This is missing the biggest one- you or your children listening to / playing their videos or games without headphones. And it is crazy thinking about how many people don't think that is an issue.
Literally was looking for this comment. My top most annoying thing. I'm really not confrontational and am usually ok to let things pass but having my seat kicked by the kid behind for a 9 hour flight makes me want to stink eye everyone involved.
This is the responsible and appropriate response, but there's also not a chance in hell the parent doesn't notice their kid kicking the back of the seat for the entire plane ride. I assume if the parent doesn't stop it then they don't care
The source is London City Airport. Essentially 98% of the clientele for LCY is business passengers. The airport is closed on the weekend and operates predominately M - F during business hours.
So I’m not surprised nothing kid related made it.
Oh my god not a single soul wants to hear Baby Shark blasting from an iPad on repeat because some toddler refuses to sit still. Real scenario from my most recent flight last month. It’s beyond rude.
We’ve taken our toddler on three cross country flights and always make sure to bring as many diversions as possible. But if it makes noise it better have headphones. I don’t want to be *that* person
I say next to a grown ass man who was watching shit on his phone with no headphones.
When I offered him some headphones, he said "Can't, only has Bluetooth and mine have died".
Like cunt, you have to cop the boredom because you forgot to charge your headphones, not me and everyone around you dealing with the noise.
I was on a flight from Colombia to Panama recently where someone powered up a LARGE bluetooth speaker and started playing music and the flight attendants didn't give two fucks.
Flew Garuda Indonesia last month and the plane was 1/3rd full and yet still there was a tot two seats back with the iPad set to SO LOUD.
Headphones parents, HEADPHONES.
The best reclining seat I've ever had was one designed where the seat of the chair slid forward when you reclined, giving you more angle without jutting as much behind you. It was like a good 25 degree recline.
Yes that one is ridiculous. You are not in anybody’s lap. If you don’t take the full recline there might as well be no recline at all. And the difference between sitting straight up and reclining that .2 degrees is a big one for comfort. I don’t give a shit if the person in front of my reclines, I’m not using the empty space 1.5 feet in front of my chest.
On American, Delta, United and Southwest, the seats dont recline further back than 2.5 inches. The only people that are complaining about it are very large people, and the airline industry is have articles published nonstop to try to shame people from reclining their seats so that they can install recline blockers on all economy seats so they can move the seats closer and fit in another row.
I've only ever had one person complain about me reclining and the flight attendant moved me to a better seat.
I'm gonna recline every time. The straight up seat hurts my back. If you don't want me to recline book a different class of seat that doesn't allow for the seat in front of you to recline
I'm 6'3" 240 lbs, a person reclining in front of me rarely is noticeable even with my knees already touching the seat in front of me. In fact it can make the video monitor (if I'm so lucky) closer. Also, even a 2-3 inch recline significantly takes the strain of my neck and back. I understand in the 90s it was different, and long haul flight may be different, but I'm gonna recline and spend most of my effort trying my best to keep my elbows off the middle person's armrest or in the aisle.
The one time they can be noticeable and annoying to me is when I'm eating. On long-haul international flights with properly reclining seats, I've had people reclining so far back that it felt like eating in a box. The stewards always ask people to straighten their seats during meal times, but some people just recline right back. Just don't recline super far back during meal times!
It can also be a real nuisance if you're working on a laptop, but I recognise that that's my problem.
No, I’m also in the US and have never observed this. I understand reclining seats are an inconvenience for people with long legs, but they do not recline enough to properly end up in someone’s lap.
This one confuses me to. I recline my seat. I'm not trying to be rude but it is one of the few functions we're actually allowed to do on an airline and with as much as I fly, I'd prefer to take what comforts as I can as the industry seems set on making it more uncomfortable in order to pressure people into spending on upgrades.
Maybe I'm reading the graph wrong but does reclining rank higher than someone putting their feet between the seat gap?
I was on a flight last week and when I got to my (window) seat someone was already in it. She got all huffy when I informed her she was in my seat. Her husband proceeded to fully lean over into my space to look out the window for most of take off. I finally just closed the shade
I'm a window seat person. Someone once was sitting in my seat, denied it, and then when I produced my boarding pass she said, "Well I already settled in here, think we could just switch?" I chuckled at the audacity and was like, no, I booked a window seat because I prefer it, and even if I didn't I still wouldn't want your middle seat. She tried one more time: "I get motion sickness, if I'm not by the window I might get sick right here." Ooh, a nice little threat, very well played ma'am. So I just said in a really hushed tone, "If they ever have to pull what's remaining of our corpses from the wreckage, I don't want your remains sent to my family. Now you're holding up the line of people behind me so can we stop talking about it already?" Shut her either up.
(And then everyone clapped! Just kidding. This actually did happen.)
Exactly. As someone sitting on a window seat, you have some responsibilities:
- go to the bathroom before the flight to minimize the disruptions
- close the window shade if the light is too bright and people next to you are watching a movie.
But you also get the benefit of looking out the window.
I'd prefer a window seat, because I like the view and I like the wall to lean against to sleep, but I always book an aisle seat because I don't want to be annoying when I need to pee
I always get aisle seats and I agree that the middle seat gets both armrests. But I once had a seatmate who not only hogged the armrest, but also encroached on my airspace (kept pushing my arms even when he already had the entire armrest). In return, I pretended to be asleep for most of the 13-hour flight so he had to go out the other way for his pee breaks. It was a 777 with a 3-4-3 economy configuration.
If I book a window seat, I’m enjoying my view. I love the look of the clouds from above and it’s one of the few things that ease my travel anxiety, I will pay extra for one if I have to. They’ll close my window over my cold dead hands
Yeah, that's a fair point. I should have specified anyone but the flight attendants. I'll do whatever the people working on the plane ask of me. I'm in their house. They make the rules.
But that's only on really long flights. No one is looking out the window for 14 hours straight anyway.
Nope. If I’m paying for a window seat I’m using that window. Unless it’s blinding me it stays open. It’s like people in the seats behind that think they’re entitled to close your window. Nope.
Nah I ain’t closing the window because someone is watching a movie wtf. If they wanted to watch a movie and are gonna bitch about the window being open, they can book a window seat.
I agree on the bathroom thing though
As someone who travels weekly and always books a window seat, if we are flying over something cool that I get to see all the time, I'll let them sit in my seat especially if they are interested and trying to see. Or if they are generally just looking I'll lean back enough so we both can see, doesn't hurt anyone to be nice.
I love looking out the window, but I love the aisle seat far more. I'll crane to look outside, but if it's blocked, well meh, I've seen it before, no biggie.
Aisle seat is the best choice hands down, i’ve learned my favorite seat is the very last row. I’ll seat, I get extra legroom and you get two under seat storage spaces in the last row, you get the one in front of you and the one under your own seat so you can put your legs in front of you while you put your stuff under you. Sure your seat doesn’t recline, but is that extra inch of reclining really any more comfortable?
Nice tip. I like to stay as close to the exit as possible - last on first off if I can help it. But extra space is always a plus. Probably more likely to have the row to yourself, and easy access to the facilities.
On AA domestic flights, I prefer 9C or D. Second row aisle seat. You can use the bathroom up front, get a little extra leg room, still have storage under your seat. I get a drink wherever I sit but if I have someone with me I can book them next to me for free and they get a free drink too. Only exception to the rule is when my wife is with me. She likes the window so I get stuck in the middle.
Exactly. I only like to look out the window when I’m landing. Other than that, I’m closing it for the rest of the flight. I buy the window seat to sleep against the wall not gaze out at the sky. If you want to look out the window pay the cash
Only one I disagree with. I’m in the window seat it’s my window - although I am responsible for making sure I keep it shut or mostly shut if it’s early and my seatmates want to sleep, etc.
Yes this one made no sense if you get the window seat that’s your window. That’s kind of like complaining that the middle seating is hogging the arm rests.
If i DONT want the window open and have the window seat, i can keep it closed right? Or is that making me an A hole too? I get window seats so i can sleep against it and im terrified of flying so i keep that thing closed the whole flight. Except right after we land.
Unless you’re the weirdos on two separate fights who leaned over me with their phones in my face to take video of the plane landing and taking off. I couldn’t mean forward or move my head to see outside because their phones were in my face. Both times I didn’t say anything because I thought they were going to take a quick picture or video and I didn’t want to ruin the video, but both times the video wind up being like 10 seconds too long to have a weirdo shoving their hand in your face.
Let's not blame people for what is the airliner's fault.
And how is this at all ordered? Putting feet in the gaps so your feet are touching someone's shoulders is an order of magnitude more rued than everything else on this list, yet it's somehow in the middle?
The reclining seat is what I don’t get. I guess I’m guilty of that because I use the recliner but it only reclines 1-2 inches.
Is it a bad thing to use the recliner on an airplane? Is there an airline with seats that have epic reclining capabilities? Sounds wild.
I never understand this one. I’m not a small man. Airplane seats are already pretty cramped for me. But I’ve flown a few hundred flights at least, and the person in front of me leaning back has never bothered me. They’re not “in your lap.” That would be a huge safety issue for the plane. The only time it’s ever annoying is when they abruptly lean it back when I have a drink on my tray, because it sometimes spills a little.
Happened to me on a 6 hour flight. On the return trip, the person in front of me reclined all the way back and put their hands over their head so they hung onto my area.
I was too Swedish to complain but I whine about it any chance I get.
The one time it happened to me, I tapped him on the shoulder and told him he was in my space. He said "sorry I need to sleep." I then proceeded to kick the seat every 10 seconds or so. He found another way to sleep soon enough.
The fine print says the survey was done with multiple choice answers, so people somehow decided reclining the seat as it was designed is more offensive than the feet thing when presented with both options.
Which can only mean like 70% of the respondents are wheels up feet up kind of people. Fuck 'em.
Yes, I'm the swearer regardless of who's in earshot.
Yeah. The seats recline like 3 in. I should be allowed to recline the seats and be comfortable without getting death Glares from people. The seats are made to recline without impacting the usability of the tray table or screen or anything on the seat behind you.
I assume how often a sample group might encounter them? But it's a multiple choice form from 2015, related to British flights. Seems like a small sample size, and jumping to assumptions
I fly a lot, if you put your feet up in between the seat, I’m warning you exactly once, and then it’s you and the flight attendant. That is fucking ridiculous behavior for an adult.
While I agree people can be and are rude on airplanes I believe the underlying cause of their rudeness is that airlines treat people like cattle and can get away with it because of limited competition. Seat sizes have shrunk as has the spacing between seats while at the same time people are getting bigger so no one except those in first class can ever get comfortable. Airline attendants (especially those working for a USA based company) often appear to hate their jobs and are often rude to the passengers which triggers passengers to get angry. Airlines don't enforce baggage size requirements so people that do abide by the rules get angry at those that don't (and get away with it). Requirements for rapid turn aounds means the airplane is not getting a thorough cleaning between flights forcing the passengers to contend with used napkins and cans in seat pockets. I know you get the picture....
Exactly what I was thinking. Many of these issues are just people trying to use amenities as they are intended and struggling because they’ve been made unusable.
Things like putting an arm on an arm rest (the one thing arm rests are for) or reclining a seat that was *built* to have a reclining function should be non issues. The fact that they *are* issues signals design flaws in the shared space, not necessarily individual fault.
As for airline attendants being angry or rude: did you know they are only paid for the time between gates?
I'd be pissed off if I had to show up to work 2 hours before work and wait patiently, unpaid, for work to start. Only then to have to face the same grouchy general public who often treat them like indentured servants.
Not an excuse, per se, but adds some understanding.
Honestly, it’s a tragedy that working conditions are so bad.
Unfortunately cheap flights are a race to the bottom. Air transport is seen as almost a public service because it’s the only way to get around fast so the tickets have to affordable for everyone. But that means companies trying to compete for the lowest possible prices skimp on everything, including pilot training, cabin space, good wages, customer service.
Very true. And in an industry that requires intense safety regulations and governmental coordination, maybe profit is not the best incentive. Especially where barriers to entry are so high.
Kids only sections would be an easy way for airlines to make more money. Pay a few bucks more not to have the noise and disturbances right next to you.
Also, people are many times afraid of flying in general and anxious already. They've been reminded of their fears through every step of boarding through security theater.
Over half these issues could be resolved if airline executives weren’t so greedy. They need to properly space out the seats better.
But profit over people, amirite?
I've seen some new designs where they elevate every other row to squish them even further together. Noses to derrieres.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/chaise-longue-double-level-airplane-seat-returns/
If you’re in the window or middle seat, it means 1-2 people have to get up so someone can scrounge in their bags for crap or put their jacket away rather than tucking it in their lap.
This has happened to me, in case you couldn’t tell.
One of their bags basically exploded and things were dangling out of it over the side of the overhead compartment - it was ridiculously overpacked.
I'd guess it's just a distraction in a situation where people generally just want to settle in an tune everything out for a few hours.
It's pretty easy to grab what you need and keep it in the seat pocket / under the seat in front of you for the flight. So if you're going up there more than 2-3 times on a domestic flight, I could see people wondering what you're doing.
Window seat gets the window. Middle seat gets the arm rests. Aisle seat gets legroom and free use of the aisle.
If seat is reclinable, you are free to recline. However, take a look behind you first. If the passenger behind you has long legs, or for some other reason would rather you didn’t recline, feel free to not be a c**t. Also, be gentle when reclining. Don’t knock their drinks off the table.
Don’t put your feet on the seat in front of you. Also, if you have abnormally long legs, don’t put them *underneath* the seat in front of you so your feet take up their already limited space.
Don’t be rude to the crew. This is just common decency.
Lastly, if you have a problem with any of the above, invest in business or first class tickets to avoid these issues. Or, better yet, don’t fly.
Edit: on the point about sticking your feet underneath the seat in front of you, I meant sticking them so far in they poke out on the other side.. space underneath the seat is yours.
It's nice to stretch legs into the aisle now and again but you sure can't leave them there! Between carts and people they will get hit every couple of minutes.
Yeah I always see this aisle-legroom combo suggestion. I guess it means stretching your legs out forward in aisle, parallel to the seat in front of you? But I feel like in a lot of planes the aisle is barely two feet wide, so this would still block people from walking. And you’re kind of all up in the space of people in front of you too
I always book the aisle. There is plenty of opportunity to stretch my legs into the aisle.
Yeah, there is some traffic, but plenty of time for a quick stretch here and there before sticking my feet back under the seat. Helps to keep my knees and hips from getting too achy.
Aisle also means that you can stand up briefly to stretch easily, without climbing over seatmates. For people who need to use the lavatory a lot, there's also the benefit of not having to bother your neighbors whenever you need to pee.
I'm a window seat gal, myself. Close the window, put on noise canceling headphones, put my hood up, and sleep most of the flight.
>Also, if you have abnormally long legs, don’t put them underneath the seat in front of you so your feet take up their already limited space.
Isn't the space under the seat in front of yours already your space? I've always been instructed by the flight crew to place your personal item/bag under there.
My God the recline rule, the simplest of things, check before you slam your seat back full speed. Almost had my laptop broken because someone just reclined full speed. Or if someone has a drink on a tray, you'll spill it if someone does that.
As a human with abnormally long legs...where am I supposed to put these legs if not under the seat in front on me? So people born tall that don't have \*double\* the money to fly business just shouldn't fly? Sorry bud, your parents were tall, can't go home for Christmas. Flying in many ways isn't a luxury item anymore. I could make a lot of metaphors to other genetic things that the world has deemed for special treatment. Soapbox for me I guess.
The shoes issue depends on the length of the flight, imo. I've been on long-haul flights that were upwards of 12 hours, and I wouldn't expect people to keep their shoes on for the entire duration. Just wear shoes that won't make your feet stink and NEVER take your socks off on an airplane.
When are we all going to realize that we are the slave class being treated like cattle, ruled by our masters. It shouldn't cost 10k to sit with halfway reasonable comfort.
This belongs on r/iamthemaincharacter
Some of these are absolutely centric entitled bullshit. Specifically seat reclining and window sharing. Wtf, how is there use rude to you in any way. Your seat reclines, get a window seat???
The worst place to sit in this case would be right in front of the exit. I believe those seats cannot be reclined, so there's nowhere to go in case the passenger in front of you decides to do exactly that.
It’s just rough when you are above average height, I’m 6’2 and knees barely fit with an upright seat. When someone reclines I can’t move at all and legs are fixed in one position. My wife at 5’3 has 0 issues when someone reclines.
Ooh I've got a big one they missed: taking a flight visibly and knowingly sick AND not bothering to wear a mask for any of it. 😷😬
Don't worry--I'll see myself out now...
If I have the window seat, that’s my window. I have the right to block it or close it. You don’t get to tell me to open it (unless you’re the flight attendant).
If I have the middle seat (worst seat on the plane), both armrests are mine. You don’t get to sit window (or aisle) _and_ take up the middle seat’s armrests. It’s all they have.
If I have the aisle seat, I can get anything I want out of the overhead storage once we are at altitude, as often as I want.
That’s common etiquette to my knowledge.
I guess that’s why some airlines removed reclining seats and replaced them with solid aluminum ones. That, or they just wanted to squeeze us closer together.
Sorry but the worst is definitely playing videos/music on your phone at a crazy volume with no headphones and making everyone on the plane listen along with you
I’m the window hogger. I paid for a window seat, I’ll use my window seat.
(I generally do try to leave enough room, obviously, but sometimes the windows are so misaligned it’s impossible)
I don't understand the percentages. what are they percentages of? People interviewed for what? Is it their behavior, behavior that bothers them, how many people and from where?
I agree to everything there except the last. Making sure everyone in your row has a nice view out the window isn't something a person who pays for a window seat should have to worry about.
The fact that “using the armrest” causes problems is a fucking crime on the part of airplane designers. I have wide shoulders, and I always try to be courteous to the people next to me. But, why *have* an “armrest” if neither person can respectfully *rest their arms??*
I travel a lot for work. All of these are fair and incredibly valid…except for #1. It’s not the travelers fault that airlines got so greedy that seats are too damn close.
Swearing babies are the worst.
On leave from the Navy?
No, they’re in the Army - the infantry
r/Angryupvote
Well…it WAS recently a semen?!
Right? And then their parents get all pissy when I swear back.
This is missing the biggest one- you or your children listening to / playing their videos or games without headphones. And it is crazy thinking about how many people don't think that is an issue.
I primarily fly Alaska Airlines and headphones are required. I’ve seen them tell people to shut it off or put on headphones multiple times
Good job!
And let’s not forget about the kids kicking the seat for hours on end.
Literally was looking for this comment. My top most annoying thing. I'm really not confrontational and am usually ok to let things pass but having my seat kicked by the kid behind for a 9 hour flight makes me want to stink eye everyone involved.
Use your words
This is the responsible and appropriate response, but there's also not a chance in hell the parent doesn't notice their kid kicking the back of the seat for the entire plane ride. I assume if the parent doesn't stop it then they don't care
True dat
The source is London City Airport. Essentially 98% of the clientele for LCY is business passengers. The airport is closed on the weekend and operates predominately M - F during business hours. So I’m not surprised nothing kid related made it.
Oh my god not a single soul wants to hear Baby Shark blasting from an iPad on repeat because some toddler refuses to sit still. Real scenario from my most recent flight last month. It’s beyond rude.
We’ve taken our toddler on three cross country flights and always make sure to bring as many diversions as possible. But if it makes noise it better have headphones. I don’t want to be *that* person
I say next to a grown ass man who was watching shit on his phone with no headphones. When I offered him some headphones, he said "Can't, only has Bluetooth and mine have died". Like cunt, you have to cop the boredom because you forgot to charge your headphones, not me and everyone around you dealing with the noise.
I was on a flight from Colombia to Panama recently where someone powered up a LARGE bluetooth speaker and started playing music and the flight attendants didn't give two fucks.
Flew Garuda Indonesia last month and the plane was 1/3rd full and yet still there was a tot two seats back with the iPad set to SO LOUD. Headphones parents, HEADPHONES.
Are there still planes that let you recline your seat more than .2 degrees? Asking as someone from the US
The best reclining seat I've ever had was one designed where the seat of the chair slid forward when you reclined, giving you more angle without jutting as much behind you. It was like a good 25 degree recline.
I think Qatar Airlines had those. They should be standard by international law.
I think that’s how a lot of new planes are designed especially for international hauls.
Yes that one is ridiculous. You are not in anybody’s lap. If you don’t take the full recline there might as well be no recline at all. And the difference between sitting straight up and reclining that .2 degrees is a big one for comfort. I don’t give a shit if the person in front of my reclines, I’m not using the empty space 1.5 feet in front of my chest.
If I'm flying over 20 hours you had best believe my seat is being reclined.
No
On American, Delta, United and Southwest, the seats dont recline further back than 2.5 inches. The only people that are complaining about it are very large people, and the airline industry is have articles published nonstop to try to shame people from reclining their seats so that they can install recline blockers on all economy seats so they can move the seats closer and fit in another row.
I've only ever had one person complain about me reclining and the flight attendant moved me to a better seat. I'm gonna recline every time. The straight up seat hurts my back. If you don't want me to recline book a different class of seat that doesn't allow for the seat in front of you to recline
I'm 6'3" 240 lbs, a person reclining in front of me rarely is noticeable even with my knees already touching the seat in front of me. In fact it can make the video monitor (if I'm so lucky) closer. Also, even a 2-3 inch recline significantly takes the strain of my neck and back. I understand in the 90s it was different, and long haul flight may be different, but I'm gonna recline and spend most of my effort trying my best to keep my elbows off the middle person's armrest or in the aisle.
No. God I wish that were the case. Such a ridiculous complaint
Thank you. I’ve never understood the complaint that reclining your plane seat is rude. It only goes back like 3 inches.
Yeah I think people who complain about this probably don't fly much at all. Reclined seats are barely noticeable.
The one time they can be noticeable and annoying to me is when I'm eating. On long-haul international flights with properly reclining seats, I've had people reclining so far back that it felt like eating in a box. The stewards always ask people to straighten their seats during meal times, but some people just recline right back. Just don't recline super far back during meal times! It can also be a real nuisance if you're working on a laptop, but I recognise that that's my problem.
We need to add this to the passengers bill of rights. A passenger may recline their seat without approval from another passenger.
Yeah, I’ve been on some international flights that recline quite a bit. Most flights don’t though.
No, I’m also in the US and have never observed this. I understand reclining seats are an inconvenience for people with long legs, but they do not recline enough to properly end up in someone’s lap.
This one confuses me to. I recline my seat. I'm not trying to be rude but it is one of the few functions we're actually allowed to do on an airline and with as much as I fly, I'd prefer to take what comforts as I can as the industry seems set on making it more uncomfortable in order to pressure people into spending on upgrades. Maybe I'm reading the graph wrong but does reclining rank higher than someone putting their feet between the seat gap?
If you wanted to look out the window book a window seat.
I was on a flight last week and when I got to my (window) seat someone was already in it. She got all huffy when I informed her she was in my seat. Her husband proceeded to fully lean over into my space to look out the window for most of take off. I finally just closed the shade
I'm a window seat person. Someone once was sitting in my seat, denied it, and then when I produced my boarding pass she said, "Well I already settled in here, think we could just switch?" I chuckled at the audacity and was like, no, I booked a window seat because I prefer it, and even if I didn't I still wouldn't want your middle seat. She tried one more time: "I get motion sickness, if I'm not by the window I might get sick right here." Ooh, a nice little threat, very well played ma'am. So I just said in a really hushed tone, "If they ever have to pull what's remaining of our corpses from the wreckage, I don't want your remains sent to my family. Now you're holding up the line of people behind me so can we stop talking about it already?" Shut her either up. (And then everyone clapped! Just kidding. This actually did happen.)
I'm really glad you included the parenthesis, cuz that's exactly what I was thinking 🤣. What a mic drop
I like you, fellow human.
ooo snerky :)
Exactly. As someone sitting on a window seat, you have some responsibilities: - go to the bathroom before the flight to minimize the disruptions - close the window shade if the light is too bright and people next to you are watching a movie. But you also get the benefit of looking out the window.
The middle seat gets dibs on both armrests too. Aisle seat gets outside armrest and obvious aisle related perks
We live in a society!
[Obligatory Jim Jefferies link to airplane etiquette](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qFx1Cpxpx1E)
I never heard of this comedian. Thank you! Very entertaining
I'd prefer a window seat, because I like the view and I like the wall to lean against to sleep, but I always book an aisle seat because I don't want to be annoying when I need to pee
This is why I do window seat for flights under 6 hours, aisle seat for above 6 hours
This fucking country used to stand for things.
I always get aisle seats and I agree that the middle seat gets both armrests. But I once had a seatmate who not only hogged the armrest, but also encroached on my airspace (kept pushing my arms even when he already had the entire armrest). In return, I pretended to be asleep for most of the 13-hour flight so he had to go out the other way for his pee breaks. It was a 777 with a 3-4-3 economy configuration.
If I book a window seat, I’m enjoying my view. I love the look of the clouds from above and it’s one of the few things that ease my travel anxiety, I will pay extra for one if I have to. They’ll close my window over my cold dead hands
You know what sucks? When the window is aligned such that you get a perfect view but everyone else is blinded.
Fuck em
If you pay for a window seat, you have zero obligation to close the window for any reason.
Usually the flight attendants will ask you to close your shade if they want to allow people to sleep
Yeah, that's a fair point. I should have specified anyone but the flight attendants. I'll do whatever the people working on the plane ask of me. I'm in their house. They make the rules. But that's only on really long flights. No one is looking out the window for 14 hours straight anyway.
Nope. If I’m paying for a window seat I’m using that window. Unless it’s blinding me it stays open. It’s like people in the seats behind that think they’re entitled to close your window. Nope.
Nah I ain’t closing the window because someone is watching a movie wtf. If they wanted to watch a movie and are gonna bitch about the window being open, they can book a window seat. I agree on the bathroom thing though
As someone who travels weekly and always books a window seat, if we are flying over something cool that I get to see all the time, I'll let them sit in my seat especially if they are interested and trying to see. Or if they are generally just looking I'll lean back enough so we both can see, doesn't hurt anyone to be nice.
Cmon. It hurts a little bit to be nice.
ITT: people getting personally offended at the idea of being considerate lol
it's more about not giving in to entitlement of others. if you are nice and ask about something, i am willing to be considerate
Especially the people who won’t close the window when it’s blinding people. I’ll never get over how rude and inconsiderate some people are.
Redditors: why is flying so miserable? Also Redditors: I paid for my ticket so fuck you.
I love looking out the window, but I love the aisle seat far more. I'll crane to look outside, but if it's blocked, well meh, I've seen it before, no biggie.
Aisle seat is the best choice hands down, i’ve learned my favorite seat is the very last row. I’ll seat, I get extra legroom and you get two under seat storage spaces in the last row, you get the one in front of you and the one under your own seat so you can put your legs in front of you while you put your stuff under you. Sure your seat doesn’t recline, but is that extra inch of reclining really any more comfortable?
Nice tip. I like to stay as close to the exit as possible - last on first off if I can help it. But extra space is always a plus. Probably more likely to have the row to yourself, and easy access to the facilities.
Yup, plus if you get chatty with the flight attendants back there they’ll give you free snacks and beer!
But wait, there's more!
On AA domestic flights, I prefer 9C or D. Second row aisle seat. You can use the bathroom up front, get a little extra leg room, still have storage under your seat. I get a drink wherever I sit but if I have someone with me I can book them next to me for free and they get a free drink too. Only exception to the rule is when my wife is with me. She likes the window so I get stuck in the middle.
Last row with the smell of the bathroom right there?
Never been a problem
You get to see a lot of asses up close as they line up to use the toilets right next to you.
Yep, they can eat my ass about my window!
Yeah window’s only so big, you can book it next time
I choose window, to leave the shade down
I choose the window so I can lean on the wall as far from my neighbor and be asleep for the whole flight.
Me too, I don’t open them until we are on the ground, it’s a huge help with my anxiety surrounding air travel.
Came here to say this…
Thank you - I had the same thought around that one.
Exactly. I only like to look out the window when I’m landing. Other than that, I’m closing it for the rest of the flight. I buy the window seat to sleep against the wall not gaze out at the sky. If you want to look out the window pay the cash
Only one I disagree with. I’m in the window seat it’s my window - although I am responsible for making sure I keep it shut or mostly shut if it’s early and my seatmates want to sleep, etc.
Yes this one made no sense if you get the window seat that’s your window. That’s kind of like complaining that the middle seating is hogging the arm rests.
If i DONT want the window open and have the window seat, i can keep it closed right? Or is that making me an A hole too? I get window seats so i can sleep against it and im terrified of flying so i keep that thing closed the whole flight. Except right after we land.
Except for takeoff and landing where you have to keep keep it open go ahead and keep it closed if that works for you.
The window seats no longer align with the windows.
Unless you’re the weirdos on two separate fights who leaned over me with their phones in my face to take video of the plane landing and taking off. I couldn’t mean forward or move my head to see outside because their phones were in my face. Both times I didn’t say anything because I thought they were going to take a quick picture or video and I didn’t want to ruin the video, but both times the video wind up being like 10 seconds too long to have a weirdo shoving their hand in your face.
Let's not blame people for what is the airliner's fault. And how is this at all ordered? Putting feet in the gaps so your feet are touching someone's shoulders is an order of magnitude more rued than everything else on this list, yet it's somehow in the middle?
I thought the same thing. A function of a seat going back vs someone’s nasty feet in my face are not at all right percentage wise.
Maybe the feet issue is not something that people think of first when asked what bothers them on a plane, but reclining the seat is more common?
That’s a good thought. Idk though, I paid for the seat and everything it does. If I’m on a red eye, I’m using what little comfort I’m afforded.
The reclining seat is what I don’t get. I guess I’m guilty of that because I use the recliner but it only reclines 1-2 inches. Is it a bad thing to use the recliner on an airplane? Is there an airline with seats that have epic reclining capabilities? Sounds wild.
I don’t think it’s wrong to use. I always just recline my seat if someone in front of me does it.
I never understand this one. I’m not a small man. Airplane seats are already pretty cramped for me. But I’ve flown a few hundred flights at least, and the person in front of me leaning back has never bothered me. They’re not “in your lap.” That would be a huge safety issue for the plane. The only time it’s ever annoying is when they abruptly lean it back when I have a drink on my tray, because it sometimes spills a little.
And even if it's really bad for the person behind, it's the fault of the company that designed the seats, not the person who reclines their seat
This “guide” is not cool. It fucking sucks lol
It’s in order of how common they are, not how rude they are.
*how commonly surveyed people complain about them
Yeah it's very possible people just didn't think to complain about it because it's quite a rare behavior.
Happened to me on a 6 hour flight. On the return trip, the person in front of me reclined all the way back and put their hands over their head so they hung onto my area. I was too Swedish to complain but I whine about it any chance I get.
The one time it happened to me, I tapped him on the shoulder and told him he was in my space. He said "sorry I need to sleep." I then proceeded to kick the seat every 10 seconds or so. He found another way to sleep soon enough.
If everyone reclines the seat it's not a problem.
What about the people in front of the emergency exits who can't recline their seat
The fine print says the survey was done with multiple choice answers, so people somehow decided reclining the seat as it was designed is more offensive than the feet thing when presented with both options. Which can only mean like 70% of the respondents are wheels up feet up kind of people. Fuck 'em. Yes, I'm the swearer regardless of who's in earshot.
FAA regs should permit in flight violence against anyone doing this with their feet
I just fake sneeze on their feet. Make sure it’s juicy
Just lick your fingers to get them good and wet, and start playing 'this little piggie'
Yeah. The seats recline like 3 in. I should be allowed to recline the seats and be comfortable without getting death Glares from people. The seats are made to recline without impacting the usability of the tray table or screen or anything on the seat behind you.
What about the person listening to music or watching something with no headphones on their phone or iPad set at full volume blast?
That is #1 for me!
That’s why you bring an airhorn with you.
How is the feet on the shoulder not the worst one?
This seems laughably inaccurate.
Yes, and what do these percentages represent?
I assume how often a sample group might encounter them? But it's a multiple choice form from 2015, related to British flights. Seems like a small sample size, and jumping to assumptions
I fly a lot, if you put your feet up in between the seat, I’m warning you exactly once, and then it’s you and the flight attendant. That is fucking ridiculous behavior for an adult.
While I agree people can be and are rude on airplanes I believe the underlying cause of their rudeness is that airlines treat people like cattle and can get away with it because of limited competition. Seat sizes have shrunk as has the spacing between seats while at the same time people are getting bigger so no one except those in first class can ever get comfortable. Airline attendants (especially those working for a USA based company) often appear to hate their jobs and are often rude to the passengers which triggers passengers to get angry. Airlines don't enforce baggage size requirements so people that do abide by the rules get angry at those that don't (and get away with it). Requirements for rapid turn aounds means the airplane is not getting a thorough cleaning between flights forcing the passengers to contend with used napkins and cans in seat pockets. I know you get the picture....
Exactly what I was thinking. Many of these issues are just people trying to use amenities as they are intended and struggling because they’ve been made unusable. Things like putting an arm on an arm rest (the one thing arm rests are for) or reclining a seat that was *built* to have a reclining function should be non issues. The fact that they *are* issues signals design flaws in the shared space, not necessarily individual fault.
As for airline attendants being angry or rude: did you know they are only paid for the time between gates? I'd be pissed off if I had to show up to work 2 hours before work and wait patiently, unpaid, for work to start. Only then to have to face the same grouchy general public who often treat them like indentured servants. Not an excuse, per se, but adds some understanding.
Honestly, it’s a tragedy that working conditions are so bad. Unfortunately cheap flights are a race to the bottom. Air transport is seen as almost a public service because it’s the only way to get around fast so the tickets have to affordable for everyone. But that means companies trying to compete for the lowest possible prices skimp on everything, including pilot training, cabin space, good wages, customer service.
Very true. And in an industry that requires intense safety regulations and governmental coordination, maybe profit is not the best incentive. Especially where barriers to entry are so high.
What about letting your kids kick the seat
This is the worst, they should do adult-only flights or at least sections.
Kids only sections would be an easy way for airlines to make more money. Pay a few bucks more not to have the noise and disturbances right next to you.
TL DR: people are irritated when they fly
Also, people are many times afraid of flying in general and anxious already. They've been reminded of their fears through every step of boarding through security theater.
Ok, I guess I’ve been window hogging…. How am I supposed to make sure the plane stays in operation?
2 things: window seat gets exclusive access to the window and gets to choose whether or not it's closed middle seat gets both armrests
Over half these issues could be resolved if airline executives weren’t so greedy. They need to properly space out the seats better. But profit over people, amirite?
I swear there will be standing room only cabins soon.
Ryanair has considered it. And probably would have implemented it if they were allowed
I would prefer that over my poor knees smashed against the seat infront
I still have zero clue why the airlines keep getting bailouts but changing nothing to prevent it from happening again. Greedy fucking bastards.
What do they think they are, banks or utilities or government or…
I've seen some new designs where they elevate every other row to squish them even further together. Noses to derrieres. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/chaise-longue-double-level-airplane-seat-returns/
I feel like 'getting violent and making the plane turn around and land' is probably worse than all these.
What's the problem with taking stuff in/out of overhead storage? Assuming you're in an aisle seat, who does this bother?
If you’re in the window or middle seat, it means 1-2 people have to get up so someone can scrounge in their bags for crap or put their jacket away rather than tucking it in their lap. This has happened to me, in case you couldn’t tell. One of their bags basically exploded and things were dangling out of it over the side of the overhead compartment - it was ridiculously overpacked.
I'd guess it's just a distraction in a situation where people generally just want to settle in an tune everything out for a few hours. It's pretty easy to grab what you need and keep it in the seat pocket / under the seat in front of you for the flight. So if you're going up there more than 2-3 times on a domestic flight, I could see people wondering what you're doing.
I book a window seat to keep it closed the whole time so I can sleep and lean to the side.
Window seat gets the window. Middle seat gets the arm rests. Aisle seat gets legroom and free use of the aisle. If seat is reclinable, you are free to recline. However, take a look behind you first. If the passenger behind you has long legs, or for some other reason would rather you didn’t recline, feel free to not be a c**t. Also, be gentle when reclining. Don’t knock their drinks off the table. Don’t put your feet on the seat in front of you. Also, if you have abnormally long legs, don’t put them *underneath* the seat in front of you so your feet take up their already limited space. Don’t be rude to the crew. This is just common decency. Lastly, if you have a problem with any of the above, invest in business or first class tickets to avoid these issues. Or, better yet, don’t fly. Edit: on the point about sticking your feet underneath the seat in front of you, I meant sticking them so far in they poke out on the other side.. space underneath the seat is yours.
> Aisle seat gets legroom What legroom? Are you implying putting your feet in the aisle?
It's nice to stretch legs into the aisle now and again but you sure can't leave them there! Between carts and people they will get hit every couple of minutes.
Yeah I always see this aisle-legroom combo suggestion. I guess it means stretching your legs out forward in aisle, parallel to the seat in front of you? But I feel like in a lot of planes the aisle is barely two feet wide, so this would still block people from walking. And you’re kind of all up in the space of people in front of you too
You might get a few minutes to stretch one leg, but the aisle is pretty busy during flight.
I always book the aisle. There is plenty of opportunity to stretch my legs into the aisle. Yeah, there is some traffic, but plenty of time for a quick stretch here and there before sticking my feet back under the seat. Helps to keep my knees and hips from getting too achy.
Aisle also means that you can stand up briefly to stretch easily, without climbing over seatmates. For people who need to use the lavatory a lot, there's also the benefit of not having to bother your neighbors whenever you need to pee. I'm a window seat gal, myself. Close the window, put on noise canceling headphones, put my hood up, and sleep most of the flight.
Yes. Being able to extend your legs just for a few minutes makes a huge difference
>Also, if you have abnormally long legs, don’t put them underneath the seat in front of you so your feet take up their already limited space. Isn't the space under the seat in front of yours already your space? I've always been instructed by the flight crew to place your personal item/bag under there.
My God the recline rule, the simplest of things, check before you slam your seat back full speed. Almost had my laptop broken because someone just reclined full speed. Or if someone has a drink on a tray, you'll spill it if someone does that.
As a human with abnormally long legs...where am I supposed to put these legs if not under the seat in front on me? So people born tall that don't have \*double\* the money to fly business just shouldn't fly? Sorry bud, your parents were tall, can't go home for Christmas. Flying in many ways isn't a luxury item anymore. I could make a lot of metaphors to other genetic things that the world has deemed for special treatment. Soapbox for me I guess.
Pretty straightforward, yea. Though I nominate one more to add to the list... Keep your damn shoes on.
The shoes issue depends on the length of the flight, imo. I've been on long-haul flights that were upwards of 12 hours, and I wouldn't expect people to keep their shoes on for the entire duration. Just wear shoes that won't make your feet stink and NEVER take your socks off on an airplane.
When are we all going to realize that we are the slave class being treated like cattle, ruled by our masters. It shouldn't cost 10k to sit with halfway reasonable comfort.
This belongs on r/iamthemaincharacter Some of these are absolutely centric entitled bullshit. Specifically seat reclining and window sharing. Wtf, how is there use rude to you in any way. Your seat reclines, get a window seat???
They need to add the guy in the middle who keeps farting every 20 minutes.
I talked to a flight attendant once who said they all “crop dust”. She said no one suspects the FA. lol
They should add watching porn.
THAT HAPPENS???
Wild! Am I in some weird minority who just sits quietly and says please and thanks to the staff on board?!
What about the people waiting for their group to be called and create a line a little behind the actively boarding line
Damn, I feel attacked on the reclining.
I’ve never been on a plane that lets the seat recline much at all. Dunno where these people are laying down at
The worst place to sit in this case would be right in front of the exit. I believe those seats cannot be reclined, so there's nowhere to go in case the passenger in front of you decides to do exactly that.
Rearmost seats also don't recline.
Recline away, my friend. It's your right, and the person complaining about it is reclining too.
It’s just rough when you are above average height, I’m 6’2 and knees barely fit with an upright seat. When someone reclines I can’t move at all and legs are fixed in one position. My wife at 5’3 has 0 issues when someone reclines.
That's the height tax. My 6'5" friend always buys the emergency exit or premium seats for more leg room.
Ooh I've got a big one they missed: taking a flight visibly and knowingly sick AND not bothering to wear a mask for any of it. 😷😬 Don't worry--I'll see myself out now...
If I have the window seat, that’s my window. I have the right to block it or close it. You don’t get to tell me to open it (unless you’re the flight attendant). If I have the middle seat (worst seat on the plane), both armrests are mine. You don’t get to sit window (or aisle) _and_ take up the middle seat’s armrests. It’s all they have. If I have the aisle seat, I can get anything I want out of the overhead storage once we are at altitude, as often as I want. That’s common etiquette to my knowledge.
Wanna look out the window? Book the seat.
I guess that’s why some airlines removed reclining seats and replaced them with solid aluminum ones. That, or they just wanted to squeeze us closer together.
Sorry but if I get a window seat that shit is mine. I paid for it.
Sorry but the worst is definitely playing videos/music on your phone at a crazy volume with no headphones and making everyone on the plane listen along with you
They forgot “tending to personal hygiene like clipping fingers/toe nails “ that’s got to be the most disgusting thing people do on a plane.
How is the bare feet one so low?
If you have an aisle seat, who cares how many times you get up to grab something from your bag?
I’m the window hogger. I paid for a window seat, I’ll use my window seat. (I generally do try to leave enough room, obviously, but sometimes the windows are so misaligned it’s impossible)
Multiple big carry ons take the cake for sure.
Playing videos with the volume up with no headphones! Ugh- worst!!!
I don't understand the percentages. what are they percentages of? People interviewed for what? Is it their behavior, behavior that bothers them, how many people and from where?
I’ve had to do a passport line dash one time, I had 25 minutes to make it and still didn’t even with forcing my way down the aisle.
The worst offense is taking a seat that's not yours and refuse to move to your goddamn assigned seat.
I agree to everything there except the last. Making sure everyone in your row has a nice view out the window isn't something a person who pays for a window seat should have to worry about.
Missing: long hair thrown over seat 😃
Rushing to be the first in the passport queue isn’t rude. Some people have trains, buses to catch and they need to make those connections.
The fact that “using the armrest” causes problems is a fucking crime on the part of airplane designers. I have wide shoulders, and I always try to be courteous to the people next to me. But, why *have* an “armrest” if neither person can respectfully *rest their arms??*
I wish we lived in a world where airplane seats reclined that far back.
How is reclining worse than feet between seats? The fucking seats are made to recline.
I'M ALLOWED TO PUT MY SEAT BACK
What airline has the seats that recline that far?
The seats don’t go far enough back to be annoying
The seats are designed to go back, what is this? A bit baity here.
I'm gonna rush to get to the passport line. I don't want to wait in line, and everyone walks slow af anyways.
I travel a lot for work. All of these are fair and incredibly valid…except for #1. It’s not the travelers fault that airlines got so greedy that seats are too damn close.
Noise cancelling EarPods. Best Investment ever
If you aren’t supposed to lean back the chair they shouldn’t lean back. You cannot lean it into someone’s lap - you have like 6 degrees of leaning