Slobs, Snobs And Noise
 

Am I just too old? I am a United 1 K and have been for a number of years. I am a 65 year old businessman that still works and loves it. I flew my first commercial flight on Capital Airlines in the 50's. I flew in a lot of DC3, Electras, Vicounts, Caravelles and others. But what I observe today traveling is somewhat puzzeling to me. 1) 90% of the travelers dress like slobs, wear baseball caps on board, in lounges and in restaurants. 2) No one seems to regard peace and quiet as a human need and benefit. Stewardess bumb your seat, passengers boarding bump you and your seat with packbacks and rollerbags. Passengers during flights bump your seat without regard to the fact you might be sleeping. 3) Stewardess break ice and galley with a hammer and slam doors and coffee pots around like they are working in distant kitchen. 4) Worst of all are the cell phone users screaming in their cellphones in the lounges where a little peace and quiet would certainly be appreciated. Have we become uncivilized, is it the jungle? sould be swing from vines and screech like apes? I guess I am too old......

You've got my vote on points 2-4 (especially 2!). Point 1 doesn't bother me, and there are times when I dress pretty casually myself.

I agree and I'm not old.

I don't think you are! I really think alot of people out there need a reality check and not just for the airport but life in general. Many need to revisit the golden rules they were hopefully taught as children.

On the dressing issue-we were always expected as children to dress nice when flying-always pants per Mom for some reason...I know weird but to this day I do it, although it maybe jeans or a workout outfit-I have a nice appearance. One of my favorite things to do at the airport is to people watch-it always amazes me to see people (teens I can see but 30,40 year olds??) in PJ bottoms or skirts where you can see their butt..and not to mention w/out any underwear. Even seen one lady with no underwear-butt showing skirt sit straight down on the floor while waiting for a plane..gross gross gross!!

The one thing I really don't understand is why some people think it's perfectly OK not to take a bath...I mean when you can smell yourself and you burn your own nose hairs...it's NOT OK to get on a closed up plane..expecting the person next to you to be happy and cheerful to talk to you. I don't want to breathe much less breathe in your BO and taste it!


I am really not looking forward to the thought of cell phones allowed on the airplane to use during flight..... :(

BTW I am 29 and holding and have the same opinion.

Remember that air travel used to be much more expensive and more civilized. My Dad traveled in the 1950s. Coach class had roomy leather seats and the flight attendant would bring your courses one at a time, after taking your order. (Yeah, like F/C now.) You didn't have to ride airline shuttles from the parking lot and then half-disrobe while going through "security". Of course people dressed nicely and behaved better under those circumstances.

Fast-forward to the 21st century. The people have voted with their dollars- cheap is best. You know you're going to be dragging your stuff all over creation (may as well carry it on if you don't want the airline to "misplace" it or have valuables disappear), get jammed into a Coach seat and probably have food fall into your lap as you maneuver it out of the bag (purchased elsewhere- you're on your own for meals) and try to eat it in a cramped space. The air will be either too hot or too cool, especialy before they finally turn the engines on full throttle. Sorry, but I'll leave my silk blouses at home and dress comfortably. And, while I do get angry at the Incredible Disappearing FAs who act put-upon if you approach them and expect them to do anything for you, there are fewer FAs serving more people.

It's not necessarily that we've all turned to slobs- the environment has changed considerably and we've reacted accordingly.

Got to agree with 2 and 4 as well.

I was flying Cathay in F the other day. I was in my seat and another guy was sat one row further back. A colleague of his gets on and congratulates him loudly on his upgrade and then proceeds to tell him loudly and in graphic detail about the after-effects of his less than edible shrimp cocktail the night before!! It went on, and on, and on, and on! Finally I stood up, turned around and said "Guys, do me a favour, tone it down won't you. I have absolutely NO interest in participating in your conversation". I got a real nasty look, but hey it shut them up and the late joiner made his way back to the C cabin. Some people just need their heads examining.....

Point 1: Well, style has changed and not everyone has to wear a nice shirt/tie just to go out. Better to be comfortable, like the majority of travellers. But there are always, of course, a few people who do dress quite oddly, and that will always be the case.
Point 2: It gets very annoying. However, I bet most passengers on flights do NOT surf FT and don't fly more than twice a year, so they probably do not know or realize how bad it is to bump into other people, and accidents do happen. I haven't had a FA bump into my seat in a while, but then again, I love window seats, especially on short/medium haul flights.

As long as someone looks decent, who cares what they are wearing? Dress up for church or something like that, yes, but to sit on a plane, why? Is it really that big of deal, and does it really affect anyone at all if someone wears a ball cap on a plane? A long time ago wives wore dresses and pearls to do the vacuuming. That was then. 90% of travelers dress like they want to be comfortable during their trip.
Depending on where you are sitting, it may be nearly impossible for someone NOT to bump into your seat. In business or first I would think it difficult TO bump a seat, but in economy there is no way to avoid bothering someone. Especially since a plane is a moving object and old/young/obese people are common. I do agree that people need to shut up or at least keep their voices down. I especially hate the ubiquitous screaming jack@$$ on a cell phone. Contrary to what many believe, it is not required to raise your voice for the phone to work. Loud FAs are annoying as well, but breaking ice can be a labor intensive process. I doubt it was a calculated maneuver to be as loud as possible during the flight. And what are people doing with backpacks and rollerbags out during a flight anyway?

Those of you who think flying is bad need not get near the Greyhound bus terminal in Washington (or any big city).

Take a look around at church! It is almost as bad as air travelers, sometimes worse. I fly business or first and have had my seat bumped many times. Suits and ties are not necessary, I fully agree, but nice clean clothes should be considered appropriate, clean jeans included. What I saw this past two weeks was clothing that should not be worn anywhere but to Home Depot to pick up more paint or nails. It seems to me I recall a time when common courtesy would dictate better behavior. It does not seem to be as universal as it was in years past. When Cell Phones are allowed to be used in airplanes I complete my retirement and quit flying.

Why, praytell, does common courtesy dictate someone's attire? One who doesn't interact with you at all (and you are not paying them anything to do so) has no obligation to wear anything more than they want.

I agree with the OP and not just with flying it's in everyday life. Yes I know times have changed but just because some are dressing more then badly or acting badly/rudely does that mean we all should have this standard? There is nothing wrong w/ comfy that is not what the OP is saying!

And I am sorry it's more then common courtesy to not show your butt in public. Not to mention the health issues of you putting your juices on the floor or on a seat someone else will be sitting on later..and that someone might be YOU.

I so understand!!!

Welcome to FlyerTalk Sæculorum,
You generally do interact with many persons whilst aboard an airliner.

Because the concept of common courtesy appears to escape most, along with the usage of the words whom and wrongly; I propose airlines introduce a dress standard such as follows

I agree Wholeheartedly
 

UnitedBill:

I haven't been flying since the '50's, but the 60's when people still used to get dressed up to fly. Now, I am not saying gents need jacket & tie and ladies need to wear dresses, but the butt hanging out thing and the ripped jeans is not appropriate.

Also, Common Courtesy is timesless and should apply all folks who travel. "Treat those as you would have them treat you".
It's diffucult enough when you are in Atlanta Monday, Detroit Tuesday, SF Weds & Thurs and then back home to EWR on a redeye, some jer--ff giving the FA a hard time on the flight when you're trying to sleep because she didn't bring him his drink quick enough should be hung from the yardarm, just like the old Navy days. ;)