SingaPaul

A friend of mine flew from FLL and he has a similar story to tell...

He is in his 60s... Heavyset... Got onto the plane in a wheelchair due to an earlier diabetes episode at the gate... Had the window seat... During the flight, he asked the lady next to him if she could excuse him as he needs to make a trip to the bathroom... It was a 2.5 hours flight... And she turned and asked my friend "Can't you hold it?"...

My friend must have replied "would u like to hold it for me???" or "would u mind if i do it here???"

Can't imagine there are people like that... And more appalling to learn that there are quite a number of them too!!!

pinkcat

oops,
I only told it using the same words my mate used when he told it to me!
just blame me for being English!

anyway faaaaar worse is being in the middle 2 of 4 in CW on a 777 at least you are only stepping over peoples legs but the comments are far more abusive

pbz

Sorry to hear about this Gargoyle. Your post gets the point across about DVT, much more than the blurb in the back of the in flight mag.

Green Dragon

And you would think that to be a fairly universal reaction, wouldn't you?

Tony_B

I've had pax very reluctant to ask me to move when they are in window or centre - in fact I notice some seem to wait till I move _ but I seem moving when they need exit is my responsibility - whenever they need it.

grouse

Sometimes when I'm in the window I'll wait until someone else moves. Not because I am reluctant to ask, but because it's just easier sometimes.

yanpa

Never heard "grolleys" before, and I'm British. Probably a regional variation of "goolies". All a load of balls anyway

Like one of the posters above I'm a fan of high liquid throughput anyway, and especially when flying. Getting rid of the stuff is also a good excuse to stand up and go walkabout on long flights. Last time (overnight NRT-FRA) I requested an aisle seat as always, but made the mistake of forgetting to ask for one on the centre block, and of course my neighbours were two gents of somewhat elderly disposition who needed to get up and "go" every 30 minutes...

When I end up in a "blocking position" on overnight flights I generally try to communicate to the people next to me that on the offchance I'm asleep, they're welcome to prod me awake (because I'll wake up anyway when they climb over me).

hsxagent

When I read the OP's post that is exactly what came to mine. But the collateral damage of the poor lady in the middle, for shame if she had to get a whiff.

AZOGRR

I try to avoid window seats at all costs and always want the aisle. I also accept the fact that those in the middle or window seats will need to use the lav during a flight. When I am stuck in the window, I generally try to time it for when the aisle person gets up just because it is easier but if that does not happen, I ask politely. If I were to be rebuffed, I would cease with the niceties.

thor0176

What's wrong with just climbing over the guy? Is that really so hard? Some of you seem to be making a big deal out of nothing. I don't think that the guy in the aisle seat is being rude at all by simply asking you to climb over him.

If I'm sitting in the window seat, I'll happily climb over someone when getting up. But perhaps having lived in Asia for several years, I've forgotten how extreme Americans are about personal space. Heavens forbid you may accidentally touch the guy while scooting past him to get out of your seat. I mean, he might have COOTIES or something, right?

kukukajoo

You sure the guy wasn't trying to get his jollies with you stepping on his grollies?

hausfrau

Well, yes, it is that hard to climb over someone. I'm not overweight, but I'm also not young, and straddling his knees while maneuvering into the aisle would require me to hold onto his headrest to keep from falling head-first into his lap.

If he really, really wants an older-middle-aged woman playing "lap dance" for him, I'm sure there's an establishment in any city of his choice where he can pay for that.

thegeneral

"For shoulder room.

On a related note, why pick a window seat if you're going to close the window?"

Because I want it to be dark. Pretty simple explanation.

frontenac551

I'm short. I physically cannot climb over someone without standing on them on my way over and/or hanging off of the seat in front when sitting in Y. Since neither is an actual option (especially not hanging on the seat of the person in front, how had nothing to do with the situation), it behooves the person in the aisle seat to let me out.

That being said, I try for aisle seats and haven't had a non aisle Y seat when the aisle seat wasn't a traveling companion in years.

BoyAreMyArmsTired

Me too!

I have the same short problem. I had someone ask me to step over once, and I pointed out that at 5' 1", I'm really not able to step over very much. In fact, if I had to try that, the person would more likely end up with something resembling a lap dance than stepping over.