US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Pen Marks on F Seats

What is it with the pen marks that I see all over the F seats on US? Almost 95% of the time I fly CO, and the F section is immaculate every time I'm in that cabin. However, when I flew US a few times recently, I noticed that the fabric on my seat and the seatback in front of me was covered in pen marks.

Do you US flyers have some strange obession with pens? What's the deal with this?

[This message has been edited by Cory6188 (edited Feb 14, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Cory6188:
However, when I flew US a few times recently, I noticed that the fabric on my seat and the seatback in front of me was covered in pen marks.</font>

Fabric? What fabric?

Sorry, I meant leather. When I said fabric I just meant covering.

Cory, like you, I tend to become quite brilliant somewhere between my third and fourth Johnny Walker Black. I have spent countless hours in deep philosophical contemplation staring at those pen marks. Why? How come? Why don't you see the same thing in taxis, movie theaters or grandpa's Crown Vic? This question drives me crazy.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Cory6188:
What is it with the pen marks that I see all over the F seats on US?</font>

Oakland's BART train seats were frequently slashed until they found out that the seat repair company was doing it.

I've noticed the pen marks, too!

USScare folks, Stop it! Steve Wolf is gone!

Assuming that these marks are accidental, why does one have an open pen in proximity to the seat back? It's not like it's an easy mistake marking the seat back, you have to reach or lean forward.

TSA should start screening for pens. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif After all, they could be used as a weapon in addition to graffiti!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ATC:
Cory, like you, I tend to become quite brilliant somewhere between my third and fourth Johnny Walker Black. I have spent countless hours in deep philosophical contemplation staring at those pen marks. Why? How come? Why don't you see the same thing in taxis, movie theaters or grandpa's Crown Vic? This question drives me crazy.</font>

Just the other day, I too was in the midst of three or four drinks of a "philosophical" nature (Jack Daniels, in my case) on a US transcon and was wondering this very same thing. Who are the Penroaches, anyway?

A few weeks earlier, while in a very different situation (in between the 3rd and 4th glass of whichever bubbly is coming out in Envoy these days enroute from LGW-PHL), I took note of a lack of pen marks all over the back of the Envoy seat in front of me (A330). Is it too long a reach?

Not to give the inkers any ideas, mind you, just food for thought (as ATC mentions, best consumed after a few of your favorite adult beverages while staring at said pen marks in US F).



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Don't feed the trolls.

Exactly. It's comforting to note that someone else has given some thought to this issue.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by HPTunco:
It's not like it's an easy mistake marking the seat back, you have to reach or lean forward.</font>

Maybe they could put a blank area on the cover of Attache and call it the "pen test area."

Ok. I admit that I am the one marking on the seats. It is a super secret code that only I know. Then I wait to see if I have flown that particular bird before and how long it has been since they cleaned the seats. In one or two cases it has been at least three years. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

On similar note, what is it with putting your feet on the carpeted part of the bulk head. I see someone doing on EVER flight and with shoes on. I have often, after a few Jack and Gingers, been tempted to ask my fellow first class compatriot if they do that at home. The planes are dirty enough without the folks in row 1 deliberately getting the walls filthy.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by longing4piedmont:
what is it with putting your feet on the carpeted part of the bulk head.</font>Why else put a floor covering on the bulkhead, if not to indicate that it's for your feet? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by HPTunco:
Assuming that these marks are accidental, why does one have an open pen in proximity to the seat back? It's not like it's an easy mistake marking the seat back, you have to reach or lean forward.
</font>

I'm ashamed to admit it but, after wondering for years how these got there, I penmarked an F seat a few months ago.

Working away, scribbling some notes, go to take something out of the seatback and whoop, there it is.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pdhenry:
Originally posted by longing4piedmont:
what is it with putting your feet on the carpeted part of the bulk head.</font>Why else put a floor covering on the bulkhead, if not to indicate that it's for your feet? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif



I agree.....if they put some sort of wall paper, etc on the bulkhead there wouldn't be feet on it. I can handle the shoed feet....it's the BARE FEET that bother me!!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by HPTunco:
I agree.....if they put some sort of wall paper, etc on the bulkhead there wouldn't be feet on it. I can handle the shoed feet....it's the BARE FEET that bother me!!</font>

Thank you! I cringe everytime I see someone with bare feet on the plane, no matter where that person puts his/her feet! I even saw someone walk into the bathroom with bare feet ... ewww! (I must confess, I do put my shoed feet on the bulkhead.)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by USFlyerUS:
Thank you! I cringe everytime I see someone with bare feet on the plane, no matter where that person puts his/her feet! I even saw someone walk into the bathroom with bare feet ... ewww! (I must confess, I do put my shoed feet on the bulkhead.)</font>

On a flight from CLT-SAN in F, I had the person behind me stick his feet, in socks, up through the space between the seats. I didn't notice at first, it was only when I hit them with my arm that I discovered they were there.

I am still kind of shocked that anyone would do this in a public place.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dcmike:
On a flight from CLT-SAN in F, I had the person behind me stick his feet, in socks, up through the space between the seats. I didn't notice at first, it was only when I hit them with my arm that I discovered they were there.

I am still kind of shocked that anyone would do this in a public place.</font>


That is entirely unacceptable. My seat--the whole seat, including my half of the armrest--is mine. If you didn't say anything, you're a better man than I. Of course, IMHO, the f/a should have noticed and said something. Removing shoes is fine if you keep you feet under a blanket or you get the Envoy socks. Otherwise, it's just downright tacky and inconsiderate of the person sitting next to you. I often wonder if we treated their "office" better (shoes off, pen marks on, etc) if we would get better service from the crew.


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--Wishing for you safe travels and for me Row 1 on the A330.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by longing4piedmont:
On similar note, what is it with putting your feet on the carpeted part of the bulk head. I see someone doing on EVER flight and with shoes on. I have often, after a few Jack and Gingers, been tempted to ask my fellow first class compatriot if they do that at home. The planes are dirty enough without the folks in row 1 deliberately getting the walls filthy.</font>

Be careful...some of us do that at home as well. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Yes, I own my own house, but I don't want to feel like I have to worry about it getting dirty or whatever. If I need to stand on a table, I stand on a table, and I'll clean if off later. There aren't any kids to worry about, just me and my stuff.

I'm actually more cognizant of it when the item is not my personal property. I usually prop my feet on the magazine holder rather than putting them on the wall.

I certainly hope someone brings this issue to the attention of US Airways authorities. For crying out loud, even the porn movie theaters here appear to have solved the pen mark problem.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ATC:
For crying out loud, even the porn movie theaters here appear to have solved the pen mark problem.</font>

...And a can of worms has been opened! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by longing4piedmont:
On similar note, what is it with putting your feet on the carpeted part of the bulk head. I see someone doing on EVER flight and with shoes on. I have often, after a few Jack and Gingers, been tempted to ask my fellow first class compatriot if they do that at home. The planes are dirty enough without the folks in row 1 deliberately getting the walls filthy.</font>

Yes, I do this at home. But, more importantly, I do it to change the circulation in my legs on a long flight. Otherwise, my knees start to ache. If you're not in a bulkhead seat, you have more leg room and this isn't as much of an issue.