just bite his ankle!

(see my post #8)

:D

[Deep13]

50. I empathize with your annoyance, but don't share your perspective.

Why do people assume that airline trays are computer stations? It is only our hyperactive, corporate culture that assumes every moment must be productive. Why can't we just try to relax during the flight, something that is uncomfortable anyway. Just because new gadgets are invented does not mean the rest of the world has to accomodate them. I think we would all be better off being a little less wired. I don't have a laptop, a cellular telephone, a pager or one of those electronic calander do-dads and I'm a lawyer. It reminds me of a time when I was riding with my employer and he was annoyed because a pedestrian was in no hurry during his crossing of the street. Well, why should he be? Pedestrians have been arounds for a lot longer than cars and the roads were originally meant for them. Just because we have a smelly, wasteful new gadget does not mean that pedestrians should clear-out. Airline seats are bad enough. If I can get a few more inches by reclining, then I'm going to do that and if someones electronic gadget doesn't fit in the food tray anymore, well that's not my problem. Neither is that person's insane work schedule. Gadgets exist to serve us, not the other way around.

Sorry. Like I said, I've been annoyed on airplanes before so I empathize, I just don't think it is reasonable this time. As a side note, his electronic noise-making gadget should not have been so loud. I'm in total agreement there.

[huskerlaw]

51. Ok, I can see your point

However, the rocking and loud music would have been utterly annoying without the addition of the laptop. So really, the laptop and any discussion about whether or not I should have needed to use one is extraneous to the main issue.

[Deep13]

52. I can see your point there.

Definitely annoying. Rocking? Was he three?

[huskerlaw]

53. He sure acted like it

:shrug: