Search Results for: blog 5 ways to deal with a talkative seatmate

Being Polite At 35,000 Feet (It’s Really NOT That Hard)

Can’t we all just get along? Following the recent incidents involving rude airline passengers and ruder flight attendants, one is left to question whether airplanes are carrying any travelers who are not disgruntled. Which is not to say that most peeved passengers don’t have a right to be, especially when they have to endure record-breaking delays, a less than patient flight crew and countless airline lavatories that simply don’t work. But, as we head into the last long weekend of the summer season, perhaps, we could commence a moratorium on travel-related complaints and practice some common courtesy. For example: · … Continue reading →

Airline Travel: “Seatmates of Size”

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I’ve blogged about smelly seatmates, seatmates with attitude, and talkative seatmates, but with spring break upon us I figured it was a good time to tackle the topic of large seatmates and the stereotypes that come with them. Admit it; I’m sure at one point or another you’ve experienced having the person seated next to you on an airplane take up not just their seat, but part of yours. Let’s face it; travelers come in all shapes and sizes, yet airplane seats don’t seem to accommodate that fact. What’s more, studies … Continue reading →

5 Ways To Deal With A Talkative Seatmate

In a previous blog I provided tips for the traveler stuck in the awkward position of sitting next to a person who smells anything but fresh as a daisy. This blog addresses another delicate situation all travelers run into from time to time—dealing with an overly chatty seatmate. Many (if not all) frequent fliers tend to look at flights as a way to get from point A to point B, and NOT as a social experiment. Look around at passengers as they board a plane and you’ll see many armed with iPods, laptops, books, and magazines. These people clearly have … Continue reading →

Get the Most Bang for Your Travel Buck

Want to live like the President of the United States without having to spend millions campaigning for the title? Then head to Charlotte, North Carolina, before September 8th. That’s where you’ll find the “American Presidential Experience 2012.” The traveling exhibit is one of the hot spots for non-politicos checking out the Democratic National Convention. Visitors of all ages, races and creeds can get in some hands-on learning about this country’s top job and the men who held the position, from George Washington to Barack Obama. The 30,000-square-foot, nonpartisan exhibit is crammed with presidential memorabilia, including a full-size recreation of the … Continue reading →

Finding the Right Seat

I have always preferred window seats on airplanes. While I agree that aisle seats work better if you have a small bladder, like to stroll around or need access to the overhead bin throughout the flight, I’m not a big fan of beverage carts, flight attendants and others smacking into me as they make their way down the plane’s narrow aisles. And then, there’s the dreaded middle seat. Or, purgatory, as I like to refer to it. Does anyone ever request a middle seat? Not likely. According to travel experts, exit rows, aisle or window seats, and seats located near … Continue reading →

Making Summer Flying Bearable

Airports don’t exactly spell f-u-n, especially during the chaotic summer travel season. However, there are ways you can make your layovers bearable by following a few simple tips: Hang at an airline lounge: Amenity-filled airline lounges are typically reserved for first-class passengers or business flyers who have accrued a few million miles criss-crossing the globe. Fortunately, these days you can gain access to these elite rooms even if you are flying with an economy-class ticket. For example, if you are a member of Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge, Continental’s Presidents Club, United’s Red Carpet Club, or the US Airways club, … Continue reading →

Too Fat to Fly

Did you know that there are Internet forums designed for people to rant about having to fly next to oversized passengers on commercial airliners? I was sent a link to one the other day and couldn’t believe the viral viciousness being spewed by random flyers. One poster had the gall to tear into an overweight woman he was forced to sit next to whose “blubber spilled over the armrest” and invaded his personal space. The guy then cited a recent incident in which a woman and her mom were allegedly singled out by a Southwest employee for being “too fat … Continue reading →

Are You a Rude Rider?

Shortly after graduating from college I moved to Atlanta for a job. However, instead of finding an apartment in the heart of the downtown metro area, I opted to share a house in the suburb of Duluth with a couple of friends of friends. Thanks to MARTA (Atlanta’s public mass transit rail system) I was able to park and ride to work each day. My point of origin was the second to the last MARTA stop and my final destination was downtown, so I was forced to ride the rails for more than an hour round-trip. It was during my … Continue reading →

Say So Long to Shorts on Airplanes

Relax; major carriers are not banning shorts on their aircrafts I just thought with the sweltering summer months upon us I would provide a follow up to my blog on walking barefoot on airplanes. Whereas some airline passengers like to air their tootsies on long flights, others prefer to give their legs breathing room by donning shorts on planes. Since the majority of my trips involve jetting back and forth from the Midwest to Hawaii I have seen my share of skin on planes. Believe me when I say some passengers have no shame when it comes to exposing themselves … Continue reading →

Would You Walk Barefoot in an Airplane?

Frankly, the idea repulses me. Especially given the recent rodent sightings reported by airline passengers. Still, I have to admit I have seen (and winced at) literally dozens of passengers on my flights to and from Hawaii who feel compelled to stroll about the cabin sans shoos. Perhaps, it’s because one of my best friends is a flight attendant for one of the nation’s largest airlines and she doesn’t hesitate to share the horror stories detailing what has been dragged on airplane floors. (I won’t even dare divulge the wretched items she has seen on the plane’s bathroom floors.) Regardless, … Continue reading →