I use the royal "we" here, since I'm sure I've been guilty of it at some point in my life.

I flew round trip YOW to ORD last week, mid afternoon flights, CRJ 50 seaters, out Wednesday back Friday. 40 pax on the outbound, a full 50 on the inbound.

In both directions, I was subject to what I could only qualify as a Jr. Highschool rendition of "I don't want to sit here". I can somewhat sympathize with anyone over 200lbs on an RJ for any length of time, but what I witnessed in both directions was scrawny 150lb-max guys, all "fourty-somethings through sixty-somethings" who felt they had the god-given right to have an empty seat next to them. So, they get on the plane, see someone sitting next to them and move elsewhere. Someone comes behind them, they're in their seat, so they move again. And then some people just sit elsewhere, and before long, no one is sitting in their seat, people have pissed off attitude "oh my god I have to sit next to someone". Again, it's not that these are big guys. These are guys that would blow away in a stiff wind, but the pissing and moaning continues. It's obnoxious.

The funniest was the return flight. There was this little terd sitting accross the aisle from me, and he was sitting next to a very attractive twenty-something slender woman. And this guy was about 50 and puny. Tonnes of room. But, he got a bit gruff and said to her "here, let me make some room". So, he got up and moved. The Flight attendant said "we're full sir, you should sit back in your seat". He gave her some attitude and said "yeah, right, this flight isn't going to be full". So, he sat in front of me, and sure enough a few minutes later someone came and bounced him. Hilariously, he insisted the person show him their boarding pass to prove it was their seat. Eventually a 5 minute game of musical chairs ensues since everyone was sitting in a seat other than their assigned seat, and ultimately he goes and sits back next to the hot chick in the end, and then becomes all nicey-nicey about it -- red as a beet from embarassment. The guy next to me was jiving him the whole time, somewhat in jest, and somewhat in spite.

So, when did it become gauche to have to sit next to someone on an RJ? I'm a pretty big guy, and I have no problems with it, what's the big deal? Why does it bother me? Because we're waiting for everyone to sit down before we can taxi, and on Friday, the little 5 minute game of musical chairs ultimately did delay us. Plus, I think I was jealous and wanted to sit next to the hot chick.

- D

Why is it those "terds" always get to sit beside the hot chicks?

At least on your return leg talk to Paul, the concierge in ORD. After noticing an attractive lady in line I said something out loud (as a joke) to Paul as he was checking me in, and lo and behold guess who was sitting next to me all the way home

I guess that made me one of those "terds" at least once.

Clearly you were doing the turd a favour. And even more, the woman.

andrew

I don't think I've ever sat in a seat not assigned to me before the doors were closed. After the doors are closed they are fair game, unless on a small plane and there are weight and balance issues. Wish people were a bit more considerate. I still haven't flown on an AC CRJ and even YQB won't break that streak as it will be a Bae 146!

I've done it lots of times. Mainly because I can't count (rows), or mix up left and right (aisle seat wrong side of the airplane), or particulary in YUL gate 5C versus seat 5A.

I can't imagine arriving at my designated seat, finding a hot chick beside me, and then fighting for a different seat.

Maybe the turd was offended by the female hotty and was looking for a male hotty

Isn't that what's on our mind everytime we step on the plane and only to be disappointed most of the time?

Yes, but this is worse. Last trip to YYZ, I did get a beautiful woman beside me, she ignored me the whole way. I don't mind getting ignored by most people, but a gorgeous woman, ouch that hurts

I hope you can proudly say you tried your best? Try flying CX or Dragonair, their flights are full of great FAs you'll get whiplash trying to look at them all.

A show of hands, who here has asked a FA or your seatmate out?

I usually wait until the seatbelt signs is off before I play musical chair.

I have been lucky on those CRJs as I was flying EWR-YOW and while boarding I noticed this beautiful woman behind me and I tried to make eye contact but she wasn't into it. I sat down and thinking how much work I have to do after the meeting, next thing I looked up and there she was walking down the aisle looking for her seat. I thought to myself, please, oh, please, sit next to me. And she did. We chatted the whole way and I even got her phone number, and its REAL. Too bad we live in different cities. That has happened to me only once.

I also think you SE are shortchanged because >80 % of passengers sitting in front cabin are older men. So at least our chances are better in Y.

I have to speak up for the female members of the board (I think we are the minority)....I have yet to sit next to a good looking man in either business or economy cabins...on the flipside, I have usually been lucky enough to sit far enough away from all the strange-looking or malodorous ones...
I assume though that most people while travelling with many delays and missed connections are not looking their best when they finally make it on the plane...

I guess you haven't sat next to me then ... but then again, I could be one of those strange-looking or malodorous ones

But seriously though, when on the RJ's, I always take my assigned seat (which I always choose when booking, unless Tango) first. If I don't like it (for various reasons), then I:
1) change seats if most or all pax have been seated
2) volunteer to be reseated (if offered by the FA) for balancing the boat

I'm not sure why the turds like to make a huss-fuss about "sitting anywhere" they want. The musical chairs game that ensues is annoying as hell, and I wonder if these so-called turds even realize the rippling effect that is caused when they decide to sit in another seat. Sometimes the FA will tell a person boarding that they can take "any seat", but that usually occurs if the flight is pretty empty, or everyone has almost boarded. My guess is that these turds are on some sort of power trip, probably to make up for other areas that are lacking...

I thought the young rich girls sat up front -- that's why I ran for E to get all thsoe UG certs. I guess that's what I have been doing wrong all this time... Ok, who wants all my certs? On second thoughts, I'll trade them in for SSWUs so at least I can impress the hot lass at the gate -- forget about the seat!

I did sit beside some hotties between YVR-YUL just after New Years' and they were heading to McGill. We engage in coversation and of course, it's always those annoying words "husband" or "boyfriend" that come up...

Hey YOWKid.. let you in on a little secret my wife told me... some women just use the boyfriend/husband thing as a way to shake off a persistant persuer...

On another note... I got nailed in the RJ lottery recently... had a PAX who in deciding that the seat was too small, used the armrests for the inside of his upper arms (thereby putting elbows into my side)... when asked to move, he would but shortly thereafter, <nudge>... It was a full flight so I just had to start nudging back... Is there such a thing as "RJR" (Regional Jet Rage)?

B

I was sitting next to a rather attractive lady on a recent WestJet flight. We start up a conversation and she tells that she's a singer (!) from Nashville (!!) who's being wooed by CityTV (Vancouver) to host one of their local TV programs (!!!). At first I'm thinking to myself "yeah, right" but as we continue talking it becomes clear that she's the genuine article. Hot dang, I'm sitting next to an "almost famous" music star!

Had a very pleasant conversation with this :-: pseudo-star :-:: I got to hear about her very interesting life adventures and she got to hear about my (not-quite-so) adventurous life. Didn't get a phone number but did manage to get the name of her most recent CD release. Not bad for a one flight stand...

ml