The first flight I barely remember. IIRC it was a COEx BAe-146 ITH-EWR, followed by a 4 hr 25 min layover (phone agent spent about 5 minutes forcing the long connection). The second flight, my connection on a CO DC-10 EWR-LAX in a middle section row seat, was more memorable.

The headphones were $4. The FA got a little snippy when I asked for my change on her second pass through the cabin ("It's not like I'm going to leave the plane"). But they were absolutely necessary to drown out the incessant complaining from my aging granola neighbor—not your garden variety complaining either but along the lines of "These seats are too cramped! It would be against the law but the fascists control the government!" "This food is inedible! What do you expect when the airlines are in cahoots with industrial agriculture to feed us this cr@p while they line their pockets!"

After six hours next to this living, breathing, walking (but not showering) stereotype I decided 1) it wouldn't be worth going home for Thanksgiving if I had to put up with this every time, 2) first thing Monday, I was joining the College Republicans.