Quote: (08-26-2014 09:43 PM)Quintus Curtius Wrote:
I don't think I'm alone in noticing that the level of douchbaggery, hostility, and angst on airplanes is going up.
You are not. It's the worst on US Carriers.
Quote: (08-26-2014 09:43 PM)Quintus Curtius Wrote:
* Flight attendants are either gay or rude bitches
These are the lawsuit-proof employees of modern American aviation travel. The first time I flew on a flight as a kid I can remember the hottie flight attendant and thought "Wow, it would be so cool to be a pilot!" But that was 1982. Now I see better looking bus drivers for crissakes.
I had one lesbian asshole roll her eyes when she saw the book I was reading (a Bill O'Reilly book - hey, it was a gift). This was in business class - she could at least demonstrate some professionalism, but I suppose when she's lawsuit proof why bother?
Quote: (08-26-2014 09:43 PM)Quintus Curtius Wrote:
* Too many screaming undisciplined kids
Not much you can do about bad parenting except try to stay away from the rear of the plane. People who do not travel much (like families with kids) often don't choose their seats and wind up back there by default.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I flew to Seoul next to a group of young Korean kids and thought it would be a flight from hell, but they turned out to have more discipline than your average US Marine. I soon found out this behavior was quite common in Korean families. We Americans could (re)learn a few things from them about child rearing.
Quote: (08-26-2014 09:43 PM)Quintus Curtius Wrote:
* People who don't understand that "carry on bag" means a small bag
Airlines ought to either raise the prices and stop nickel and diming us or stop charging for checked bags and start charging for carry on bags. That shit would stop real quick.
Another tip here - if you're a regular flyer on a small regional jet, you probably get first boarding priority. Sounds great, but you and all the other business travelers with the same priority probably also chose seats near the front, and all of you board at the same time.
Small jet, small overhead space, bunch of people competing for the same tiny overhead space, even though the plane isn't even full yet. Pain in the ass, right?
Answer: choose a seat that's a few rows back (maybe number 10 or 12) and let the business traveler dickheads fight over their seats closest to the front. That way you board first and get access to seats not yet occupied but not so far to the rear of the plane that you're in obese tourist-land. Besides, the seats closest to the door often have no overhead at all, or overhead with some first aid kit, pilot bag, etc.
Quote: (08-26-2014 09:43 PM)Quintus Curtius Wrote:
* People who dress like disheveled bums
Another sad, mostly American trend. Americans generally dress down too much anyway - a lot of silicon valley types with plenty of money don't even know how to tie a tie and think casual Friday means jeans and a t-shirt. I've seen executives on flights looking like they just walked out of a trailer park.
I don't overdo dressing for a flight but neither do I own a pair of sweat pants. And I refuse to wear shorts in public unless the situation requires shorts (running, beach, gym, etc). Once you're a male over 25 you should start to look and act like an adult no matter where you are.
Quote: (08-26-2014 09:43 PM)Quintus Curtius Wrote:
* Fat people
No doubt - it violates the purchase you make for your seat to have to "share" a seat with a fattie that bleeds over to your side, but thankfully this hasn't happened to me yet.
Quote: (08-26-2014 09:43 PM)Quintus Curtius Wrote:
* Chinese who talk too loud
Seen this on international flights; mostly from mainlanders. I've been mostly lucky here too - eventually they fall asleep.
Quote: (08-26-2014 09:43 PM)Quintus Curtius Wrote:
* Indians who walk around in their socks
Never seen this, but I've heard horror stories about the bathrooms on any Indian carrier. Short answer is if you have to go, do it EARLY in your flight or you'll be too disgusted to walk in there.