Category Archives for Passengers.
A lot of people went crazy on planes during the pandemic. The level of crazy incidents never returned to pre-pandemic levels. What do we think is going on here?
A flight attendant on the Boeing 777-300ER videotaped this by aiming their phone’s camera at a monitor that was filming the entrance to the cockpit that displayed a live feed. They added their own explicit commentary, and shared it via WhatsApp.
A Southwest Airlines passenger tried to board their flight with a travel pillow. The gate agent had a problem with this – because they already had a carry-on and a personal item, and this was a third “bag.” From the photo though they eventually prevailed. Usually they’re right, personal items aren’t always counted as personal items! But there’s ambiguity.
After a United Airlines flight from Cancun to Los Angeles, a passenger hurled racist insults at an Indian American family while enroute to the terminal from a bus gate. She also insulted Taufiq about… Indian food?
A Delta Air Lines passenger flying economy from Paris to Boston placed their used meal tray on the ground in the aisle, so they could make tray table space to get work done. At least three people stepped in the partially-eaten trash on the way to the lavatory.
We sat and waited for operations to find us a new gate to return to. Once we were back and the aircraft doors were opened, a Delta red coat supervisor came on board. It was explained she’d need to come off the aircraft to discuss the situation. She gathered her belongings and got off the plane.
Plot twist: a few minutes later, the woman and her dog returned to the aircraft. She was being allowed to fly, after all.
If this happened on a flight I was on, I’d have flagged down a flight attendant and said something. Surely this is not appropriate. It’s fine when you’re the only passenger in the cabin, or when you’re traveling in a seat with enough enclosed space to do this privately (like the new Emirates first class, or Singapore Suites). It’s not fine in Emirates business, where it detracts from the overall experience. What would you have done?
Humans are strange creatures. We create elaborate rituals out of the most mundane actions, and impart those rituals with great significance. One I’m trying to make sense of is seasoned travelers and first-timers alike tapping planes as they board. Why do people do this?
Here’s an American Airlines first class passenger with their own idea about what the purpose of a hot towel is. Normally passengers get one. This passenger asked for two and went to town with them.
A Delta Air Lines passenger complains that the person in front of them draped their jacket over their seat back. This took up the passenger’s space who was seated behind. It’s rude and it’s disruptive, but people do what makes them comfortable, blissfully unaware of the consequences their actions have on others.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
