Loadmaster

I was on a DL flight the other day and watched some drama unfold; kinda curious to hear what FT folks might think:

FC was deplaning normally, folks in the first row of C+ were standing up and grabbing their bags and getting ready to move up, at the same time, a couple that were a few rows aft of C+ had made their way up to the front of C+ and were trying to push past everyone in the aisle.

One large man (in the first row, right side of C+) was in the aisle grabbing his bag from the overhead when the pushy couple literally tried to push him forward - it was evident that he wasn't having any of that and didn't budge. I heard the pushy young lady comment to her partner that "Some people are just rude".

After the big guy grabs his bags, he backs up a bit into the pushy couple to let the guy across the aisle from him out to get out and grab his bags... that didn't go over well

So pushy couple decides they're going to push past as the guy in the left row is getting up, but as he gets up, he blocks their path and now they're really upset.

I happened to be the next row behind them as they deplaned; they made all sorts of passive aggressive come ta the whole way, comments about being rude, entitlement, holding up the line, being fat enough to take up the whole aisle, etc, etc

I was shocked, but figured it would make for an interesting topic on FT....

So what do y'all think?

tkey75

For one, it's not DL specific and probably headed to some other land.

2 - Screw the couple pushing past, but I wasn't there so can't really say the blocker wasn't also being a passive aggressive d-bag. Like speeders on the highway, you don't know why they're behind you flashing their lights even though you're already in the left lane speeding. Maybe the couple had a tight connection and lacked the social skills to say so. No way to know.

Auston

If passengers have a reason to get off quickly (e.g., tight connection, emergency, etc.), it is up to them to politely explain their situation and ask those ahead if they would mind letting them proceed. Most of the time, other passengers will understand the request and let them advance. It's a matter of communication and common courtesy. And of course, a genuine "thank you" once the request is granted should also be part of the mix. All of this seem to have been lacking in the OP's story.

3Cforme

Please try to keep it civil and focused on Delta, lest this be headed to OMNI. Regrettably, stories of rudeness from U.S. passengers are not rare.

3Cforme - Delta Forum Moderator

MSPeconomist

gooselee

The other word that should be underlined is "ask". Perhaps the people further up in C+ also have a tight connection, too.

​​​​​​I've been asked before only to find the "tight connection" folks waiting with me at my next gate 20 min later. Maybe they were feeling claustrophobic. Whatever - if they asked with some degree of niceness I don't mind one bit. But if someone puts their hands on me and tries to push? They get a firm "please don't touch me or my things" and then summarily ignored.

Common courtesy is becoming fast friends with the dodo.

Auston

Back to Delta ... I have seen the FAs handle this well, often making an announcement regarding the passengers needing to deplane quickly. People generally remain seated to allow them to get to the front of the cabin. I remember one time, a specific request due to a family emergency was made. I was seated in 1B and offered to swap my seat near the end of the flight to ensure the passenger could get off immediately. The gesture was graciously accepted and my good deed made me feel very good inside, knowing I had helped alleviate a fellow passenger's worries.

MSPeconomist

davetravels

OP: Was the plane late arriving?

Not that it excuses blatant rudeness.... Just curious.

3Cforme

Maybe they weren't Americans, and maybe it wasn't a U.S.-originating flight, but the majority of Delta's flights and RPMs originate in the U.S., hence my willingness to generalize.

Do you deny my statement that American flyers can be rude?

Eddie98

I was on a flight yesterday MLI-ATL, as we touched down, the FA asked everyone to stay seated and let about 5 people in the back to deplane first as they only had 30 mins to get to their connection. Most people did and the passangers were able to deplane fast. I was able to help a young lady get to their next gate. It was her first time in ATL and she didn't know how to get from D->B councourse. Her plane was boarding when we got on the plane train.
my good deed for the day.

Katamarino

On the whole I've found American passengers better behaved than many other nationalities. I suppose if someone has a very limited or sheltered view and experience they might think US passengers are ruder than the few others they've encountered, a bit like all those people who moan about how racist/ violent etc the US is having never actually been anywhere else.

bergamini

I've found, by and large, that on my domestic flights people are much better about deplaning than boarding. They wait their turn in line and often there's a debate saying "you go first", "no you go." With that said, I did have an exception on MKE>LGA last month where a person of a certain generation we all love to mock, aggressively pushed through from Y through C+ and then to the front of F to deplane first. None of us were big enough to block the aisle and most of us were from WI so we really didn't care that much. It's a CR7 and there were gate checked bags. As I got off the plane, I saw her waiting for her gate checked bag. As I went by her I said "Did you literally just push past 15 people to stand in line waiting for a bag? Rude!" She didn't make eye contact or acknowledge me. And I wasn't overly hostile, more sarcastic and said in passing, though she definitely heard me as I saw her face go flush. Oh well, hopefully she don't do it again.

flying_donkeys12

MSPeconomist