Originally Posted by avidflyer (Post 13548628)

Well to be fair this is a light hearted topic and one that gives us a break from the usual back and fourth about other more emotional subjects.

Re: The comment about being "a louse, but a respectful louse" I would say then you are indeed NOT a louse. Part of the natural behaviour of the North American Gate Louse/Lice is to be completely rude and just get in the way even though said louse is not boarding first. If you do the "Gate hover dance™" then you are, by definition, at best a cousin of the NA Gate Louse and not a true gate louse. I think we have all done the Gate hover dance™ but as long as you are respectful and NOT right in front of the door it is fully excusable.

It should be noted however, that Gate Lice frequently do more harm to themselves by standing for a half hour or more "in position". This leads to foot and back issues and ultimately gets them on first by way of wheelchair in as little as 5 years of this behaviour.

I will be at LAX (a prime natural habitat of the North American Gate Louse) later today for a flight and if I catch a swarm of NA Gate Lice I will be posting a picture (blurred to protect the innocent of course) tomorrow am.

It is all in good fun...

Originally Posted by avidflyer (Post 13548864)

Thanks for sharing Jeff. The first step is to admit you have a problem and you have done that. Let's give Jeff a round of applause (sound of applause)

Originally Posted by WBurcham (Post 13548887)

+1

Originally Posted by pdac1975 (Post 13548928)

I hate sitting to wait for boarding to start and generally like to pace so what I do is turn it into a game loosely based on America's Cup sailing (except that the jetway door is the starting line and I'm not a boat). Here's how it works:

When flying out of DCA, when there are a couple minutes until boarding, I walk past the door (still closed) and do a lap around the concourse which only takes about a minute. If the door is still closed when I get to it I proceed onto the next lap and keep doing so until the door opens. The rule is, if immediately after I pass the door it opens, I MUST continue on my lap and board when I get back to the gate. Sometimes it works out perfectly and as I'm rounding the last turn, they are opening the door and I just walk right on to the plane passing by most of the gate lice in the process.

This game may not be for everyone but it beats pacing with no purpose.

Originally Posted by jeff30189 (Post 13548800)

I just like to get onboard and get settled (I usually have a non-bulkhead window seat) to avoid the riff-raff. You know the types:

• the guy who spends 5 minutes trying to put his overstuffed rollaboard in the overhead along with his briefcase and coat.
• the guy who has to arrange his crackberry, cell phone, magazines, paperback, special pillow, bag of snacks and Starbucks all in his little 2x2 seat area....

Originally Posted by CJKatl (Post 13549144)

[/LIST]

Yesterday, I watched someone open her suitcase and fish around for something while three-quarters of the passengers, still trying to board, snaked down the aisle and into the jetway. She seemed unaware of her role in slowing everything down. (Yes, she had the half-moon neck pillow, but everyone already knew that.) At one point she was even holding underwear in one hand while she fished around with the other.

Originally Posted by pdac1975 (Post 13549191)

Yeah this drives me crazy. I have my book and itouch in my hand (or pocket) when I board. When I get to my seat, the Roll-aboard goes in the overhead, the laptop bag goes under the seat and I sit down. It's REALLY not that complicated.

Originally Posted by pdac1975 (Post 13549191)

Yeah this drives me crazy. I have my book and itouch in my hand (or pocket) when I board. When I get to my seat, the Roll-aboard goes in the overhead, the laptop bag goes under the seat and I sit down. It's REALLY not that complicated.

Originally Posted by mersk862 (Post 13553354)

Indeed - what's in the overhead bin stays there for the flight - everything I need for the flight is in my briefcase.

Originally Posted by WBurcham (Post 13553736)

I have a small gym shoe bag that has my magazines & headphones. Put the roll aboard & backpack in the overhead (in F) and bring the small bag with me.

Originally Posted by WBurcham (Post 13553736)

I have a small gym shoe bag that has my magazines & headphones. Put the roll aboard & backpack in the overhead (in F) and bring the small bag with me.

Originally Posted by Crazyhotelguy

Both bags in the overhead bin???? FOR SHAME..........

And then a third bag???? You naughty boy.... :) :)

Originally Posted by Crazyhotelguy (Post 13553797)

Both bags in the overhead bin???? FOR SHAME..........

And then a third bag???? You naughty boy.... :) :)

Originally Posted by avidflyer (Post 13548864)

Thanks for sharing Jeff. The first step is to admit you have a problem and you have done that. Let's give Jeff a round of applause (sound of applause)

Originally Posted by mersk862 (Post 13553354)

Indeed - what's in the overhead bin stays there for the flight - everything I need for the flight is in my briefcase.