This has to do with a train rather than an aircraft, but the problem encountered is a universal one.
My mother and I were traveling on the high-speed Inter City train from Glasgow, Scotland, to London. The train makes only one stop en route.
We had the misfortune to share a car with a soccer team (!). They were drinking, smoking (in a non-smoking car), and acting like complete asses.
The conductor could quiet them down only long enough for him to leave the car, then the young men flared up once more.
An hour and a half into the four-hour trip, the train unexpectedly slowed to a stop. There was not a station visible; just a crossing with the guard gates closed and bells and lights warning of the train’s presence.
The train was met by a police car, and two officers got aboard.
The conductor and the two officers entered our car and removed the entire soccer team (to loud applause, I might add). The team was unceremoniously dumped at the crossing, and the train resumed its trip to London!
There should be a way of doing this at altitude to unruly air passengers!
Tagged as:
alcohol,
police,
tobacco
On my flight from Atlanta to Korea I rediscovered why I minimize my international flights. On my right was a sweet old Korean woman who actually got in an argument on my behalf with the girl in front of me who, without asking, suddenly lowered her seat all the way and literally hit me in the face with my laptop. However, that was pretty much to be expected in coach.
But, on my left was some American. An American apparently obsessed with two things: opening the window every few minutes and dipping. As it was a nearly 15 hour flight, they dimmed the lights so everyone could sleep while we followed the sun. However, every time I got to sleep I heard the ‘whoosh” of our window sliding open and this blinding sunlight flooding into the cabin. I know I was not the only one as a Korean family across the isle would wake up too and mutter to each other.
Then, just as I’d get back to sleep, I’d hear the tell-tell ‘ptit’ as he spit his chew into a small cup resting precariously on his tray table. And it’s not just the sound, as any non-tobacco addict can tell you. Dip stinks. Sitting next to a cup full of dip for ten hours really stinks. Always wondering when that cup will spill out onto your leg really stinks.
I’m really trying to think of something more disgusting he could have done, but perhaps the airline drew the line at him giving himself an enema while in-flight.
Why didn’t I say anything? I’ve learned on other international flights that the only thing worse than a rude seatmate is one that’s sullen and nursing a grudge for 10 hours.
Tagged as:
odor,
seats,
tobacco
Flying from Geneva to London. I got settled in my seat and in front of me a grey haired gentleman took his seat and also seemed to settle down. I got out my book and started to read.
Then it started.
I was roused from my reading by an argument between the fellow and the FA. Although the plane was full, he was refusing to let someone into the seat beside him. Apparently he needed it to sit his laptop on which was his right as he had purchased a ticket which in his mind entitled him to the entire row. The FA was cheerful but firm. A simple choice, give up the seat or get off the plane. So he gave in and the person took their seat. Again things quieted down.
Back to my book and shortly we start to taxi.
Now he started an argument with a woman a row ahead, which he appeared to know. Don’t know what it was about as it was being carried on in Swiss or German. Again the FA shows up and tells him to settle down, which he finally does.
We continue to taxi.
Suddenly he gets annoyed at something, gets up and starts wandering around the aisle muttering loudly. FA shows up again, with reinforcements, and orders him back to his seat. He refuses.
Back to the terminal.
Two men with submachine guns and NO sense of humor get on and take the fellow away. We are all happy and after filling out a statement as to what had transpired, I’m back to my book and away we went.
Tagged as:
flight attendant,
police,
seats
I recently flew from San Diego to Milwaukee, with a connecting flight in Denver.
On the first leg of my flight (San Diego to Denver), there was a family seated about 4 rows behind me. They had a 2- or 3-year-old boy who proceeded to whine (and I mean “whine”) very loudly for the entire duration of the trip. He kept chanting over and over: “Nooooo. Leave me alone.” I thought he’d whine himself to sleep eventually, but as we were leaving the plane, he was still whining.
As I rushed to catch my connecting flight to Milwaukee, I thought to myself: “Thank goodness I won’t have to listen to that little whiner anymore.”
Well, I was wrong. Not only was that little whiner on my flight to Milwaukee, but he and his parents were seated directly across the aisle from me. And you guessed it…he started whining right off the bat.
And he whined and whined and whined throughout the entire flight. And not once did any of the flight attendants say anything to the parents (who were both watching the in-flight TVs and were oblivious to the noise).
When the plane landed, and I was walking toward the baggage claim, I couldn’t help myself when I saw the family walking ahead of me. I sped up, and as I passed I said, “Thanks a lot for just putting me through 5 hours of agony with your son’s incessant whining. Have you ever considered that your allowing him to whine was blatantly rude?” Then I hurried away as they stood their with their mouths dropped to their shoes.
Tagged as:
children & babies
