Flying CO 1635 last night into phx. I walked up to the top of the elite access line 10 minutes before boarding, not b/c I had a bulkead seat (I was in 4A) but b/c I knew I would be sitting for the next 4.5 hours so I wanted to stand as much as possible. Man with tennis shoes, t shirt, and jean shorts (I think I had jean shorts back in '85 and then it was only b/c I used them to wash my civic) comes up behind me and says "I usually am the first one in line". I look at him sheeplishly and just smile. He then says "What seat are you in". I told him and then he says "oh great I'm in 4B and you'll probably take all the overhead storage space". I was waiting for some facial expression from him indicating he was joking. There was none.

I load my 20" rollerboard into the bin, so obviously he had no problem with his 22" and briefcase. He immediately took off his beat up new balance shoes and the area reaked.

Not once during the entire flight did he ever say "please" or "thank you" to the (very nice and professional) flight attendant. That really irks me. I was brought up knowing to say "pardon", "please", and "thank you" religiously. How can people be so rude these days? He huffed and puffed when 45 mins before touchdown I asked to please get up so I could go to the bathroom (only time during the flight).

I can't be the only one out there that gets so peeved over idiots with no manners am I?

No you are not. Sadly common courtesy is no longer so common. I just breathe deep and know that karma is a b!tch. If they intrude on my space or otherwise do something (like the feet on bag thread), they I will politely and firmly tell them to stop.

Yeah, best to try and not let it annoy you.

Just relax in the realization that people like that are miserable throughout their lives.

I try to not let stuff like that bother me. I am usually fine.

Unfortunately, you can only control your own actions. While most of us were brought up correctly with manners, there are some people out where without a clue, your seatmate was one of them.

But, I hope that you don't pre-judge people on how they are dressed. You just never know about them.

Considering the reeking feet, you might want to rethink the "deep breath" thing...

Is that dude a Jersey Shore cast wanna be? Sounds like that to me, oh and, I guess it coinside with your flight number... BAM!

I like you was brought up with what people today consider "old fashioned manners." If I ever acted a fool like that, even into my 20's my grandmother would let me know that I was being a fool and that I needed to apologize. Manners are sadly one of the things that seem to have fallen by the wayside.

Those are called jorts.

I wouldn't worry about guys like this..

The bottom line is the guys who huff and puff and try and blow the house down.. is creating stress within, and will probably come down with some ailment due to stress..

Hopefully, people can get it under control before its too late..

Honestly, it doesn't sound so bad. I have encountered much worse over the years. And over those years I have been confronted by anal fools who have their world shattered by not getting their "usual" seat, or by not being first in line, or not getting the aisle and demanding a switch. My answer to people who say to me "I usually sit there!" of "I am always first in line" followed by an expectant stare is "Not today". I don't have to accomodate to their psychological issues. And if someone's feet stink, I tell them.

Still, why if you wanted to stand did you think the only place to stand was in the line? Couldn't you stand anywhere? I think maybe you were being a bit anal yourself. And to say you were raised to belive x,y,z and demand that others live up to the standards YOU were raised by is a bit discourteous itself, no?

on the topic "common courtesy" i suspect you will find that ~ 50% are either above or below average!....

So, to be clear, you're blaming the OP for standing in line?

To be clear, I am pointing out that there are indicators of a pot-kettle dynamic here. I just don't buy that "he felt like standing" was the reason he stood in the line. It smells of rationalization. You can stand anywhere if you feel like standing. I think he was as eager to be first as the other guy was. And probably for the same reasons.

But he was doing nothing wrong by standing where he was, so it's entirely irrelevant to try and read into his post about why he was standing there. Even if you're right, it changes nothing.