Semi-OT: Evil glares from other PAX while sat in CE
Dec 21, 2009, 1:59 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
Dec 21, 2009, 2:01 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL & CCR, AS Gold 75k, IHG Aspire, Marriott Titanium , National Exec Elite, Amex Plat
Posts: 382
Precisely! I'm sure this is getting worse lately, is this something that crew would/should/could enforce? I'd be interested to hear if it's something that is discussed or not. It's a real pain on domestic as well as I'm almost always in row 1 or 2 and almost always with a trolley.
Dec 21, 2009, 2:09 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Zurich / Singapore
Programs: LH SEN, BA Gold, SQ TPPS, Accor Diamond
Posts: 626
If anyone travelled the old GB Airways routes from LGW then you would have encountered this at check in on the return leg. As there was a lot of 'charter' traffic, the people could not understand that the CE desk was for CE passengers. It really upset people that there were only three or four people waiting at that CE check in desk when the ET desks had about 100!
I encountered a lady who was moved from the CE queue and two hours later she was still moanong about it on the bus to get the aircraft!
I encountered a lady who was moved from the CE queue and two hours later she was still moanong about it on the bus to get the aircraft!
Dec 21, 2009, 2:42 pm
#34
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD, LHR, FCO
Programs: BA Gold, etc. etc.
Posts: 1,402
On my LHR-FCO flight yesterday all the CE overhead bins were shut as boarding began. The purser said that all the bins in CE were empty and we wouldn't have trouble finding room for our luggage. They had left them closed on purpose so that ET passengers wouldn't dump their stuff in CE storage on the way to the their seats in the back of the plane. She added she was sick and tired of seeing that happen all the time. ^
Now if this were new BA policy, it would definitely be a real enhancement for a change! ^
Now if this were new BA policy, it would definitely be a real enhancement for a change! ^
Last edited by London Dude; Dec 21, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Dec 21, 2009, 4:30 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,741
I've experienced the evil glares while sitting in a CW seat waiting for the masses in Y to board around me in the past on more than once occasion but never before on shorthaul (maybe just luck!).
Probably my first time in CE for a year or so (usually domestic or CW), I was amazed at the amount of evil glares I and my seat-mates were getting. One woman, who had clearly never seen a bottle of shampoo, even pointed at the cabin to her companion while queuing and ranted about why anyone would bother paying extra AND called the lady to my left a "smug b***h", which I thankfully don't think she heard.
Similar evil glares on the way back - has it always been like this and I've just been blind to it?
Probably my first time in CE for a year or so (usually domestic or CW), I was amazed at the amount of evil glares I and my seat-mates were getting. One woman, who had clearly never seen a bottle of shampoo, even pointed at the cabin to her companion while queuing and ranted about why anyone would bother paying extra AND called the lady to my left a "smug b***h", which I thankfully don't think she heard.
Similar evil glares on the way back - has it always been like this and I've just been blind to it?
Dec 21, 2009, 4:32 pm
#36
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,741
Well at least the glares won't be a surprise to you.
Dec 21, 2009, 5:14 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
On my LHR-FCO flight yesterday all the CE overhead bins were shut as boarding began. The purser said that all the bins in CE were empty and we wouldn't have trouble finding room for our luggage. They had left them closed on purpose so that ET passengers wouldn't dump their stuff in CE storage on the way to the their seats in the back of the plane. She added she was sick and tired of seeing that happen all the time. ^
Now if this were new BA policy, it would definitely be a real enhancement for a change! ^
Now if this were new BA policy, it would definitely be a real enhancement for a change! ^
Dec 21, 2009, 5:17 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: York
Programs: Falconflyer Gold
Posts: 485
I have to confess that I have walked past those sat in exit rows enviously and wondered how they beat me to that seat? Not sure what happens now (with the new seat booking scheme) but in the past I've logged in seconds after these seats came available and found some bugger had beaten to them.
Dec 21, 2009, 5:23 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
Precisely! I'm sure this is getting worse lately, is this something that crew would/should/could enforce? I'd be interested to hear if it's something that is discussed or not. It's a real pain on domestic as well as I'm almost always in row 1 or 2 and almost always with a trolley.
And I have to admit, and sorry, but ladies are the worst. A handbag DOES count as a piece of hand luggage... and the size of some of these handbags that are floating around, they should be sold as suit cases...
I am not negating the fact that my colleagues on the ground should be stopping this baggage even making it to the aircraft, but once onboard, it is just becoming unmanageable.
I have been accused of being racist, sexist and ageist for asking people to stow their second (and sometimes third or fourth) items of hand luggage under the seat in front.
Dec 21, 2009, 5:31 pm
#40
Join Date: May 2003
Location: GOT
Programs: BA, VS, LH, HHonors
Posts: 705
Several years ago flying back with LH into MAN from FRA I was in J and the better half in Y (well I had got her upgraded on the Frankfurt-Seoul route compliments of *A free upgrade vouchers I'd been sent as a silver member).
Anyway, I was waiting for her at the of the jetway and a guy who'd been staring at me when he was boarding the plane walked passed and made some sarchastic comment about people using J. It took me quite by surprise!
Anyway, I was waiting for her at the of the jetway and a guy who'd been staring at me when he was boarding the plane walked passed and made some sarchastic comment about people using J. It took me quite by surprise!
Dec 21, 2009, 5:33 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2003
Location: GOT
Programs: BA, VS, LH, HHonors
Posts: 705
Dec 21, 2009, 5:44 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
So, I told her, I think you will find it on the coffee table, which is beside the standard lamp and the potted plant, left after passing the kitchen sink...
Well, her seat mate and herself were in hysterics... One of the best flights I have ever done... they got off a little more tipsy than I am sure they had intended...
Dec 21, 2009, 5:52 pm
#43
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Maidenhead, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 443
I've not had any evils in CE but then I've only flown it twice and don't look like a banker! Just little 22 year old me sat there listening to an iPod 
I did get evils from a woman in MIA when using the priority boarding lane (was flying Virgin PE which is v nice) - I caused a minor hold up while I asked about my duty-free then carried on walking, in the mean time an economy passenger tried to cross in front of me to get to the desk but was held back by the security guard
I thought it was quite unnecessary (plenty of room for both of us to walk) but equally nice to see them enforcing the premium pax boarding first (there were more behind me). I also had a lot of bags and wanted to get to my seat!
I did get evils from a woman in MIA when using the priority boarding lane (was flying Virgin PE which is v nice) - I caused a minor hold up while I asked about my duty-free then carried on walking, in the mean time an economy passenger tried to cross in front of me to get to the desk but was held back by the security guard
I thought it was quite unnecessary (plenty of room for both of us to walk) but equally nice to see them enforcing the premium pax boarding first (there were more behind me). I also had a lot of bags and wanted to get to my seat!
Dec 21, 2009, 5:55 pm
#44
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Cambs
Programs: Mucci, BAEC Silver, Scandic 3rd Floor, PC Pleb, FB Off White, Tufty Club
Posts: 2,836
IMHO, anything that requires wheels to manoeuver it should be beneath you in the hold, not over your head. I get fed up of seeing people trying to stuff trolley bags in overhead bins whilst at the same time crushing whatever was in there first. On more than one occasion I've had jackets come out of the overhead looking like they have ben rolled into a ball, rather than neatly folded as they went in.
Or, they have got there first and inserted their oversized luggage sideways, taking up the whole bin.
The other one is student types with rucksacks.
<sits back and awaits flames>
Or, they have got there first and inserted their oversized luggage sideways, taking up the whole bin.
The other one is student types with rucksacks.
<sits back and awaits flames>
Dec 21, 2009, 8:04 pm
#45
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
IMHO, anything that requires wheels to manoeuver it should be beneath you in the hold, not over your head. I get fed up of seeing people trying to stuff trolley bags in overhead bins whilst at the same time crushing whatever was in there first. On more than one occasion I've had jackets come out of the overhead looking like they have ben rolled into a ball, rather than neatly folded as they went in.
Or, they have got there first and inserted their oversized luggage sideways, taking up the whole bin.
The other one is student types with rucksacks.
<sits back and awaits flames>
Or, they have got there first and inserted their oversized luggage sideways, taking up the whole bin.
The other one is student types with rucksacks.
<sits back and awaits flames>
Your bone of contention is that they are often not of regulation size. I usually carry a backpack with me, and I like to fill it up too. But in many cases it ends up being the same size if not still smaller than a regulation size rollerboard anyway.
Jackets in overheads? Sorry, unless it's a light load today they will never come out unscathed, no matter how well you put it in there.
Still - getting a good overhead bin space is better than a bad one which is better than none at all! Which is why when I flew LHR-FRA CE in early November, even though I get priority boarding through both CE and oneworld Emerald, I didn't take any chances. I left the lounge a little earlier and camped near the priority line. Just as well - the plane was full and the game of overhead bin jigsaw ensued.
I clearly stuck out as a tourist and probably not looking the affluent type either (not sure how much race and social class are related in the UK), but I didn't get any particular stares as everyone boarded the aircraft. I even had a nice conversation with my seat mate in 1C. Most of the plane was suits - including 1C - so I guess they're less concerned about "how did this guy possibly afford CE" and more about their next meeting, business deal or the like.