Directionally challenged on a plane
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Directionally challenged on a plane
Just witnessed from row 2 on 767 - pax (who had been standing in the way of everyone when gate staff were announcing priority boarding) gets on and is directed down the plane by cabin crew. Reaches row 3 and starts muttering about row 35 - pax in 3B helpfully points out that this is row 3 whereupon she tries to go back to door 1 to get more precise directions... (at least I hope she wasn't trying to go to cockpit)
I wonder how some pax you see onboard survive in daily life (it explains the need for those signs warning kettles may get hot etc.)
I wonder how some pax you see onboard survive in daily life (it explains the need for those signs warning kettles may get hot etc.)
#2
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Swindon UK
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It does seem to affect a few. I had a similar experience on my way to DUS a few years ago. It was a 767 (funnily enough) I was in row 2 when an elderly passenger asked if it was row 14.
Last edited by vibrex; Nov 30, 2014 at 10:29 am Reason: Typo
#3
Join Date: Nov 2004
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#4
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 597
It happens all the time.
Boarding a 737 or A319 (front door) "which way do I go?"
"Please turn right" (add various words the voices in my head say )
Lots of people don't know how to get into the washrooms either. Door handle is lifted up instead of pushed down, or people pull on the ashtray instead of pushing on the big "PUSH" sign.
Boarding a 737 or A319 (front door) "which way do I go?"
"Please turn right" (add various words the voices in my head say )
Lots of people don't know how to get into the washrooms either. Door handle is lifted up instead of pushed down, or people pull on the ashtray instead of pushing on the big "PUSH" sign.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
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It is clearly a sign that educational standards are slipping not just in the UK but elsewhere too. The number of passengers who do not recognise numbers, cannot count, and do not know that C follows B in the alphabet beggars belief. I see it on every flight. How these people even manage to make it to the airport astounds me!
#6
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: City of Kingston Upon Hull
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 4,940
If it is bad on aircraft, it is 100 times worse on the train. I have had people tell me that I am sitting in their seat when:
a) They have a different seat number in the same row
b) They are in in a completly different row
c) They are in a different coach
d) They are meant to be on a different train.
The best one so far was a gentleman who expected to sit where I was sat, as he had that seat reserved on a previous train which he had missed.
a) They have a different seat number in the same row
b) They are in in a completly different row
c) They are in a different coach
d) They are meant to be on a different train.
The best one so far was a gentleman who expected to sit where I was sat, as he had that seat reserved on a previous train which he had missed.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ex-Eurocheat in London
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That explains why the Boeing employee that showed us the first 787 was so excited about the new locks on the overhead bins that you "push at the bottom, pull at the bottom, push at the top or pull at the top and everytime it will open" didn't understand it at that time but now it makes sense.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2013
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I was seated at a "travellers club" seat and next station a gent got on and insisted I was in his seat
after a few minutes arguing the train manager appeared and informed him
"you are in the next coach Sir this way please"
off he went with not even an apology
#9
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hampshire (LHR)
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Just witnessed from row 2 on 767 - pax (who had been standing in the way of everyone when gate staff were announcing priority boarding) gets on and is directed down the plane by cabin crew. Reaches row 3 and starts muttering about row 35 - pax in 3B helpfully points out that this is row 3 whereupon she tries to go back to door 1 to get more precise directions... (at least I hope she wasn't trying to go to cockpit)
I wonder how some pax you see onboard survive in daily life (it explains the need for those signs warning kettles may get hot etc.)
I wonder how some pax you see onboard survive in daily life (it explains the need for those signs warning kettles may get hot etc.)
#10
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,146
#11
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,197
Sometimes I do wonder if we opened the flightdeck door (when they get confused and pull on it for 2 minutes) what they would do?
A) immediately close it fearing a snap air marshal judo chop out of nowhere
B) stare aimlessly into the light like a fly about to be zapped
C) ask....."is this the toilet??"
A) immediately close it fearing a snap air marshal judo chop out of nowhere
B) stare aimlessly into the light like a fly about to be zapped
C) ask....."is this the toilet??"
#12
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ah yes I experienced that on a virgin train
I was seated at a "travellers club" seat and next station a gent got on and insisted I was in his seat
after a few minutes arguing the train manager appeared and informed him
"you are in the next coach Sir this way please"
off he went with not even an apology
I was seated at a "travellers club" seat and next station a gent got on and insisted I was in his seat
after a few minutes arguing the train manager appeared and informed him
"you are in the next coach Sir this way please"
off he went with not even an apology
The reason the layout is so crazy is because some Pendolinos are two carriages longer than the original config but they only left one spare letter between standard and first.
The sensible thing would have been to reletter the carriages and start First Class at J (like East Coast) which would have given enough spare letters for standard.
Carriage layouts (scroll down a bit): http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/trains/onboard-shop/
#13
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And the next time you are on the highway, remember, most of those same people have driver's licenses.
Last edited by Doc Savage; Nov 30, 2014 at 1:59 pm Reason: Damn you, autocorrect.....
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,588
I have been on aeroplanes that the 1st few rows were numbered 1,2,4,8,9,10,12,14 as well as , similar to TG, where row numbering started well beyond 1 ( e.g. CX starting with 12 then 14-19 and then skipping to 30 )