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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 30/08/2018 19:55

Surely the must-recliners AND the long-legged-need-all-the-legroom people should all be getting cross with the airlines, who have cut down on legroom in order to jam as many people as possible in, rather than the other passengers?

I don’t fly very often, but I can honestly see both sides of this - if a seat reclines, and someone needs/wants to recline it, that is not an unreasonable desire - but equally, if you have long legs, or need the chair in front of you upright because you have a bay on your lap or need to sit upright, that is not an unreasonable wish either.

But the airlines have very cleverly washed their hands of the issue, and are sitting back counting their profits from the extra rows of seats whilst the passengers fight about reclining/not reclining, and the cabin crew have to mediate.

EdWinchester · 30/08/2018 19:57

The average height for a man is 5'8 in the UK

Is it really?

I don't think I know a single adult man that is that short.

As you were.

cmlover · 30/08/2018 20:01

alittle happy tale of flying. there not all bad.

I was flying to America with my then 2 year old. 2 planes, first one he was fine. second was to take 5 hours. the last 3 hours if it all he did was cry... I did everything I could to get him to sleep ir at least to stop crying.

the people behind me and beside me tried to distract him, even handing him things to play with . NOTHING worked. by The end I Was in quite tears as we where getting off I had numerous people come up to me telling me I did great and not to worry and even gave me a hug which Tbh just made me cry more as I'm apologising.

this was 10 years ago now but it still gives me the feels.

Angelil · 30/08/2018 20:04

My pet hate: why does boarding take people so long?! The rows are numbered. Little things can go under the seat in front of you. People seem to stand there staring at the overhead bins, trying out different positions for their (often oversized) bag, and generally dicking around like they have never been on a plane before (and seriously, for the number of people who do this I doubt that many of them have actually never been on a plane before).

And...noisy passengers. I know I have earphones but NO-ONE needs/wants to hear your conversation. Your kids should also have earphones for their iPad by the way. Frankly I prefer the baby who screams on takeoff and landing. At least they can't help it.

MarthasGinYard · 30/08/2018 20:05

'Your kids should also have earphones for their iPad by the way.'

Agree

woodfires · 30/08/2018 20:06

My DH is 6'2 and while cramped in economy can manage to let others recline their chair during the flight, he does prefer an aisle seat to stick his legs out from time to time. I am only short but my back isn't great so I usually recline. I hadn't realised that people who occasionally jamed things into my seat back were passively aggressively trying to stop me from reclining until I joined mumsnet, The seat as meant to go back so it is actually very hard to prevent this from happening and it can always be done when people go to the loo.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 30/08/2018 20:06

Upright position obviously for take off and landing

You would indeed think it was obvious wouldn't you? But I've been on flights where folk have argued with the staff even about that (along with declining to put their phones away, refusing to put bags in the overhead locker and more) Hmm

Sometimes you really do wish they could chuck 'em out at 35,000 feet ...

woodfires · 30/08/2018 20:07

At least my DC have headphones for their iPads though.

brizzledrizzle · 30/08/2018 20:21
  1. Who cares?
  2. Because they are ignorant
  3. Ditto
  4. I just read a good book
DagenhamRoundhouse · 30/08/2018 20:25

Just don't do it. I don't!

Polkapjs · 30/08/2018 20:33

A lot of people are arseholes as this thread has proved and care only about their own needs. Wine in huge amounts is all that makes anything more than an hour long flight bearable

LeftRightCentre · 30/08/2018 20:42

I'm always in awe of people who can drink on planes. I can't think of anything more unappetising than alcohol in that dank, recycled air cabin, all crowded, with a couple of nasty lavs. Yuk. Had two drunk men sat next to me on the last long haul flight. They were fucking obnoxious. I book emergency exit row seats at every possibility as they have more room and you don't have to worry about some entitled wanker of a parent demanding you move seats so their precious darling they were too tight to pay for seats together can sit next to them.

Katedotness1963 · 30/08/2018 20:44

We usually stay sitting to let the rush clear. We recently were on a long haul flight, five hours before our connection so we sat and waited till the queue cleared. Walking down the plane to exit, the mess people had left behind them was unbelievable!! What absolute slobs some people are. Some seats you could literally shovel the left behind rubbish out of.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 30/08/2018 21:18

Walking down the plane to exit, the mess people had left behind them was unbelievable!!

Tell me about it Hmm More to the point, just why? On practically every flight I've been on, someone comes round with a bin bag to collect rubbish ... is it really such a big deal to put at least some of it in there?

Lizzie48 · 30/08/2018 21:30

A lot of people are arseholes as this thread has proved and care only about their own needs. Wine in huge amounts is all that makes anything more than an hour long flight bearable

I quite agree, it's depressing. On a flight we're all cramped together and a little give and take would go a long way. It actually seems to be the case that passengers on long haul flights are more tolerant than those on short haul.

Also, what is the point of getting angry anyway? It won't make anything happen more quickly.

As I said earlier, I do get why it might be annoying if the passenger in front of you reclines their seat and your legs are too long, as my DH is 6'5 and has had this on every flight he's ever been on with me. But he's never been rude or passive aggressive towards the passenger in front, he's just coped with it.

smilingontheinside · 30/08/2018 22:25

@twotailed are you me?

Peanutbuttercups21 · 30/08/2018 22:28

So much stress and anger...

On our last flight, the man in front of me flipped out about the lack of choice in sandwiches. He made the stewardess cry.

Ridiculous

I think flying is generally fine (even though I am 6ft and my legs get jammed, I get scared, and I get sick)

Am always just deeply grateful I did not die or vomit GrinGrinGrin

Shockers · 30/08/2018 22:56

Please don’t spray yourself liberally with perfume in the duty free shop; it gives me a migraine.

Thank you Smile.

Igneococcus · 31/08/2018 06:46

But I've been on flights where folk have argued with the staff even about that (along with declining to put their phones away, refusing to put bags in the overhead locker and more)

On a flight into Edinburgh a few years back the captain came on and in a very friendly voice said: If you are wondering why we have been circling Edinburgh for the past 20 min this is because the passenger in seat XXx is refusing to put a seat belt on her baby.
Less than 2 minutes later he asked the flight attendants to take their seats for landing. I was at the other end of the plane but I assume the passengers closer to her made very clear what they thought of that sort of nonsense,

widgetbeana · 31/08/2018 07:48

I was once on a plane that was to be greeted by am ambulance like pp. the announcement went out for all to remain seated etc. Of course no one took any notice. They formed a queue and started edging towards the door.
Then comes the customary knock from the outside, the door opens a brief chat and then shuts again.

Then the captain comes on. 'Hello everyone, you may be wondering why the door has shut again. It will not be opened until you are all seated so our medical passenger can exit first. You were told to wait. Thank you'

So people had to shuffle back and manuover back into their seats sheepishly.
It was excellent!

EnormousDormouse · 31/08/2018 08:04

There were scenes of annoyance on my flight into the ME this morning.
Now, given that people here don't like to queue, there is fairly odd etiquette when leaving the flight that you disembark in order, starting from the front row and working backwards. Its OK to stand in the aisles and get your stuff together but you don't move forward until it's your turn to go.
Some bloke and his wife were pushing and barging through this morning though - lots of tutting and pointed glares. I managed to wedge him in when he got to me though and then pointedly let the people in the seats in the opposite of the aisle off before I moved (small pointless victoryGrin). Normally I'm chilled out though due to the Drink Lots of Wine method mentioned previously.

SerenDippitty · 31/08/2018 08:11

I think airlines are missing a trick, they could charge people for priority disembarkation.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 31/08/2018 09:04

they could charge people for priority disembarkation

No doubt they've thought of that ... but if the priority people still got stuck in a throng of aisle-pushers there'd be even more angst

And if a medical case won't keep people in their seats I'm not sure that someone else having paid to go first would Hmm

MarshaBradyo · 31/08/2018 09:35

Isn’t that why seats at the front cost more - so you can get off quicker

DontCallMeCharlotte · 31/08/2018 09:54

I love flying but I'm not keen on recliners, there's little enough room as it is. It doesn't affect me directly because I'm a shortarse but it does make it that little bit more claustrophobic and to be honest, do the seats even go back far enough to really benefit the recliner? I couldn't be arsed to say anything (unless I'm eating) or try and stop it though.

I like the newer planes where the seats slide forward so the only person who is affected is the "recliner".

DH loves travelling - so he says - but he's getting increasingly irritable at airports these days. I find I become very "zen" - accepting what I cannot change etc etc.