And the seatmate of the year award goes to….

And the seatmate of the year award goes to….

14

After a pleasant flight in Economy “Minus,” I figured my IAD to TPA flight in an exit row aisle seat couldn’t be that bad, right? WRONG!

This flight looked full, so about 20 minutes before boarding I went up to the podium to ask if they needed volunteers. The guy in front of me in line asked for a seat change, and the gate agent said “we’re oversold, no seat changes.” Great, I figured, so I asked him if they needed volunteers, and he said “no, we’re not oversold.” Eh, ok.

Anyway, I got aboard the flight to Tampa, and it was indeed quite full. As boarding wrapped up the middle seat in my row was the last one that was empty, and for a moment my seat opponent and I prayed it would stay that way. Then comes aboard a passenger that takes the middle seat. I could immediately tell it would be a long flight. She smelled like smoke and wore shorts so short that you couldn’t see them below her shirt, and trust me, this wasn’t a case where that’s a good thing.

The first thing she said was “Wow, these seats are tall, I can’t even touch the floor. I’m only 4’9″. I guess I’ll just be dangling here the whole flight.” She proceeded to sit “indian style,” and bet me $10 I couldn’t do it. Gee, ya think? I’m well over a foot taller than you, lady.

Then the flight attendant came by to do the exit row briefing. The first thing my seatmate asked the flight attendant is whether she knows how to rap, “because [she] only listens to rapping flight attendants. Have you seen that video on YouTube?”

The lady indicated she wasn’t really comfortable helping in an emergency because she was so short. Thank God, I thought, but eventually she decided she actually was willing and able. Gar!

The one saving grace was that she had brought a book. I figured she’d eventually shut up, but then the unthinkable happened. Her reading light was broken, and the natural sunlight just wasn’t enough for her. She called over the flight attendants, and after thinking it through I decided to trade my aisle seat for her middle seat, if for nothing else than getting her to shut up. The flight attendants said “you know, you don’t have to do that.” Anyway, as we taxied out my seatmate repeatedly said we should switch seats NOW, not after takeoff. I indicated the seatbelt sign was on, and if we didn’t follow it we could be arrested (I figured she wouldn’t know better either way). 😉

Once the seatbelt sign goes off we switch seats, and I tell the flight attendants they’re doing me a favor, because I’d rather have quiet for two hours than listen to that nutjob. They took good care of me.

Unfortunately when I got back to my seat she kept talking. And talking. And talking. Out of nowhere she asks me how old I am, so I just respond with “how old are you?” Anyway, eventually she reads.

As we land she asks to borrow my phone. I agreed, and she proceeded to make three calls with my phone. Finally on the way out of the plane she asks the flight attendants where the nearest smoking area is, as if they know.

What a flight….

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  1. Jslo Guest

    Dude that is hilarious...ummm...I mean for me to read I guess. How exactly does one sit indian style in a UA Y seat...with shorts so short the untucked shirt covers them...ick. rofl.

  2. first Guest

    Don't you get annoy when people ask for your age and what you do for a living then you ask them the same question they don't tell you and ignored. I have had an irritated seatmate wanting to talk and be my bestfriends for the entire flight and guess what, when the plane arrive at the gate and the seatbelt blink goes off they don't even want to say bye and just hurry their a** to exit the plane.

  3. bmvaughn Guest

    I've managed to avoid these pax, not sure how.

    Maybe I am this pax :O

  4. ual757 Guest

    I would of asked her lots of personal questions to shut her up.

    If you're gonna annoy me, well, bring it on!

  5. Stevie G New Member

    Ben- you should have a new category for 'horror'

  6. Oliver Guest

    @chitownflyer -- sorry, dude, should'a woken me up.

  7. whakojacko Guest

    How do people like her get exit row seats? Shouldnt those be for elites?

  8. chitownflyer Guest

    I have an even better story. I had a recent 9 hour TATL flight where my seatmate snored with an open mouth the whole flight and so loudly you still hear it even with your earphones on at a high volume.

  9. Oliver Guest

    Really, did you not have a headset?

    And my phone would be off limits.

    How short were her legs if she could sit indian style in a coach seat?

  10. Vince Guest

    Ben, I'm speechless. Let's just say that I've been next to that person a lot in my day and not always on the same flight. Hysterical !

  11. justin Guest

    No way would I have let her borrow my phone..... that's insane!

  12. Uniter Guest

    Holy crap, dude. I'm getting uncomfortable just reading your post! That sounds just awful.

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The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Jslo Guest

Dude that is hilarious...ummm...I mean for me to read I guess. How exactly does one sit indian style in a UA Y seat...with shorts so short the untucked shirt covers them...ick. rofl.

0
first Guest

Don't you get annoy when people ask for your age and what you do for a living then you ask them the same question they don't tell you and ignored. I have had an irritated seatmate wanting to talk and be my bestfriends for the entire flight and guess what, when the plane arrive at the gate and the seatbelt blink goes off they don't even want to say bye and just hurry their a** to exit the plane.

0
bmvaughn Guest

I've managed to avoid these pax, not sure how. Maybe I am this pax :O

0
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