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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Plane Rant

322 replies

LucyDontLockIt · 29/08/2018 03:27

Why do "special diet" people get all their food about an hour earlier than everyone ekse??

Why don't people think to put their chairs back upright at meal times??

Why do people wait until the passengers finally get moving off the plane before they start getting their shit together in the fucking aisle so nobody can get passed??

Does flying bring out the megabitch in anyone else? I spend hours boiling over with fury on a flight, surely I can't be the only one

OP posts:

Pinkyyy · 30/08/2018 07:21

No, reclining is a normal function which the seats are designed to perform. If you are unable to fit in a seat behind another seat functioning normally, you need to inform the airline in advance.

This. Why would they design seats but not want you to use the function? People going out of their way to try and stop someone else reclining by jamming their knees into the back of a chair deserve whatever pain this causes them.

ElainaElephant · 30/08/2018 08:04

Laughing here. I can imagine airlines getting completely confused by a spate of people phoning to say they have long legs.

What would you expect them to do with that information?

BabyCobra · 30/08/2018 08:09

I have to have a word with myself at airports and on planes, something about the environment makes my inner ape bounce off the walls.

Slow walkers on the flat moving walkways drive me mad -or even worse two people standing still and blocking the entire thing without a care in the world.

The length of time some people stay in the toilet on planes. Why? Do your business and leave.

The security line. I had one lady leisurely take out a flask of water whilst loading her tray, and sip it without any urgency until it was empty before putting it back in the bag and through the scanner. Everyone was staring at her incredulously.

I hate that most airlines have stopped giving out the little individual bottles of wine and just give an ungenerous splash in a plastic cup.

People who take an age to choose between the two meal options available and asking questions. This is not The Ivy - just pick one FFS.

Bestseller · 30/08/2018 08:10

Did I imagine it or have some airlines stopped using reclining seats? Unfortunate though that might me for a tiny minority who really need to recline, it seems sensible to me.

Travelling on an economy flight is never going to be comfortable for anyone. It seems draft to introduce another layer of tension by allowing people to recline into other's space

serbska · 30/08/2018 08:11

There do seem to be an awful lot of tall people with extra long legs who say they can't possibly fit in the seats without ramming their knees into the seat in front so they can't recline.

The average height for a man is 5'8 in the UK. I reckon you need to be at least 6'3 before you have legs long enough that you 'need' to stop the person in front reclining.

LakieLady · 30/08/2018 08:11

I haven’t flown long haul in an ages and it seems to have got worse. Seats now recline about 6 cm and are impossible to sleep on. Either that or I’m just too old for this shit and need to start flying business.

I was upgraded to business class for a flight back from New York. It was bliss, and has totally spoilt me for flying economy for anything but short flights.

Even then I bloody hate it. The noise, the crowds, the overheated chaotic airports, the queuing .... I avoid it wherever possible now. I actually feel my blood pressure going up when I go to the airport to pick up friends!

We're lucky and live close to a small channel port that has a ferry service. We can just drive down the road and onto the boat, and have a civlised journey where you can stroll about and be quite realxed (as long as the sea's not rough!). Get to the other side and we can drive to anywhere on the European mainland in the comfort of our own car or, even better, our motorhome. Suits me fine.

I bloody love Eurostar too, I think that's wonderfully civilised. The great thing about travelling by train is that when you arrive, you're already very near your destination, you don't have that horrible schlep from the airport to your hotel.

serbska · 30/08/2018 08:12

People who take an age to choose between the two meal options available and asking questions. This is not The Ivy - just pick one FFS.

InertPotato · 30/08/2018 08:17

Laughing here. I can imagine airlines getting completely confused by a spate of people phoning to say they have long legs.

Yes.

Polarbearflavour · 30/08/2018 08:19

Recent flight - 2 check in desks open for around 700 people to check in. Other passengers were ranting at the check in agents and made everyone else wait even longer. Two more desks opened eventually and the people at the back at the queue tried to barge in even though we were next in line. They had to be physically held back by an airport employee!

People who flaff around at security and don’t follow instructions.

People who just stand in the way gawping.

Air travel is horrible. The only airport I don’t mind is London City.

Bestseller · 30/08/2018 08:22

I think the problems start when a passenger is "stout" and tall serbska. DS1 is 6'3" and managed to fit on a Ryanair flight fine, even with his backpack under the seat in front. I'm 5'8" and had loads of room. It's no worse than a bus/train which is effectively what it is in economy

KnotsInMay · 30/08/2018 08:34

“Whoever designed those reclining seats deserves their own in hell.”

You haven’t done a 15 hour overnight flight, have you?

MotsDHeureGoussesRames · 30/08/2018 08:39

@Pinkyy = the epitome of the 'me, me, me' attitude. The chairs are designed to recline for overnight or long haul flights. You are selfish to the extreme to then say that because the chairs have that functionality, you will use it on a short, daytime flight with no consideration for other people. My music speakers at home are designed to play really loud music but I'm not going to do that after a certain time because it's RUDE and SELFISH.

BabyCobra · 30/08/2018 08:45

I had to laugh on a recent flight. An elderly lady was given assistance to board the plane as obviously had mobility issues. Plane takes off, all fine, seat belt signs go off. We hit a spot of bad turbulence, seat belt signs go on. Loud warning from Captain to stay in seats with seat belts on. She chose this moment, bless her, to undo her seat belt get up and head off to the toilets. The plane was bouncing around. The flight crew had to chase after her.

Pinkyyy · 30/08/2018 08:49

MotsDHeureGoussesRames

I don't agree at all. I've paid for my seat on the plane and have every right to make use of all of its functionalities. I suffer from severe back pain and would not start off my holiday in extreme pain because someone thinks it's selfish to use the seat the way it was designed

Lizzie48 · 30/08/2018 08:59

My DH is 6'5 with very long legs and I have never heard him moan about people reclining their seats. But then, he has difficulty with sitting throughout the flight not just when seats are reclined.

Such a lot of selfishness on this thread. A short daytime flight might be all it is to you, but for myself and DH and our 2 DDs of 9 and 6 it was the end of a very long journey and we were thoroughly jet lagged.

MotsDHeureGoussesRames · 30/08/2018 09:08

No, it's not 'selfish' of people not to want someone's seat in their space (which they have also paid for!) during a short daytime flight. It matters not one bit that 'for you, it's the end of a long journey and so not a day flight'. You chose to plan your travel this way and it doesn't give you the right to inconvenience and cause discomfort to someone else?! You plan for a short daytime flight, you suck it up and sleep later. You don't make the flight uncomfortable for someone else because, guess what - the world doesn't revolve around you.

CardsforKittens · 30/08/2018 09:11

Ah, that old 'right to recline' argument. Some people have particularly long legs, my husband for example. He's 6'7" and has disproportionately long legs. You can quote out of date legislation at him for the entire duration of the flight but your seat will not recline. Because it can't. If you absolutely must recline because of a disability you need to advise the airline in advance and let them figure it out.

Stating your needs in advance is just part of what people with disabilities have to do in everyday life. I know this because I now have an invisible disability, so I'm a bit sceptical when people don't appear to done this but start frothing about legislation to random people around them.

serbska · 30/08/2018 09:16

@Bestseller I agree re a tall and 'stout' combo... My friendship group is unusually tall (all the men are over 6'2 and several are 6'4) and they all seem to be able to sit in economy and allow the person in front to recline. None of them are in any way fat though!

I also don't get the 'short daytime flight' angst. It might not be daytime and it might be the end of a horrendous long journey.

If a seat is able to recline, there is a chance it will be reclined on any flight (your 'daytime' or not). Personally I am not in the habit of reclining except for 'night time' flights but I don't make it difficult for people in front of me to do so either!

serbska · 30/08/2018 09:17

@MotsDHeureGoussesRames the world doesn't revolve around you and your apparently freakishly long legs either...

BabyCobra · 30/08/2018 09:21

I fly a lot and had no idea that 'to recline or not to recline' was such a hot topic.

On an overnight flight you are clearly off your meds if you expect people not to recline. This is the point in life where you need to decide whether air travel is really for you. I don't care how tall you are. Being tall has a lot of advantages in other areas of life so suck it up. I often can't reach the overhead handles on tube trains, this is life, you have to adapt.

On a short flight I personally don't recline in the ordinary course of events. If if was sick, or exceptionally tired or in pain then I would. I would have a moment of guilt for the person behind me but wouldn't lose sleep.

FancyADoughnut · 30/08/2018 09:22

Flying in economy is rubbish as you are enclosed with lots of people who have very different ideas of what is polite or acceptable as shown on this thread.

I now save up to only fly business or first because I can immerse myself in my own bubble and flying is actually enjoyable rather than an endurance event.

Strugglingtodomybest · 30/08/2018 09:42

BabyCobra

I fly a lot and had no idea that 'to recline or not to recline' was such a hot topic.

It's only on MN I think. I also fly a lot and always try to book night flights. As far as I can see, everyone reclines and I've never seen anyone complain about it.

MarshaBradyo · 30/08/2018 09:57

Must be awful to be so cramped in and stopping people reclining. Just pay a bit more and sit where there’s extra leg room, if not business.

Lizzie48 · 30/08/2018 10:03

No, the world doesn't revolve around me, @MotsDHeureGoussesRames but neither does it revolve around you, though that seems to be the way you see things. My point is that when we're all cramped on an aeroplane consideration on all sides is needed.

And no, we didn't recline our seats FYI. But I wouldn't personally criticise anyone that did. To use your argument, it's a short flight so you should 'suck it up'.

thenightsky · 30/08/2018 10:31

I've got a long haul flight in December. I'm seriously thinking about forking out extra for an upgrade after reading this thread.

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