Airlines around the world are installing doors on their business class seats to create a sense of privacy for customers. The doors aren’t usually very tall, and someone walking down the aisle could look in on you. But seeing fewer people around you feels more private.
But it doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars to create a sense of solitude on a long flight. One passenger on board an Airbus A340 set up a tent around their economy seat. Another passenger filmed them, offering “When you take social distancing to the next level at 30,000 feet.”
Caught my neighbor turning economy class into a VIP section. Has anyone else experienced this on their flight?
@vashak27 When you take social distancing to the next level at 30,000 feet 😂✈️ #HighFlyer #AirplaneMode #FlightFails #SocialDistancing #EconomyClassLuxury #TravelTikTok #FunnyMoments #Airlines #PlaneLife #Trending #Viral ♬ original sound – Giga Vashakidze
We’ve seen people use this product for personal protection, to keep away viruses and other germs, but it’s see-through:
Body Pod in Delta First Class, Credit: Under The Weather
And there’s a famous video of of passenger constructing a fort out of a row in coach using plastic wrap. She even gave herself a roof while a passenger across the aisle from her filmed the pre-departure construction project. This appears to have been a training film, albeit based on real life events.
The whole thing began to look like a giant spider web, and then she… covered her face in plastic wrap
To be clear, this isn’t permitted for safety reasons, since they can slow down emergency evacuations and potentially impede use of oxygen masks. It’s better to buy yourself an extra seat for distancing.
I love it; although, I don’t know if it’s a safety hazard.
That’s kooky. I’ve seen pilots install curtains around their seat in business class for crew rest on intl flights before.
For distancing, if one buys 9 seats (row of 3 and the row in front and the row in back of it), I have doubts that one would be able to police the area against other passengers moving to the empty seats. For 2 people traveling, 9 seats would not always be out of reach in terms of pricing.
@Derek: I have bought a row of four economy seats before for international travel where business-class was just too much. Delta gives you four boarding passes.
I’m a FA for 32 years. That is a safety hazard that would prevent the person next to you and other actually from getting out the the plane safely and is definitely not allowed.
Sick Yankees….just disgusting people
Guess what? That first pic would not be allowed as per FAA regulation you can’t hang anything from over head bins!
If I was in a middle seat next to that thing, I’d be totally pi**Ed at:
* being visually blocked/intimidated by a tall wall
* being physically blocked from ready access to the aisle
* being prevented from communicating with/receiving service from . flight attendants
Thiis thing should NOTbe allowed
I kinda like it? It’s weird, but so much of being on a plane is weird now.
I think they need to raise a ticket prices to keep weirdos like this off the airplane back in the day before the regulation. It was a jet setting crowd. Today is just bus passengers
I was on a short Greyhound trip recently where a rider was using an umbrella and blanket to cover herself. Her obvious medical condition made me glad she was doing this. Thank goodness the trip was only 150 miles.
Back as a kid, I used to make tents on flights using the airlines’ blankets. And in the many years since, I’ve also seen some parents/child-accompanying adults make some sort of tents on the flights to try to get kids to sleep better on board by blocking out light that way.
By the way, what’s with Finnair no longer having pillows for all in economy class on TATL flights and then having no air sickness bags on short-haul flights? Greenwashing? The airline is also killing off the print version of its in-flight magazine.
After the ‘underwear bomber’ used a blanket to make a tent and hide his bomb assembly most airlines have banned the tenting practice…
I think all airlines should remove horrible coach & replace with Premium Economy!
Ridiculous.
I frequently fly over to Europe. Wish we could afford business class every time. Premium Class is definitely worth it.
There are always stupid rules that are in place to keep any innovative person from having even a slightly-better experience than the other 200 on the plane.
If Joe Blow needs to feel some “fake” privacy in order to remain calm on the flight, then let him. Don’t tell us crap about “against rules to hang a 3-lb blanket from the overhead bins that normally hold 500 lbs”. Y’all are willing to let guys pretend they’re women if they “need” to, but can’t let a person pretend they’re alone when they’re just desperately trying to survive a few hours surrounded by gross strangers (you) who might touch them or breath on them….
Seems like people pick & choose what behaviors they’ll be tolerant of… And if it’s a person who says they just need privacy, everyone CONDEMNS them for taking a plane, or says “Our airplane rules won’t let you!!!” (But hey, our rules let men go in girls bathrooms and we’re A-Okay with that.)
Everyone in the world knows that kids can relax and sleep better when they feel safe in a confined space like a play-tent. Let adults have that feeling of safety too.
If it doesn’t harm you, then STFU. And don’t bawl that looking at someone else’s privacy shield “harms” you,.
When people are desperately trying to mind their own business AND stay out of yours — quit harassing them.