Airplane Etiquette, Part 2
So it’s Part 2 of the Airplane Etiquette series. If you missed the first post in the series, no worries- you can check it out here. We had some great comments on the first post… many of which have influenced Part 2 below. Keep the additional thoughts flowing.
1. Can’t quit chatting Cathy- is it really necessary that you talk on your phone until the flight attendant has to tell you to turn it off, at which moment you act like you are done and then jump right back on the same phone call. You are such a rebel…. Stop it. Whatever it is can wait. Stop it now.
2. Move forward 1 or 2 rows when you are in the back Marvin- there is an unwritten rule in airplane etiquette- you cannot advance more than one row past where you were sitting, unless previously allowed through announcement or special circumstances authorized only by the senior flight attendant or captain. Otherwise, stay in your row, and beyond that, just stay in your seat. Is it really that important that you save 7 seconds by moving forward and hacking everyone off? Foreigners are the typical culprits on this one…. there needs to be an international handbook on etiquette written immediately, if not sooner.
3. Nothing to read, write, or do Danny- honestly, you are on a three hour flight and brought nothing with you to work on, watch, read, write, or listen to. Are you serious? So the entire flight you try to sleep, but can’t, so instead you just annoy everyone around you. Buy an ipod, or a walkman, or at least a newspaper.
Continue to add to the list, or confirm the above with a story or example.
My favorite is Pull on the Seat Ahead of You to Get Up Peter. He always seems to sit behind me. And also tends to be either incontinent or fidgety. Seriously, unless you’re 85 years old and crippled with arthritis, you shouldn’t need to pull on MY seat every time you need to get up. AND you shouldn’t get up more than once an hour. ESPECIALLY on an overnight flight while I’m trying to sleep.
As a Christian, I try to purposely be #3 on your list. It forces me to not put my earphones in and ignore those around me, but to make friends, chat it up, ask them about their lives, and who knows where the conversation will go. Take the chances when you get them. Especially if you work at churches and ministry, your opportunities don’t always abound in the completely unreached spheres, so why not strike up a conversation!
Can’t stop peeing Pam. You know what I mean.
Luggage Larry. The guy who gets into his luggage every 10 minutes in the overhead storage.
Elbow rest Eddy. This is the guy who thinks the armrests are there just for him, both of them.
Forgot to wear deodorant Frank. Whew…
and the worst of all. I can’t even come up with a cool name. It’s the kid that cries the whole flight long. And the mom that tries very loudly to comfort her, the whole flight long…
Maybe I’m a little jaded.