I think this fits under the “Weird People” Category although Creepy and Scary are probably a better fit than Weird.
So when I was 17 I flew down to Venezuela by myself to visit my cousins. About 30 minutes before my plane left Atlanta a man in his forties walks by me and says something in Spanish to me about the television. I knew what he said but didn’t feel like talking to anyone so I just said I don’t speak Spanish. Then he excitedly says he speaks English and sits down right next to me. He talks to me for the next 30 minutes all about why I’m going to Venezuela, what he does there, this and that. I get happy that we are about to board because I’m not really feeling comfortable with him.
Before we board he grabs my ticket from my hand and sees where I’m sitting. I would have had the entire row to myself but he sits right next to me since they were empty seats. Now I am feeling very uncomfortable. And not only is he bothering me but he is pulling on the seat in front of him and making the other people around him mad by being loud and obnoxious. He then pulls out pictures of his wife and kids and starts to tell me about how he loves his wife but that cheating is normal and something he does often.
I timed him and he spoke for 35 minutes without me saying a word back. As soon as he got up to go to the bathroom I pull out my Ipod and start listening in order to ignore him. He continues to bother me though and talks loudly during the movie, trips the flight attendant with his foot sticking in the aisle, and orders my food for me. As soon as I got off that 4 hour flight I RAN to get my bags and get into the car with my cousins.
Definitely was the worst flight I’ve ever been on and while it was happening I thought I was on the flight from hell.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Jodi, it's easy for somebody else to say that, but not necessarily easy for somebody to do. I was a very shy person at 17, and would have found it easier to put up with this "passenger from hell" than to speak up. Now, of course, I know better.
The next time something like that happens.. when he goes to the restroom, take the opportunity to switch seats. Tell the FA he’s annoying you and you’d like to switch seats, if the cabin isn’t full, he/she’ll let you. And learn to be more assertive, don’t let anyone order your food if you don’t want them to and don’t let them grab things out of your hands. Some people are just pushy and you have to learn to assert yourself back otherwise they will walk all over you like this guy did.
I too would speak up because I care more about my personal comfort than offending someone I thought was obnoxious.
I could see how that would be difficult for any 17 year old and especially a female.