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.
In the jacket owner’s defense, however, someone suggests,
I don’t see why this is a problem. The passenger ahead has generously provided you with a cloth napkin!
Nope
byu/Evelyns_Human indelta
When I saw this photo my first thought was actually, ‘wait a minute, this plane doesn’t have seat back entertainment screens!’ Of course Delta’s Boeing 717s don’t have them, and neither do regional jets. But this isn’t a 717 cabin. Then I remembered that a handful of their 737s, perhaps from the batch acquired from Lion Air, do not have them.
One of the best things about Delta Air Lines is that they committed to keep seat back entertainment screens on their seats, after American Airlines removed theirs. It’s been such a success with passengers that United copied the move, and has been adding them to planes as they’re retrofit with that carrier’s new “United NEXT” interior.
And a jacket covering up your seat back screen is even worse than it is here, where this plane is ‘dark’.
I usually just work on my laptop rather than watching shows. Many other people like to use their device while watching something on the screen. I’ll leave mine on the ‘moving map’ showing our flight’s progress. And this is how other passengers can get in the way of your enjoying these premium comforts.
Here, a woman whose big jacket was tied around her seat back took up space from the passenger behind them, and covered that passenger’s screen too.
Coach seats can be uncomfortable, and a bit of extra padding is clever. Using your jacket for back comfort is actually an ingenious hack – except it takes away comfort from the person seated behind you. Probably the best thing to do is to say, “excuse me, would you mind…?” and then, if necessary, ask a flight attendant for help.
I admit, I’m surprised that this one keeps coming up. However I’m not surprised, because passengers keep interfering with the space and screen of the person behind them in lots of ways! Like draping their hair over the seat back behind them. That seems to happen all the time. And it’s up there, and maybe even worse than, bare feet propped up on your arm rest.
Congrats to the ponytailed young woman in seat 22B. You've invented a whole new way to be awful at 35,000 feet. pic.twitter.com/VWTPMI5JrM
— Dante Ramos (@danteramos) March 29, 2016
On an @SouthwestAir flight right now and this is definitely a new one for me in terms of bad plane etiquette… pic.twitter.com/pjsPMvO2Av
— James Troupis (@JamesTroupis) November 2, 2021
Here at least it was ‘just a jacket’ and not the passenger’s hair covering up the seat back. At least with the hair though you might exact revenge with coffee, gum, or scissors (not actual advice!).
It’s not that they’re blissfully unaware. Oh, I think they’re fully aware of the impact their actions have on those around them. They just don’t give a sh*t.
I wouldn’t ask (“can you…”). I would simply state “you need to move your….”. If they push back, get the FA. If for some reason the FA doesn’t want to get involved, I would start blowing my nose in whatever was in my space.
I always carry some gum when I fly.
Oh, there’s something to wipe my finger with after picking my nose!
Yeah, any other response is uncouth and uncivilized and reveals the ill bred nature of one’s current social milieu.
@Thing 1
You feel this is appropriate on your part because you have very poor manners. Gary’s response in the post is much better mannered than yours.
Will you please die of cancer?
Why are people such sheeple today? I have zero problem asking someone to move their jacket, hair, etc that may be draped over the seat in front of me. Instead many seem to think it is somehow better to tolerate it then comment on social media, like that will change anything. Pathetic. Grow a set and deal with issues people.
@AC
There have always been people who don’t like confrontation. The internet gives such people an outlet. Basically, people have always been “sheeple,” but you’re just now hearing about it.
“He who is afraid to anger or offend is not yet a man.” Stephen Baskerville
@Mike P
If the definition of man is anything like the orange man and his associates with the common denominator of being sexual predators, then most of those people you denigrate ought to be proud not to be men. Hashtag, ProudToBePussy
@ Eileen
You yack about manners, for wording of someone’s reaction to a passenger with zero manners or common sense, then wish death for them?
You are a vile human being.
@Mark…it’s a toss-up between “evil” and “ignorant”. I can’t decide which one. She clearly has a serious case of TDS.
It’s fairly straight forward. Politely ask to move it, if it isn’t moved destroy it. If it’s a coat I’d write all over it, etc. Hair, I’d cut it or place my gum in it.
Eileen asking (or wishing) someone to die of cancer?? On an airline blog? Seriously WTF is going on in her mind?
Markers, always and without fail. You never know when you might find the perfect place to create a project worthy of notice. Bright markers.
I was on a flight in the before times where the woman in front of me let her hair hang down over the entertainment screen. Worse, she kept running her fingers through her hair and flicking it in my face. She didn’t respond to my request to move her hair, so when she fell asleep I braided her hair, badly I’m afraid. Boy, was she pissed off when she woke up. My 2 seatmates (and others who I’ had seen what I’d done) screamed with laughter. I’m still surprised that she didn’t file assault charges against me.
I actually could see myself just moving it and not saying anything. I mean it was directly in my space.
Ah winter is upon us. The size 4xxxl parka is a bit of a pet peeve. Often carelessly thrown into the bin without folding it becomes a space hog. And while I will not touch other people’s stuff, I have suggested they sit on it. Nicely. This toss over is something I’ve not encountered. But same advice would still apply.
I’ve not flown in years, should that change, I will fork over the extract coin, and choose Business or First Class. Hopefully, avoiding primitive behavior.
After reading this article and this comments section, I must conclude that humans are awful.
The correct answer is:
1. Ask nicely
2. Ask FA
3. Lower seatback table, then raise it again to “accidentally” trap offending object against seatback and out of your way.
“You need to remove your coat/hair/feet” is polite enough. “Please” infers they have a choice. If you don’t want to confront the coat or the hair yourself, call the FA. Don’t put up with it.
@ tizzette, have said these exact words before. No please. Just instruct. Nicely. Gets the job done!
Some dude did that to me in F the other day. I flicked his coat right back into his lap. He didn’t say a word.
There are some evil people on here, especially Eileen who hasn’t a clue about her future illness. As she wishes it upon others, so shall it be for her. Don’t doubt it for a second.
Of all the dumb stuff that gets talked about, this has got to be one of the easiest to stop. “Please move your coat/hair/beach towel/feet. Thank you.”. If you’re too timid to say this to a stranger encroaching in your space, you deserve to be inconvenienced.