Rude passenger on Northwest Flight
Oct 12, 2004, 7:37 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Augusta, GA, USA
Programs: DL FC, NW
Posts: 3,522
Originally Posted by AlisoninAlaska
I had this happen to a seatmate on an AS SEA-ANC run a couple months back. I was in 2F, he was in 2D (no B's or E's in AS FC). There were a couple of women seated in 3D & 3F. This was a late flight (10:10 pm arr 1:30 am-ish).
After we were underway my seatmate reclined his seat only to have the lady behind him yell, "Hey! Put your seat back up!" He politely tried to explain he had purchased that seat because of a back injury and that was why he was reclining his seat... which he had every right to recline it... and she nastily told him the entire flight the seat was in her lap, in her face, in her way... in her EVERYTHING. She repeatedly hit his seat with her fist. He eventually (2 hrs into a 3 1/2 hr flight) moved his seat back up, but this didn't stop her constant tirade, that continued the full 3 1/2 hours.
These two women were the most obnoxious people I have ever encountered on a flight. From their conversation I gleaned they were tourists to Alaska from the San Francisco area. I got the feeling they weren't regular FC passengers due to the comments about the nice glass glasses, real silverware, etc. How can an individual justify that type of behavior to themselves? It just boggles the mind.
The FA did his best to keep everyone happy but this woman made the entire FC cabin very uncomfortable. I couldn't help but think that if she had acted that way in coach she would have been escorted off the plane by friendly chaps with handcuffs.
OY! What a nightmare flight that was!
Alison
Chugiak, Alaska
After we were underway my seatmate reclined his seat only to have the lady behind him yell, "Hey! Put your seat back up!" He politely tried to explain he had purchased that seat because of a back injury and that was why he was reclining his seat... which he had every right to recline it... and she nastily told him the entire flight the seat was in her lap, in her face, in her way... in her EVERYTHING. She repeatedly hit his seat with her fist. He eventually (2 hrs into a 3 1/2 hr flight) moved his seat back up, but this didn't stop her constant tirade, that continued the full 3 1/2 hours.
These two women were the most obnoxious people I have ever encountered on a flight. From their conversation I gleaned they were tourists to Alaska from the San Francisco area. I got the feeling they weren't regular FC passengers due to the comments about the nice glass glasses, real silverware, etc. How can an individual justify that type of behavior to themselves? It just boggles the mind.
The FA did his best to keep everyone happy but this woman made the entire FC cabin very uncomfortable. I couldn't help but think that if she had acted that way in coach she would have been escorted off the plane by friendly chaps with handcuffs.
OY! What a nightmare flight that was!
Alison
Chugiak, Alaska
Oct 12, 2004, 10:25 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Posts: 631
I wish airlines would be absolutely clear about this recline/not recline issue. I'm pretty willing to compromise whether I'm the recliner or reclinee, but you're always going to come up against (literally) someone who is not willing to compromise at all. All I can find out is that the airlines encourage the FA to attempt some form of compromise, but I think for the most part, by the time it comes to the FA's attention all parties concerened are in attack mode. It puts the FA in an impossible situation if the airline doesn't have a rigid yes you can/no you can't policy.
Oct 12, 2004, 11:44 am
#18
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Originally Posted by Jenniferpa
I wish airlines would be absolutely clear about this recline/not recline issue. I'm pretty willing to compromise whether I'm the recliner or reclinee, but you're always going to come up against (literally) someone who is not willing to compromise at all. All I can find out is that the airlines encourage the FA to attempt some form of compromise, but I think for the most part, by the time it comes to the FA's attention all parties concerened are in attack mode. It puts the FA in an impossible situation if the airline doesn't have a rigid yes you can/no you can't policy.
Oct 16, 2004, 3:21 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: about 30,000 feet up
Posts: 53
Taken from "Out of the Mouths of Passengers "
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By Elliott Neal Hester
I answer a flight attendant call light. The passenger in seat 20-F is complaining about the man sitting directly behind her. Each time she reclines her seat, the man pushes her seat back to the upright position. I turn to look at him. He is a businessman. He is well dressed and seemingly intelligent. This is the conversation that transpires between the businessman and me:
"Sir, why are you pushing this woman's seat to the upright position?"
"Because I don't have enough room."
"But, Sir, she has the right to recline her seat."
"And I have the right to the space in front of my face."
"Well, Sir," I say, "she has the right to recline her seat, and you are entitled to whatever space remains. If you need more space in front of your face you have the option to recline your seat." He stares at me as if I just insulted his mother.
"What is your name?" he says.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. What is your name?"
I give him my name.
"You are rude and unaccommodating," he says. "I'm going to complain to your supervisor and I'm never going to fly this airline again." The woman in 20-F shakes her head incredulously. She turns around, hurls a profanity-laced insult at the businessman, then offers to write a countermeasure letter to my supervisor.
Just know that maturity sometimes also leaves a vapor trail when people are sitting in an airplane cabin.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Elliott Neal Hester
I answer a flight attendant call light. The passenger in seat 20-F is complaining about the man sitting directly behind her. Each time she reclines her seat, the man pushes her seat back to the upright position. I turn to look at him. He is a businessman. He is well dressed and seemingly intelligent. This is the conversation that transpires between the businessman and me:
"Sir, why are you pushing this woman's seat to the upright position?"
"Because I don't have enough room."
"But, Sir, she has the right to recline her seat."
"And I have the right to the space in front of my face."
"Well, Sir," I say, "she has the right to recline her seat, and you are entitled to whatever space remains. If you need more space in front of your face you have the option to recline your seat." He stares at me as if I just insulted his mother.
"What is your name?" he says.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. What is your name?"
I give him my name.
"You are rude and unaccommodating," he says. "I'm going to complain to your supervisor and I'm never going to fly this airline again." The woman in 20-F shakes her head incredulously. She turns around, hurls a profanity-laced insult at the businessman, then offers to write a countermeasure letter to my supervisor.
Just know that maturity sometimes also leaves a vapor trail when people are sitting in an airplane cabin.
Oct 16, 2004, 3:47 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,017
Someone posed the "Do passengers have a right to recline?" question to the flight attendant A Frank Steward who writes a column for Ticked.com. His answer in the final analysis was yes, passenger has a right to recline, and the person behind him has to accept that. If need be, do ask the flight attendant to intervene.
I was sitting next to someone on a flight from Iceland who kept pushing and hitting the chair of the person in front of her when that person reclined. I was shocked by her behavior. I offered to resolve the situation by trading her my window seat for her middle seat, but this horrible woman would not budge. Eventually she gave up hitting the chair in front of her and made her peace with the situation, but I was about to call over the FA to make her stop. The strange thing is that I had been talking with her and she just seemed like a perfectly polite old woman from Norway. She was 80 if she was a day, so it was all the weirder to see her physically assault the person in front.
I have stopped reclining my chair ever, because of a similar incident in which a man violently hit my seat and I nearly had a fear-induced heart attack. Anyway, I'm small and can make myself comfortable without needing to recline, but it is too bad that people can't restrain themselves from assaulting others.
I was sitting next to someone on a flight from Iceland who kept pushing and hitting the chair of the person in front of her when that person reclined. I was shocked by her behavior. I offered to resolve the situation by trading her my window seat for her middle seat, but this horrible woman would not budge. Eventually she gave up hitting the chair in front of her and made her peace with the situation, but I was about to call over the FA to make her stop. The strange thing is that I had been talking with her and she just seemed like a perfectly polite old woman from Norway. She was 80 if she was a day, so it was all the weirder to see her physically assault the person in front.
I have stopped reclining my chair ever, because of a similar incident in which a man violently hit my seat and I nearly had a fear-induced heart attack. Anyway, I'm small and can make myself comfortable without needing to recline, but it is too bad that people can't restrain themselves from assaulting others.
Oct 16, 2004, 4:18 pm
#21
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Originally Posted by GradGirl
I have stopped reclining my chair ever, because of a similar incident in which a man violently hit my seat and I nearly had a fear-induced heart attack. Anyway, I'm small and can make myself comfortable without needing to recline, but it is too bad that people can't restrain themselves from assaulting others.
I try to avoid this situation by maintaining high elite levels with the major airline alliances and if necessary by paying for business class or better (or upgrading to such). Unfortunately, though, there is no premium cabin on RJs and other aircraft. Then I ask that people just be polite to those around them.
Oct 18, 2004, 4:17 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,017
I think the best compromise would be to disallow reclining. I think there are some RyanAir planes with seats that don't recline.
How would everyone feel about that solution? After all, it's not like the seat is any more comfortable for leaning back 10 degrees. I think it's the fact that there is some option (seat up - seat down) that causes passengers to attack each other. If there were no option we'd all just complain about the mean old airline but we wouldn't resort to violence against other travelers.
However, until the airlines change out the seats for seats that don't recline, I think flyers will have to accept that reclining is the right of the person in front.
Anyway, like I said, I'm doing my part by declining to recline.
How would everyone feel about that solution? After all, it's not like the seat is any more comfortable for leaning back 10 degrees. I think it's the fact that there is some option (seat up - seat down) that causes passengers to attack each other. If there were no option we'd all just complain about the mean old airline but we wouldn't resort to violence against other travelers.
However, until the airlines change out the seats for seats that don't recline, I think flyers will have to accept that reclining is the right of the person in front.
Anyway, like I said, I'm doing my part by declining to recline.
Oct 18, 2004, 4:22 pm
#24
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Originally Posted by GradGirl
I think the best compromise would be to disallow reclining. I think there are some RyanAir planes with seats that don't recline.
How would everyone feel about that solution? After all, it's not like the seat is any more comfortable for leaning back 10 degrees. I think it's the fact that there is some option (seat up - seat down) that causes passengers to attack each other. If there were no option we'd all just complain about the mean old airline but we wouldn't resort to violence against other travelers.
However, until the airlines change out the seats for seats that don't recline, I think flyers will have to accept that reclining is the right of the person in front.
Anyway, like I said, I'm doing my part by declining to recline.
How would everyone feel about that solution? After all, it's not like the seat is any more comfortable for leaning back 10 degrees. I think it's the fact that there is some option (seat up - seat down) that causes passengers to attack each other. If there were no option we'd all just complain about the mean old airline but we wouldn't resort to violence against other travelers.
However, until the airlines change out the seats for seats that don't recline, I think flyers will have to accept that reclining is the right of the person in front.
Anyway, like I said, I'm doing my part by declining to recline.
I'll continue to recline, but will honor a polite request (with an explanation as to why) that I not.
Oct 18, 2004, 4:58 pm
#25
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Originally Posted by spottie
My only pet peeve about reclining is trying to eat with the seat back so close.... I wonder if a good compromise could be to have seats up for meals, and down only after food service?
Apart from the meal, I don't really care, cos I'm a recliner too. In short haul, not important, but for trying to get any sleep at all, I'll have the seat as far back as it will go. I don't sleep well on aircraft, and I certainly won't sleep in an upright seat.
Oct 18, 2004, 5:16 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Austin, TX
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Originally Posted by GradGirl
I have stopped reclining my chair ever, because of a similar incident in which a man violently hit my seat and I nearly had a fear-induced heart attack. Anyway, I'm small and can make myself comfortable without needing to recline, but it is too bad that people can't restrain themselves from assaulting others.
You likely shot your chair back suddenly and with no warning to the person behind you. I would certainly take evasive action and defend myself in the face of such an attack. I've had people slam their chairs back and slam my knees to the point where I've cried out in pain. I lost two palm pilots by having them in my bag under the seat and kicking them trying to get my feet out of the way fast enough.
I guarantee you I am vigilant about the person in front of me shooting their chair back and absolutely block the chair hard and fast with my hand when someone slams backwards.
I'm generally willing to work out something with these reclining scum (when it's at all possible, which it isn't in E-), but not if you're going to slam your chair back without a care in the world. Those are the kind of people who are getting an air vent or two to the head, and, if need be, the dreaded sneeze.
Oct 18, 2004, 11:23 pm
#27
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Originally Posted by GradGirl
I think the best compromise would be to disallow reclining.
From http://www.merriam-webstercollegiate.com
compromise 1 a : settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions b : something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things
surrender 1 a : to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand <surrendered the fort> b : to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another
You'll have to pry my cold, dead fingers from the recline button before I ever *compromise* my ability to recline.
Oct 19, 2004, 9:02 am
#28
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Originally Posted by oklAAhoma
You'll have to pry my cold, dead fingers from the recline button before I ever *compromise* my ability to recline.
Oct 19, 2004, 5:21 pm
#29
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Originally Posted by Japhydog
And they will be cold and dead if you insist on continuously trying to force your seat to recline into my knees that have nowhere else to go.
Cross my heart - I have never tried to force my seat into recline at the expense of someone's knees. (Although in my early flying days, I was guilty of *speed reclining*.
I have since then learned the error of my ways and I now recline slowly and carefully and never during meals.)
Last edited by oklAAhoma; Oct 19, 2004 at 5:34 pm Reason: stupid spelling error
Oct 19, 2004, 5:36 pm
#30
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,017
Originally Posted by oklAAhoma
How does your solution constitute a compromise? Aren't your really asking the recliners to surrender to the anti-recliners?