Are you easily annoyed on airplanes?
By 808nala
@808nala (640)
United States
December 16, 2008 3:36am CST
I find myself irritated by one thing or another almost every time I'm on an airplane. I'm not sure if it's me or if people are just inconsiderate. Please tell me what you think and offer suggestions on what I can do to make my plane ride a little more enjoyable. These are a few things that I've been bothered by:
1) There always seems to be a crying baby that will not stop crying for a really long time. The parents don't seem to care about anyone else around them as many are asleep. I guess the plane does not offer a sound proof room so no matter where they are, they will most definitely wake someone up.
2) The seats in coach class are very tight in many airlines. I seem to always have the seat in front of the person that will jam his knee into my seat and my back. Also, they have to grab my chair to stand up or sit down (they pull my hair half the time and bounce my seat around).
3) The flight attendant will bump my chair or knee with their cart.
4) It takes me a long time to fall asleep in the uncomfortable chair on a plane. I feel like as soon as I do, the flight attendant will wake me up to ask if I would like a drink or food. I wish they would leave me alone if I'm sleeping. I know if I wake up later I can still get food and or drinks by going to the service area or pressing the button to call them to my seat.
5) People constantly coughing or sneezing and not covering their mouth or using a tissue. Yuck!
Let me know if you experience the same frustrations and how you deal with them or if you have suggestions for me.
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8 responses
@chenaiyh (228)
• China
17 Dec 08
well,i meet some of this.
but for me it's not a huge matter :)
yes,i meet some baby crying whole trip.but i think,that is baby,in fact,you can't stop his crying effectually.
trouble with people who behind you,when it happen,i will told that guy what i feel with his active,mostly that guy will take care of that.
about attendant,i meet this rarely.
and i think,perhaps i'm really not care about the condition,so i won't feel the trouble usually.
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@chenaiyh (228)
• China
17 Dec 08
well,nala,i think it not a difficult thing that talk to the person who banging your chair.
i mean,most of they just feel uncomfortable,so they banged your chair,not because they are impolite.
Don't be angry with them,and don't blame them,just tell them that they make you uncomfortable,and please don't do that.i think things will be better:)
hope you not annoy be these any more:)
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@808nala (640)
• United States
17 Dec 08
It wasn't that the person banged my chair a few times, it was more that his knee was in my back for almost the entire flight. I wanted to politely let him know, but every time I looked back, he was sleeping. I didn't want to wake him, but in the future I think I will. Maybe I can ask the flight attendant to let him know so that i don't have to be the one to wake him up. It just got more and more annoying with every hour that went by. Hopefully, I'll be better by my next flight.
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@Kathymcbain (1)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Ummm, yes. First, do you live in Hawaii? If so, that's part of the problem. I live in Hawaii and I never hated flying so much until I moved here. I think it has something to do with the fact that every place is at least a six hour flight. I don't like sitting for six hours and like you, I have not patience for people kicking my seat, crying kids, coughing and sneezing people, etc.
When I fly, I bring a Bose headset...you can't hear anything with those babies on, even if you don't have any music playing. I also bring my iphone with music and movies and my laptop to keep me entertained. I don't like to say anything to the person behind me either...but I have had to in the past.
Oh my gosh, last time I flew to the mainland, I flew from Kona to O'Hare and some lady asked me to put my seat up because she was uncomfortable behind me!! What?!? The seats go back like a quarter or an inch in coach...and if she doesn't like it she should have paid extra for coach plus or an exit row seat.
I'm not very helpful about this, I guess. I think I get annoyed by people too easily! If you do live in Hawaii, the one good thing is we get lots of miles because everything is so bloody far away, so fly one airline and save your miles. Don't use them for free flights, save them for upgrades to first class. Oh, and ask every time you check in what an upgrade to first class would cost. Sometimes if seats are available they will give you a really good deal, especially if you are a frequent flyer with them.
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@808nala (640)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Ha ha ha ha, your response made me laugh and I thank you for that. I was actually born and raised in Hawaii. I moved to California 2.5 years ago. The flight that all this stuff happened on was my return flight from Hawaii this past weekend. You might be right about the long flights to and from Hawaii. I always disliked flying anywhere except the neighbor islands, but of course, I like to travel so I have to deal with it sometimes.
Thanks for the tips about upgrading to first class. I think I'll actually try that. I wish Hawaiian Airlines would fly to more places so that I can rack up the miles. At least I have their credit card, so I guess I'll put it to good use.
It seems everyone else is much more patient than you and I. They actually had some good suggestions and hopefully I have a change of heart the next time I fly. Thanks for making me feel like I wasn't the only annoyed person on the planet regarding this issue!
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@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
17 Dec 08
I know how hard it is to travel with a newborn baby and I sympathise with other mothers that have to too. It's not that we don't care about those around us, it's just difficult at times to keep our babies comfortable and quiet, even if we have all the means to do so.
We all have to make do with smaller seats, tight compartments, people bumping into one another, and noise - you just do the best you can - unless you travel business or first class then you may not have to worry about any of what you've mentioned.
I never sleep well on planes anyway so I either have my ipod or watch a movie to pass the time. If you don't want to be disturbed while sleeping, tell the flight attendant beforehand and if they forget, remind them again.
@808nala (640)
• United States
17 Dec 08
The previous person made a great comment about crying babies. I never looked at it that way probably because i have no children. I think I can now look at it differently, but the real test will be on my next flight in a few months. I guess I'm sort of used to people keeping their babies from disturbing others in crowded places like the movie theater or a restaurant. At the time they are crying, I don't really think about them not having a place to go, I just want them to stop crying. I will most likely be a lot more patient in the future. Thanks for your input!
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@AnakSuNamun (2084)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Can't say I get that annoyed inside an airplane,but I do feel unhappy in the whole process of before lol
It's great that USA enforces airport security but imagine what pain it is for smokers!.. Last time I had to wait 6(!)hours for my flight and guess how many times I went to smoke? Countless,mostly from nothing to do. And each and every time I had to take off my shoes,go thru the gate and show my passport. After about 3 times the employees started to recognize me and smile apologetically but I still had to do the whole thing. At the end I almost didn't bother putting on my shoes and I can't proudly say I walked around entire JFK in my socks! lol
Also,crying babies and coughing people are quite a hassle but I got lucky twice! I got the seat by the bathroom BOTH on the plane and on the bus! On the plane it was mostly the noise but on the bus it was a matter of smell,if you know what I mean...
And finally,against all odds I like flying but I do feel mildly worried when I hear weird sounds and see the crew walk by with preoccupied faces...
1 person likes this
@808nala (640)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Yes, I know exactly what you're saying. I'm a smoker too and had to go through the same thing few times. I don't think I ever had to wait as long as 6 hours, but just having to do that 2 or 3 times is frustrating. Sorry you had to deal with bad odors on your bus ride. That couldn't be enjoyable! Thanks for posting.
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@sherry5218 (29)
• China
17 Dec 08
I have no chance to take a plane, so maybe it's a difficult question to me. But i think if i take a plane, I'm not annoyed easily. Because maybe flight attendant will give you the best service if you feel not good. And you can sleep all the way, So maybe you will feel not bad.
@808nala (640)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Hi. Thank you for responding. I realize now that I am not a patient person. I will have to practice on coping with issues I may encounter on my next trip. The flight attendants are usually very pleasant and provide great service. I'll have to take a few of the suggestions the other people gave me in this posting and maybe I'll enjoy flying more.
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@surveytaker29345 (489)
• United States
17 Dec 08
I have experienced some of the same situations that you described. Sometimes, I think that people are inconsiderate and should take more responsibilty for their actions. I also have a hard time falling asleep on a plane. This fact might also be attributed to my excitement for travelling. Most of the time I am anticipating my arrival and am too excited to get some sleep.
I have been on different airlines and have noticed some slight differences. I think that most of the time the attendants on the flights are very pleasant people. Overall, I love to travel and to fly, so I will continue to deal with the faults of air planes lol.
@808nala (640)
• United States
17 Dec 08
I agree. I should just learn to deal with my issues because I won't stop flying and babies won't stop crying. Now if only I could learn to deal with the person in back of me constantly banging my chair and pushing his knee into my back! I know that the seats are tight, but I don't do it to the person in front of me so if I don't do it, they shouldn't do it either. LOL. Thanks for your feedback!
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@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
16 Dec 08
For the first ten years of my traveling I got terrible ear pain due to the pressure. However I now avoid that pain and have done so for the last eleven years because my friend gave me a pair of ear planes to try out. On my worst flight I was very sick so that was awful. I can only afford to travel in economy class and the seats are packed in close together with little leg room. On my way home from the Maldives I got a free upgrade to business class. Wow, that flight was delightful. Flying on a plane is a way to get to a faraway place quickly so I think about the joy of reaching my destination. Luckily my children are well behaved on flights. I feel a bit closed in on a plane and like a window seat so I can see the outside. It is annoying when I got to the bathroom and then a trolley service means it takes ages for me to get back to my seat. Happy traveling, the train is my favorite but flying is necessary sometimes.
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@808nala (640)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Oh boy! I'm glad I don't have ear pain. That sounds horrible. I'm glad your friend was able to help you find relief. I was only able to fly first class once and it was much more comfortable, but I was flying to attend to a family emergency so I could not relax at all. I wish the circumstances had been different.
My husband just flew overseas and was upgraded to business class. He loved it! It seems that the international business class and first class are so much better than the domestic US flights. Hopefully I'll get to try it out some day.
Thanks for responding!
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@deborahkat (519)
• Brazil
16 Dec 08
Oh I just had great experiences on the airplanes. Two times I traveled first class. And one of these times was because I woman changed places eith me to travel beside her daughter that only could find a normal chair to travel so she asked me to change with me and I went in first class drinking champagne on her place. :)
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