The Cougher
May 20, 2013 | 9:02 pm
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, AA EXP
Posts: 281
May 20, 2013 | 9:03 pm
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, AA EXP
Posts: 281
May 20, 2013 | 9:12 pm
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, AA EXP
Posts: 281
It was a bit sinister looking ... almost spooky. Maybe he spent his life practicing.
Point taken. The 'dude' part is accurate, but was more of a reaction -- I could feel the stuff coming my way. I think if it were in a sitting position during the flight (which could have happened while I was sleeping a bit for all I know) I may have been a little more diplomatic.
After all, the cougher is a human being.
In retrospect, probably the public shaming was the worst part for him.
I think there are ways of making such a request that are polite and direct but not confrontational. While the OP had every cause to be supremely offended, his initial response (assuming the verbatim account of it was accurate) may have contributed somewhat to the cougher's response. That is to say that addressing anyone other than a teenager with "Dude" might tend to raise a few hackles. I also wouldn't have said "you need to" but rather would have rephrased this as a request. "Please" would have been employed at some point.
Politely addressing such behavior - especially when you're going to have to sit next to this person for 2-3 hours or longer - is worthwhile. While you might not change the cougher's behavior over the long term, you might change it at least for the short term. The risk is minimal while the reward is significant.
In retrospect, probably the public shaming was the worst part for him.
May 22, 2013 | 5:38 pm
#34
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: somewhere in F, hopefully
Posts: 670
I agree with the OP and would have done exactly the same. I also would have tried to switch seats if possible, and if not, would have used the "air curtain" method. I am an avid hand-washer, to a fault as evidenced by the dryness of my hands, but that doesn't negate the respiratory droplets that I am occasionally exposed to...
Since I have gotten a cold and the flu after my last two trips respectfully (after having been coughed on, the first time by a person seated directly facing me in the gate area, and the second time by the person behind me on the plane), I now have taken to wiping down my entire seat area with a Clorox wipe before settling in. I also use hand sanitizer anytime I am going to touch something that will touch my face (i.e., a tissue, food, etc.). And if I hear a cougher around me, I close my eyes and hold my breath until I think the droplets may have descended below breath level. Every little bit helps.