Do you sit next to co-workers on overnight flights?!
 

I recently switched jobs. At my new company, the culture is to travel together. I'm OK with that on short day time flights, but I'd really rather be by myself on overnights - the thought of my boss snoring next to me is really quite off putting.

(My old company everyone made sure to stay far away from each other on all flights!)

What is your experience? Does it bother you to sleep next to a co-worker?

I don't. I don't have coworkers :D

Now, that's a loaded question! ;)

But seriously, I don't have a problem either way, depending on whether there is a need to conduct some business in-flight. I rarely actually sleep on a plane under any circumstances...

At my company it seems that most of the people I travel with prefer aisle seats, so what we do is to ask for seats across the aisle from each other or in the next row or something. That way it is possible to say a few words to each other if necessary, but we still have our preferred seating. I also prefer to have an empty seat next to me rather than a coworker. If there has to be someone in the seat next to me however, it doesn't really matter to me if it is a coworker or some stranger (as long as that stranger isn't fat, smelly or otherwize annoying that is ;) ).

Just got back from a trip to Munich with 2 co-workers- we deliberately got seats apart from each other. I agree that it's a little too intimate to watch co-workers sleep.

Is it true that Wal Mart employees who travel together must share a hotel room? If so, they encourage gay and lesbian behavior because only same sex colleagues are asked to sleep together.

In my student days, I was offered a trip to a meeting where the sponsoring company had students paired in a room. The room, in the Marriott on Lexington Ave. in NY only had one king sized bed. That's when we put our foot down in opposing corporate support of gay and lesbian sleeping arrangements. We thought sharing a room was a bit much, but sharing a bed was way over the line.

I've never been on an overnight business flight, but I'd have no problem with it, to be honest. There's one colleague I travel with a lot, but we both know each other well enough to know when's a time to chat, when's a time to talk business, and when's a time to leave each other alone and read a book.

As for sharing a room, well, I'd expect better of a company I work for. I've shared rooms and beds with friends of both sexes (although I do prefer separate duvets) all over the world. It's just sleep...

Most companies that I've worked for had absolutely NO policy as to us traveling together. Since we cam from all points of the globe to a gig, it just wasn't an issue.

One company, however, was different. Those of us who were gurus on their proprietary software were extremely scarce and there was a policy that no more than two of us could take any flight together.

Considering how we (again) came from all points, I have absolutely no idea how this could be monitored or enforced, as none of us had any idea who else from the company -- with that particular specialty -- would be flying on a particular plane...


Anyhow, FWIW, my experiences at least on policy, was exactly the opposite for this one company, and for the rest, there was no policy requiring us to go together.

I have actually snuck away from a colleague and had my seat changed. When we were ready to board I pretended to be surprised that we were so far apart :rolleyes: I didn't want to be mean but she would not shut up. We had spent three days together and she was attached to me like velcro lint. She missed her kids and wanted to stay busy ( umm, wouldn't you like some alone time since you have those kids all the time- "oh no, I get too lonesome for them when I am alone").

For most folks though, I think it's fine to say " I am a really restless flyer and sitting next to me is torture- I would hate to put you through it."

Edited to fix my emoticon!

What is your experience? Does it bother you to sleep next to a co-worker?[/QUOTE]

I'd never sleep next to a co-worker.....I vastly prefer to slobber on total strangers.

Just call the airline and have your seat assignment changed... then, if you wanted, you could act all surprised when you boarded the plane and you "realized" you're not sitting next to each other...

You mean you can catch homosexuality just by sleeping in the same bed as someone who is the same sex? ? :rolleyes:

Corporations should definitely not be encouraging this. Boycott Walmart!

Never. When I worked for a company I always resisted sitting near any of my co-workers. There are only two times that I have ever sat next to a co-worker - once because we one a sales contest with a trip to Italy (we became close friends after that trip) and another time when another co-worker/friend and I were on the same flight and I had him upgraded to first. Other than those two times, I've avoided it like the plague.

The second guy I mentioned was mortified once when on a flight from LAX-DFW our boss wanted to sit next to him and review a proposal. She actually went to the corporate travel department and had the agent change our seats so that all three of us were sitting in one row of 3 with her in the middle. :eek: I was so relieved when my upgrade cleared at the airport.

When I travel, it's mostly by myself.

I am the only person in the company that is located in ELP.

Besides, all my co-workers have status and free upgrades, and I get stuck on coach :mad:

Unless we have specific business to cover we usually just pick our seats individually and let the chips fall where they may. Most people have their preferences on where they like to sit on the plane so we usually are spread out all over the place. As far as the overnight flight next to someone that is your new boss......maybe consider it a bonding experience? :)