This is my first post, so try not to throw things at me

I have read the post for Disgusting Airline Passenger Manners. On a flight today from EWR to IAH on CO, I saw a passenger do something nice. Thus it occured to me to start a thread involving random acts of kindness from fellow passengers. I know it might not be as exciting as nose-picking or stinky feet, but I'm going to share anyway.

I was seated in coach, and was one of the last to board, as I was 4 aisles from the bulkhead. A passenger from First Class had a child in coach, and was unable to move her to 1st. Instead of causing a ruckus on the plane, he talked to the lady sitting next to his daughter and gave her his 1st class seat. (at this time about 20 pairs of ears perked up) I though that it was nice of him to surrender his 1st class ticket and sit in coach with no compensation for the downgrade. He asked for no money or compensation from the passenger whom switched seats with him either.

Has anyone else experienced/seen anything of this nature?

relaxedPax, welcome to FlyerTalk

Earlier this year I was on business in India and well.... got hit with a rather bad case of Delhi-belly a few days before having to leave to go home. I was relaxing in the airport lounge when a fellow flyer noticed that I was looking a little ill and asked if I needed anything. I thought to myself at the time that it was a great gesture of assistance from total stranger, as having someone sitting and talking to you really takes your mind off the illness and makes the time fly by.

I later board the plane and attempt to get comfortable in my economy seat when this gentleman and an FA come down the aisle to tell me that he is swapping his Business seat for my Economy seat and that he is not taking no for an answer. Sure, this may have only been a short leg from Mumbai to Singapore, but I am sure that this random act of kindness touched many hearts on that plane... Including the FA's who let me continue the journey from Singapore to Brisbane in Business and constantly checked with me to make sure I was feeling fine.

It was amazing to be faced with a random act of kindness, as it really reassures you that in this world of hatred and hurt to fellow man, there are some genuinely nice people still out there. I did not get the gentleman�s name; so if you are reading this, please know that I am eternally grateful and you have touched me to �Pass it on�.


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~Mystery~



[This message has been edited by Mystery (edited 07-19-2001).]

Welcome to Flyertalk, relaxedPax and Mystery. Wow! So many new faces lately...

My welcome to both of you too. I hope that this thread gets more responses than the 'Disgusting' one (though I am guilty of contributing a bit to that one).

You can never be faulted for a random act of kindness.

I am usually the first to ask the passenger behind me if they mind my seat being reclined, and they are usually very thankful. I offered my F class seat to a passenger whose hubby was sitting in the seat next to me. He sat down next to me, asked how I was doing, and offered a handshake. It didn't make sense for them to be sitting in different rows (they seemed to be getting along), so I simply asked if the lady in the F seat in front of her hubby wanted to trade, (hubby approving). She accepted, and I gave up my window seat for an aisle seat in the same cabin class. On that same flight, another PAX 2 rows behind me (the one I had asked about reclining my seat prior to me giving that seat up to the lady in front of me) offered his meal (a Filet Mignon) to me, but I declined because I was already stuffed from the one I had already consumed.

Erik.

[This message has been edited by Planenut (edited 07-19-2001).]

Thanks for the welcome guys. Having been a lurker here for around a year I felt it was time to share some of my experiences.

The only other act of kindness I have witnessed myself was at Atlanta Hartsfield airport on Thanksgiving eve last year. An elderly gentleman gave up his seat so that a lady could make it home in time to be with her family. Unfortunately, I had an international connection in LA, so I couldn't do the same.

Hopefully this post will have more contributions. I like to think that for every 100 disgusting acts, there is at least one act of kindness.

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~Mystery~

This shouldn't be amazing, but should be the norm; I try to help the elderly and infirmed by storing and retrieving their luggage from the overhead bins.
When I diet, I offer my desert to others. When I return from trade shows, I distribute lotsa "schwag" to airline personnel who are always so kind to me. Also, for early morning flights, I bring nutrition bars for the gate agents and check-in staff; small gestures of appreciation.

Once, after retrieving our car from parking, we pulled over to help a fellow passenger who was distraught over losing his wallet. In his rush to make last call at the Tiki Bar, he had left his wallet on the hood of his car and raced off. When we pulled up, it looked like lotsa large confetti all over the roadway. He had a month's worth of business receipts, along with his cash, cards, license, etc... crammed into his wallet and now it was all over the road. We helped scour the area and found all that we could. He was very grateful and wanted to treat us to some "adult beverages", however everyplace was closed by then. Saying we'd take a raincheck for another time, we were just glad to help; and it was somewhat comical.

edited to correct some grammar

[This message has been edited by anim8r (edited 07-20-2001).]

i have done musical seats many many times, given meals & part meals to starving teenagers, helped people w/ overhead luggage [a defence sometimes when it is over my aisle seat]. however, i'm a grouch & will not swap my aisle for a middle, no matter how impassioned the request!

Many years ago on a delayed DL flight from
BOM-FRA, I had developed stomach-flu. I gave
a lady my First class seat in exchange for her (she was the only one in a three seat middle row. I needed to ly down ;-) )
I got medical attention @ FRA and was better off rest of the journey.

I like to think that I am an "amazing" passenger. Oh wait, this topic is not about me...

Ive given my upgraded seat away many times. Often because I wanted to sit next to someone else and several times to elderly pax that looked like they needed it more than I. I never thought it was unusual or a big enough deal for a back pat though.

This is slightly related so I thought I would share it. While traveling from ATL to BOS, I had to switch planes in PIT and, across from my gate was the Champ himself, Mohammed Ali, waiting for his flight to board. He was the most gracious person of his stature I have ever seen as I watched him pose for pictures with anyone who wanted one, sign autographs, shake hands, or just talk. Rather than board the plane first, as he is not a quick as he once was, he waited until everyone was one the plane and continued to meet and greet. When he finally boarded, the look on everyone's face was that they had shared a special experience.

This thread reminds me of an experience at Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC last month:

A young lady was trying to get her toddler and two pieces of luggage down a flight of steps. A scuffy-looking guy came over and offered to carry the luggage for her to her bus. The lady refused and grabbed the luaggage tightly. The guy replied, "Do you think I'm going to take something? Oh, lady, that is SO eighties!" She let him carry it. He helped her to the waiting area, smiled, and left.



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He who dies with the most miles ... is dead.

Our buddy B747-437B is on a quest to NOT get upgraded this year, and so when he does get upgraded, he kindly and randomly gives his upgrade to a fellow passenger (some kind of sadistic bet among friends, I believe).

[This message has been edited by flyerwife (edited 07-20-2001).]