Boorish passenger behavior doesn’t just happen on board the aircraft. It happens into the supposedly rarified air of airline members’ only clubs. But just as passengers have gotten worse in the air, as air travel has democratized, so too has behavior inside the lounges.
In airport lounges people shovel food and drink into their bags, and stick their feet up on the furniture, going to sleep on couches, and generally acting as though these ‘nicer’ spaces are U.N.-administered refugee camps.
One airline passenger saw another’s behavior, and decided to take reform into their own hands. The man was laying down with his feet up on a couch inside a United Airlines club. And that’s verboten.
There are two reasons everyone should know that feet don’t belong on the furniture inside an airport United Club:
- Anyone alive after 1982 should know the simple maxim: “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Dice”
- United actually has signs that instruct passengers not to put their feet on the club furniture.
As this passenger pondered what to do he considered waking up the man “gently” and asking him to remove his feet from the sofa, and he considered pointing out the behavior to club staff.
Instead he came up with something better. He moved the no shoes allowed sign onto the couch this man was sleeping on and took a photo.
Credit: Ari
What would you do if you saw a passenger sleeping with their feet on the furniture in an airport lounge?
Some of you might defend the man, but (1) it’s explicitly not allowed – lounges aren’t nap rooms; (2) he’s taking up more space than necessary inside a lounge and lounges have gotten crowded; and (3) you probably wouldn’t do this at the home of an acquaintance?
I fly to the Philippines a lot. I bring all my own sleeping gear and a pack of brand new socks. I find a place where sleeping is allowed and I do what I do.
Since I carry a pack of brand new socks, I will put my feet where ever I like. .
I would hate to be you, if you have an issue with my argyles.
Airline travel is grueling and inhumane almost without exception. We don’t know the extent of the maltreatment this man has suffered. It’s certainly not preferred for people to use lounges as “refuge camps”, but if airlines create conditions where people are stressed to the extremes, politeness becomes an expendable nicety and sheer endurance is primary.
WOW, All I’ve read is excuses for the guy laying on the furniture. Good luck!!
Lounges should have enough loungers!
It isn’t my place to point out other’s inequities. Let the people in charge of the lounge take care of it. I’m sure you’ve done things against the rules. Most of the time point something out like that causes an argument.
He must be extremely exhausted…..let it go. We didn’t know if this guy was not feeling well. Let us emphasize and understand. Thanks
I would put the sign on top of him and then get a United agent in club
Absolutely and hell no. The disrespecfull man should not
Be allowed to violate Rules,,
There for all to act like Civilized people. The passenger did not buy an Airline Fare without restrictions. No matter what other Hippie attitude people beleive or other modern thinkers say.. Modern abuse
Is dismally out of control. “FREEDOM OR RIGHTS” ARE NOT FREDOM TO ABUSE OR
INSULT OTHER WELL BREED
PEOPLES RIGHTS. THE AIRLINE IS THE BOSS. & PASSENGERS ARE UNDER THEIR CARE. THE PLANE IS NOT A KINDERGARTEN AN AIRLINES RULES ARE THE
LAW WHILE FLYING.
This guy was totally wrong. Someone should have placed this inconsiderate person’s shoes in the nearest trash can.
Flannel shirt..enough said.
Mind your business then you wouldn’t have time for his.
My name & email is correct & i dont have Website..
I cant do anything else to
Correct. What is reason.
Post my comment
I find it disrespectful and selfish to talke up space where others could sit. “You are not the only tired passenger but you are certainly the most narcissistic to think you are the only one that needs the space! Stay home!
My name & email is correct & i dont have Website..
I cant do anything else to
Correct. What is reason.
Post my comment
Don’t put your feet on the furniture, but your ass is just fine?
I identify as a shoeless sleeping human. Respect my pronouns. Looks like there was plenty of room next to him? No doubt a Karen to make an article about someone sleep at the airport lol! What’s next someone speeding on the highway. Kids selling lemonade and water without a permit haha. These people and the them and theys need to head up to Canada.
If said person has removed his or her shoes take them a put them in the trash as the must have been abandoned.
Not Revenge…Passing the Buck! Airline Lounges, just like other lounges…HAVE BOUNCERS…TOO! Problem solved!
If it was me, I would wake him up from his nap, and show him the sign not to put his feet up.
Air travel is grueling and rarely allows any kind of space for sleep, on the plane or off. Instead of whining about someone laying on the couch (socks on, shoes off, which is the most polite way), we should be pressuring airlines/airports to provide more comfortable spaces for people to catch a snooze. Airports around the world have sleep pods to rent, but US airports haven’t even managed that compromise.
Sleep is a human necessity. Airports should have spaces for it. If they don’t provide it, then we all have to just do the best with what we have.
Everyone here seems more concerned about obedience to rules rather than how the rules are crap in the first place. Let people rest.
At least he removed his shoes. As I embark on my now 16hr travel time that was 5hr before my flight was canceled, I can’t help but empathize with this man. I’m all for manners but as long as the lounge still has available seats, I’d give him a pass.
So let get this straight. I, a disabled woman, was flying Stockholm to Seattle, and because of screwups by the airline, my 3 hour layover with my 7 year old son turned into an eight hour layover. I suffer a lot of chronic pain and this meant my 15 hour trip suddenly got extended to over 20 hours. No big deal for most people. Just an inconvenience.
But for me, that extra 5 hours of sitting in an uncushioned, unergonomic chair meant that the chances of me still being able to walk by the end of my second flight were practically nil. I explained this to the airline…that my disability required me to lay down for at least a couple of hours during this extended layover. The airline refused to assist in any way. So I begged the wheelchair porter to take us to one of the lounges and I paid for access. I got food and drink for my son, took medication, and the two of us retired to a sofa in a back corner of a back room off to the side of the main area.where I laid down and he snuggled up to me to watch a movie on his iPad. For the next 6 hours, we alternated between this and me sitting up with him, having a snack and playing a game or chatting or coloring with him before another lie-down to try to keep the pain at bay…
And I am a bad person who should be shamed for putting my sock-covered feet up on the sofa?
Was the alternative of making my son watch as they carried me off the plane from Amsterdam to Seattle after hours of agony that he would have to watch at very close range a better option? Really?
Should they have kicked me and my son out of the lounge? Made me sit up the whole time and watch me devolve slowly over the next six hours, rather than build up strength to face the rest of our journey?
Or could maybe people be a little less concerned with what they THINK other people are doing, and cut others a little slack.
Because that 3.5 hours or so that my sock-covered feet were up on that couch meant the difference between inconvenience and agony (for me) and fear (for my son). Shoukd we really have been expected to make that trade to sooth someone else’s sensibilities?
(BTW, the employees in the lounge–or at least our part of it–knew what was happening and were really great to us, helping my son find snacks and drinks so I didn’t have to get up and walk around while I was trying to recover).
This is how you get ringworm. The people here are disgusting — NO, your socks are not as clean as you think, and people touch the couch with their hands — feet bring fungus, worms, sweat and more, stop defending it you heathens
This is the way of American of today. Not sure what species raised the human of today, but if I had ever done something like this, no matter how old i was, and my parents found out I am sure I would have been kicked out of the tribe.
I would have accidentally spilled my drink on his crotch.
It is sad how many people are defending this behavior. The entitled attitude that rules don’t apply is taking over in many areas of life. Common decency and consideration is becoming a thing of the past.
I would put butter packets in his shoes. And wait till he puts them on ND laugh
Those who agree with this sort of behavior most likely embrace entitlement, don’t own property, have no respect for private property and proprietary rules. You most likely are a “lawn-mower” mommy-pandered millenials or gen-z’er that embrace a Socialist agenda and won’t hold a job for over a year because you’re a chronic complainer who lacks a “nose to the grindstone” work ethics.
Be calm and suck it up.
I would have moved his shoes into the garbage.
I’d take his shoes and hide them.
It’s Guantanamo Bay for you mister.
shoes touch many gross things. personally i would prefer encountering someone polite enough to remove them before taking a nap on communal furniture.
If he was a pretty woman no one would care.
So, where is the punch line? Did you actually get paid for this pettiness?
They lose me at taking the picture. Can we do anything without caring about internet clout these days?
Taking the picture is tantamount to asking for credit after solving a problem: it proves you didn’t do it because of a belief in following the rules, or a kindness to your other airline patrons.
Just put alot of chocklet pudding in his shoes in the toe area then sit and watch his expressions after you leave that sign in fron of him quick fix for next time I bet
This is Murica, dammit! I’ll put my feet where I damn well please!
I would have read the sign as a request not to put ones ‘clad’ feet on the furniture. I expect that’s why he took off his shoes. The sign certainly does not read, no lying or sleeping on the furniture. Would this have been an issue if his ankles were on the bench and his feet off?
I think people like this belong in a refugee camp definately not an airline lounge! There is no excuse.
How was that revenge? It’s unlikely he will see the photo. Would easier to just sit down on top of his feet as though you didn’t see them. And when he complains say “Oh, sorry, didn’t see your feet there. Besides, you’re not supposed to have your feet up on the couch.” Or alternately, sit down next to him and unceremoniously push his feet off the couch.
Wow, that picture was so badazz, I’m sure it will change that man’s life forever. If there are house rules then the house needs to enforce the rules.
@NC Speaking the crap rules: There was a sign at the pool stating that if you have had diarrhea in the last so many days don’t get in the pool. Someone said it’s a good rule. But I said how are you going to enforce it? Ask the person? They may not tell the truth. Get them to drop their swimsuit and check?
Ignorance is bliss… A**holes are an epidemic. I witnessed a similar selfish ignorant act in a restaurant just last week but I’m prone to violence so had to let it go.
RAYMOND LANKFORD says:
April 16, 2023 at 10:00 am
Just put alot of chocklet pudding in his shoes in the toe area then sit and watch his expressions after you leave that sign in fron of him quick fix for next time I bet
Perhaps you should try again, Raymond.
Was he taking up too much space where it was needed for others to sit ? You can’t put your feet on the couch, but you can sure as heck put your ass on it. No difference is there is space available for this “karen” to sit.
Alot of people defending this guy and it’s pretty sad! Common f…… Courtesy he should of known before putting his feet on the couch! Just because he has no shoes there are still plenty of germs that the socks have and can leave on the couch for someone else to get. I’m the type that would of woke his azz up n told him to get his mother f….. Feet off now!
The rules are there for a reason that you are not entitled to know. If you can’t follow the rules then don’t go to places that have them. The liberal dogs deep to find an excuse for the rules being broken. The right side wants to have the man banned from the lounges for life and expelled immediately.
There is no excuse for violating the rules. I was really wanting a cheese burger so I stole yours. What’s the big deal? I was really tired so I took up space that another really tired passenger could have sat down in. No one should have to ask the inconsiderate rule breaker to mind the rules. The rule breaker relies upon people being liberal or being too timid to ask him to sit up.
Report him to the staff and let them deal with the guy. See something, say something is a beautiful rule that should apply to everyone in every situation.
The wild west wasn’t a romantic time or place filled with the freedom to do whatever you wanted. The bad guys that are probably your heroes didn’t typically die of natural causes.
Grow up and follow the rules or just stay home and watch westerns.
Who cares? The man took his shoes off it’s not like he was leaving street dirt behind for someone to sit in which is the point of the rule. This is just some busy body who needs to mind their own business.
@JB. These so called 5 star/high class people don’t always act 5 star either. Just because you have money doesn’t make you perfect.
@George, no buddy, you would hate it if I was around. I do not care that you “brought brand new socks.” Your stank ass feet are not brand new. You would not put your feet wherever you please. You sound beyond entitled.