Cross Talking
Nov 25, 2004 | 11:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: New York
Programs: Ex Marriot Platinum, CO Gold
Posts: 342
Cross Talking
I flew standby on a relatively short hop the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and wound up with a middle seat.
When I arrived at my seat the individual in the window seat was in a heavy discussion with the individual in the aisle seat. I really wasn't sure how I was supposed to ask these two people to either sit next to each other, or be quiet as it seemed like a heated conversation.
Does anyone have any point of view about how to handle the situation? I was extremely uncomfortable, and didn't quite know how what to do. I fidgeted around a little to try to interrupt the conversation, but eventually just popped in a movie on my laptop, threw on my QC2 headphones, and zoned out for most of the flight. Thankfully it was a very short plane ride.
When I arrived at my seat the individual in the window seat was in a heavy discussion with the individual in the aisle seat. I really wasn't sure how I was supposed to ask these two people to either sit next to each other, or be quiet as it seemed like a heated conversation.
Does anyone have any point of view about how to handle the situation? I was extremely uncomfortable, and didn't quite know how what to do. I fidgeted around a little to try to interrupt the conversation, but eventually just popped in a movie on my laptop, threw on my QC2 headphones, and zoned out for most of the flight. Thankfully it was a very short plane ride.
Nov 26, 2004 | 7:22 am
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 55,213
It's happened to me a few times. I politely ask if either of them would like to switch seats so they can speak more freely as a convenience to them and a convenience to me so I don't feel like I'm in the middle. Either one of them switches or they apologize for talking through me and then they keep quiet for the rest of the flight.
I've never had a problem with this.
I've never had a problem with this.
Nov 26, 2004 | 7:35 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Nashua, NH USA
Programs: Seashore Trolley Museum "flight attendant"
Posts: 2,015
Next time bring a newspaper and, in this order...
1. Come right out and ask to switch seats.
2. Hold the newspaper up in front of you as if to be readin git.
2. Join in the conversation, forcefully if necessary. If you don't have anything good to talk about, just keep on asking general questions of your own such as "what did you think of the Red Sox' beating the Yankees in four straight..."
Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm
1. Come right out and ask to switch seats.
2. Hold the newspaper up in front of you as if to be readin git.
2. Join in the conversation, forcefully if necessary. If you don't have anything good to talk about, just keep on asking general questions of your own such as "what did you think of the Red Sox' beating the Yankees in four straight..."
Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm
Nov 26, 2004 | 12:24 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,931
I had the reverse of this happen a few years back.
I got to my aisle seat and found that a good friend was sitting in the window seat. Since we planned to talk, I asked the woman in the middle seat if she would like to switch to the aisle or window seats so we didn't distrub her.
She said "no", and that she didn't mind. It was only an hour flight, but we talked through her the whole time.
I got to my aisle seat and found that a good friend was sitting in the window seat. Since we planned to talk, I asked the woman in the middle seat if she would like to switch to the aisle or window seats so we didn't distrub her.
She said "no", and that she didn't mind. It was only an hour flight, but we talked through her the whole time.
Nov 26, 2004 | 12:48 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: NW Gold and now Delta Gold
Posts: 3,072
in a similar situation
I offered to swap seats, but they were not crazy, and neither was going to yield their seat, as we were flying from Nairobi to AMS.
So I just cheerfully butted into the conversation and offered my own two cents on any and all topics raised.
Pretty soon the husband was ready for a nap, and the crosstalk came to a sudden grinding halt. :-)
So I just cheerfully butted into the conversation and offered my own two cents on any and all topics raised.
Pretty soon the husband was ready for a nap, and the crosstalk came to a sudden grinding halt. :-)
Originally Posted by eduboys
I flew standby on a relatively short hop the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and wound up with a middle seat.
When I arrived at my seat the individual in the window seat was in a heavy discussion with the individual in the aisle seat. I really wasn't sure how I was supposed to ask these two people to either sit next to each other, or be quiet as it seemed like a heated conversation.
Does anyone have any point of view about how to handle the situation? I was extremely uncomfortable, and didn't quite know how what to do. I fidgeted around a little to try to interrupt the conversation, but eventually just popped in a movie on my laptop, threw on my QC2 headphones, and zoned out for most of the flight. Thankfully it was a very short plane ride.
When I arrived at my seat the individual in the window seat was in a heavy discussion with the individual in the aisle seat. I really wasn't sure how I was supposed to ask these two people to either sit next to each other, or be quiet as it seemed like a heated conversation.
Does anyone have any point of view about how to handle the situation? I was extremely uncomfortable, and didn't quite know how what to do. I fidgeted around a little to try to interrupt the conversation, but eventually just popped in a movie on my laptop, threw on my QC2 headphones, and zoned out for most of the flight. Thankfully it was a very short plane ride.