Seatmate stories, then and now.
 

In the days before headphones and tablets and phones, a lot of us actually talked to the people we sat next to. It's not as often now, but I remember some interesting conversations, and characters. From politicians, to a tennis player, to someone who "knew" Janis Joplin. Alcohol was often a catalyst I suppose, especially sitting up front.

Do you have any memories of people you sat next to, were inspired by, or small world encounters? Thanks in advance for any replies.

Dave Winfield YYZ-LGA - he was gracious and we talked about his game winning hit in the world series.
Melody Thomas Scott YYZ-LAX (Y&R Nikki Newman) - very charming lady and her eyes are really that blue - stunning!
Carlos Santa - UA lounge JFK - LAX - Remembered meeting me 10 years earlier after his concert at my university!

Chuck Berry flying STL -SFO in 1992

Was beyond incredibly gracious and shared some amazing stories of his career-and where I am a lover of blues, early rock & roll and boogie woogie, I was in heaven at FL-37 zero

And the odd thing is that of the entire F cabin on a TW L-1011, maybe 4 pax (counting me) knew who he was
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1ac012dec6.jpg

Awesome so far. I sat next to Lisa Murkowski twice as fate would have it. I will wait fifteen more years to call the Enquirer, lol.

I once sat across the aisle from the California governor Pete Wilson in 1999 or so Sfo-mry. UAL narrowbody plane - we were in final row of F. There was a republican governor convention in NOLA. He was sitting with his wife. He sneezed and his mucus leaked on the newspaper he was reading. I couldn’t believe he didn’t cover his mouth. Anyway his bodyguards were seated in the first row of Y. Once the curtain opened, they were standing facing the pax in Y as they waited for the governor and me to deplane.

I once sat next to a regional security executive for a well-known department store chain on a Delta Connection CRJ-900 ROC-JFK in the exit row. We both laughed when we realized that we never put our seats upright for landing. The next day I saw him on TV, sitting in the grandstand at a widely-televised holiday parade.

Although I've never sat with anyone famous, I've met several famous people on flights including some extended interactions. Two of the highlights are receiving a hug from Lil Kim, who was one of the sweetest people I've ever met, and having an extended chat with Hoda Kotb after pronouncing her last name correctly.

I did once sit in the gatehouse diagonally across from Kristen Bell and her at the time very young infant at LAX.

-J.

Jimmy Buffet -- SXM-SBH (it's only an 8-minute flight, though)

Not a seat mate but in the early 2000s I was waiting for my wife who was on the SLC-BOS flight. Mitt Romney who at the time was running for governor was there. No one else was around so I went up and started talking to him, leading in with "you must be waiting for the flight from SLC." We had nice chat. But more interesting was watching the facial expressions of people who walked by as one could definitely tell the supporters from the detractors.

Wink Martindale, MEM-LAS on NWA. He was nice. His wife was a complete witch to the flight attendants, he was gracious.

No one famous in this story but an almost memorable seat mate story. YYZ-TPA about two weeks after flights resumed post 9/11. Beside me was an attractive woman about my age who was shaking and looked scared to death. When I sat down without prompting she said, "Do you think this flight is safe?" I assured her that if I didn't think it was safe I wouldn't be on it.

We chatted for the entire flight. Being single at the time my motives were not entirely pure. Upon arrival we took the tram to the terminal whereupon she was met by a good looking fellow. She introduced me to her boyfriend, told him how I helped her through the flight, they both thanked me and vanished into the crowd. Sigh.

A few that come to mind...which is strange considering I rarely strike up chat with seatmates, and if I'm honest, try to avoid it. I'm not good at ducking out of conversations and am terrified of being cornered by some shower curtain ring salesman for umpteen hours...

-I sat next to a 7ft tall man on a DEN-OAK flight. It was amazing how being just a foot taller than me scaled everything up. The coffee cup looked like something from a doll's house...he had to crouch heavily getting in and out of the toilet. He struck up conversation as I was getting my headphones out of my bag and we had a great chat for a few hours...
-I was sat in front of Liev Schrieber on a flight from LAX-SYD on QF in the late 2000s. In the lounge beforehand we bumped into eachother and I recognized him but couldn't put name to the face. At LAX he sat down in a little chair grouping next to my (ex)wife in the lounge and initiated polite conversation.
-A few years ago I shared the F cabin on a BA LHR-JFK with Lionel Richie. He was sat just across the aisle from me and took a photo with one other passenger at boarding. I let the bubbles get the better of me and took a photo with him towards the end of the flight and got him to sign a menu. This was for my mother as we had watched him performing at a UK festival (on TV) just a few a days before and remarked how good he was...

Sat behind Rex Ryan LGA-CLT in US Airways F. He was connecting to CLT-HNL for the Pro Bowl. A bunch of people boarding the flight after us were connected to him...couldn't tell if they were players, ex-players, staffers, or what, because many people said "hey, coach" as they went by. He was friendly and chill to everyone.

He wasn't at the time, but I once sat next to the now First Sea Lord on a Glasgow - Heathrow flight in business class. Apart from a few drinks and eating the rather nice lunch served onboard, we talked the entire flight about how it was a mistake to decommission Ark Royal and Illustrious without ready replacements being introduced to service.

Maybe 30 years ago travelling ORD to SAN in first and there was a young couple across the aisle, and an elderly man next to me. It was the Sunday morning first flight and the man next to me didn't talk much, however I watched him do the NYT Sunday cross word and complete it; I always struggle with the Sunday.

The young couple across the aisle were on their honeymoon and were very talkative and having a nice time. He asks them where they are staying and they respond that they are staying at the Hyatt Aviara in North County. As we land, the man whips out his card and writes something on it and gives it to the couple and tells them to give it to the GM of the hotel. It was a personal note from the man who was one of the Pritzkers - they owned the hotel. he was very quiet and unassuming; one of the coolest things I have seen.

I have no famous person stories to tell but do recall multiple cross country flights where I engaged in chat discussions with seat mates I didn't know for the full flight.

I can't imagine doing that now with all of the in-flight entertainment available but, even with newspapers and books and such, people took time to be social and pleasant on commercial passenger aircraft for many, many years.

David