Speaking of cell phones, what is with these idiots who talk on their cell phones while standing over a unrinal, or sitting in a stall?

Yeah whenever I see one of these I always make sure to flush a couple of times just so the people on the other end of the line know where this guy is and what he's doing while he's talking to them.

That's disturbing: it's the people talking about exceedingly private things on a cellphone that I don't understand. In the past year I've hear someone pleading to not be foreclosed upon, pleading for their company to pay them backwages for 1 month of work, and detailing their first lesbian experience!

I can't pass up this chance on a good rant. First off, I've 'dirt' status with one airline; 'nada' status with another; and 'zilch' with another of the majors. I do travel several times per year; rarely if at all with a 'suitcase'. {I did carry a regulation rollaboard during my 1st RTW trip] That said.....

I generally ride in the back of the bus on domestic and try to adhere to the 'borading by zone', but when I've had my ticket for 60+ days in row 12, then get BP to board with zone 5, there has never been space above my space, due to the fact that Mr & Mrs Row 36D&E have put their carryon suitcases above my seat!

Now, I like comfort as much as the next guy and try to put my backpack in the overhead as it 'conforms' to the space available and I have done longer flights 4+ hrs with a bag between my feet. I must agree with some of the other posters that if the 'carryon' limit were enforced that alone would reduce the 'gate lice syndrom' and the jockeying for position when boarding as well as overhead space. I'm sure someone riding in the back of the bus will have (in their mind) a good reason to put their carryons in the FC or E+ overheads but come on--give me some space too.

This phenomenaon has become increasingly common. I rarely enter a public restroom without encountering one or more cell phone users. My wife notices the same thing in ladies rooms.

In addition to flushing like crazy, if I'm in a stall, I moan like I'm in agony, then put my arm up to my mouth and make loud fart sounds then groan a couple "oh my gods". So far, it's had no effect whatsoever.

Maybe not, but I bet YOU felt better!

i stay close to the desk just in case of a bump. it has been to my advantage. and will continue to do so.

grbflyer

Someone may have before me, but it would have been completely unbeknownst to me. It's just a term I've used over the past few years and brought to FT this past summer. I guess it's my claim to fame.

stop hogging the spotlight now PSU, your 15 minutes is up

I'll add another rant here. I really really really REALLY hate people that put their bags in the F overhead when they are sitting in row 20. I understand if there is no space, and I'm not an F snob especially since I'm not paying for it, but seriously....if I have a tight connection, you use row 5 bin space, and there was plenty of space over, say, row 15 for your row 20 seat, you are really really screwing me. Essentially, you have made me be the last person off the plane because I have to swim against the tide to get by bags, whereas you would have just had to carry your 5 shopping bags another 10 rows.

Personally, I don't think people who are entitled to early boarding (FC and elites) are "gate lice" just because they like to wait in front of the jetway. Since they are early boarders anyway, they are not really blocking anyone by standing there. It's all the non-elite Y pax who crowd the boarding area (and block everyone else) who are gate lice.

There is one thing about elite/FC pax that DOES really bother me, however: those pax who cut in front of me in the line by the jetway because they just assume that I am not elite or FC. What are these people thinking? This happens to me all the time. I will be clearly lined up in front of the jetway, and these people just breeze past me and go to the very front of the line, as if I don't exist. I always wonder what they think when they see me joining them in FC.

I only fly 5-6 times a year on vacation so elite status eludes me. Since I'm on vacation I'm going to relax and enjoy myself. I'm amused by both the elite and the coach lice, kicked back in my chair knowing my seat will be waiting for me when the time comes. My carry-on is small and fits under the seat leaving plenty of legroom on each side to stretch out. So I people watch (always fun in an airport anyway). On one side are the elites, antsy and anxious to get their F seat and their overhead space, on the other the coach people crowding the gate, who look like they fly once every three years. We're all going to leave at the same time and arrive at the same time. Reminds me of the people on the road who go speeding by, then you see them at the next red light. Life is really too short to be worrying about the things that some people do.

What is the "proper" term for those passengers who feel it's their duty to check out other passengers' boarding passes in the gate area on the sly for boarding offenses? And even worse, make comments to other passengers who they think are boarding out of turn?

I tend to stand fairly close to the gate. With elite status and a good shot at being upgraded, it is a logical place to stand. Also, when I dlear the upgrade fairly late in the game (eg: right before boarding), I almost always get a bulkhead seat... and it is not fun if one has to put one's bags a couple rows back b/c the rest of the F pax boarded before oneself.

Even on RJ's, I tend to be the first in the boarding queue. This is so I can get on board and sit and relax (8c; exit-aisle) while the rest of the pax board. The practical side of boarding early is that in the past, DL has had a nasty habit of somehow managing to get 2 different pax boarding passes for the same seat. In these situations, I have found that the old adage is true... "Possession is 9/10 of the law". Incidentally, I have not seen the two-bp's, one seat problem for a while.

"Raid Matabichos."