Clipping your toenails and flinging your hair

Yeeks. No, no, and no.

The behavior of some people is amazing. Once you have seen something outrageous you think.it can't be topped but just wait! Like the saying goes "you ain't seen nothing yet"!

The closest I have come to that kind of behavior was a flight from Paris to Montreal. I was in the middle section of my row (a two-aisle seating arrangement), in the left-hand aisle seat.

Behind me was a group of Indian woman in colorful, long dresses (not sure of the term for them). Not long after takeoff I felt something brush against my left arm on the arm rest, and when I looked at it I saw that the woman seated behind me had slipped her feet from her sandals and propped her bare left foot up on my arm rest, immediately behind my elbow. It was admittedly a small foot, but w-a-y too close for comfort.

I leaned out into the aisle, looked at her, and said in English "It's an arm rest, not a foot rest."

She took it down.

My toenail clippers have the built-in compartment that catches at least half of the clippings ... the ones that go backward, not the ones that go whizzing forward into the hair of the person in the seat in front of me. But those I collect up and put in my empty Coke cup. So I really don't see the problem. ?

Years ago I suffered a flight from Jamaica with a woman reclined into my lap and with her hair hanging into my food. She stayed reclined during takeoff, mealtime, and landing. I alerted the FA who informed me she was unable to ask the person to move hair or straighten because she was "a very important person". Really??

And more recently we were on a flight with 100 empty seats. Saw a lot of bare feet in air or shoved between seats. I just wouldn't do that even if seat was empty.

Just disgusting. Where do these people think they are? Maybe more importantly , where and by whom were these slobs raised? I've experienced the bare foot on the armrest, too. Gross.

Not sure which is worse. I'll go with body odor, way too much cologne, and poor dental hygiene. Whew...

Yikes. Where’s Emily Post when you need her?

I hope Mr E response is tongue in cheek.

This is all part of the degeneration of our society in general. There are no social norms. Everyone gets to do what they want. There are few sanctions. And even those lightly enforced. In the past embarrassment might have been a stop. Now, no one is embarrassed by their own behavior. In fact, they revel in it.
Perhaps it is a product of our boomers, who came of age and introduced the me world. Me, me, me. No restrictions on behavior, sex, drugs and rock and rock. That sort of thing. Freedom. Yeah, freedom. Now we reap the generations since who do not have any memory of a more considerate world when out and about and dealing with other people.
And why does it take to be considerate? Not really all that much. If you look the behaviors of clipping nails or hanging hair over seats, I mean, really, how much of a curtailment on that behavior would that actually put you out to not do it?
Flying is a locked and loaded situation. Captives, we all need to be more considerate, not less.
Boorish people now abound, and proliferate. Boorish people when confronted make themselves into the victim. Your simple request for consideration makes you the aggressor.

People do weird things on long flights. One guy decided to do his daily workout, laid down on the floor in the aisle next to my seat and started doing sit ups and push ups.

Also had a “recliner” lean back so far I couldn’t read my book without resting it on his head. Wish I had a private jet.

I would definitely move the hair covering my screen, no hesitation. We’ve graduated to premium economy but hubby says we are not old enough for business class. ??? He rationalizes that we are youth enough to do 2-3 trips a year thus the trip money has to stretch further. When we are older and down to one trip a year we can maybe move up.
Not that everyone in premium economy behaves civilly, but so far we haven’t seen anything too gross.

Never seen any of it. But if one hundred in 2 billion passengers does it, it becomes internet click bait and we discuss it.

Not that everyone in premium economy behaves civilly, but so far we haven’t seen anything too gross.

I will never return to main cabin economy seating, have flown in premium economy exclusively to Europe for years. And I agree with this observation of not having seen anything "too gross" in PE, certainly nothing like what I remember in cattle class a decade ago...I do remember people removing their shoes and socks in economy, putting their bare feet in the gap between seats in front of them, and it is truly disgusting. I have never seen anything like that in PE, knock on wood...

Well, maybe things have gotten worse, or not. I will never forget the young man who, on our trip to Japan way back in 1987, was seated next to me. After takeoff he proceeded to clip his toenails. Perhaps the perception that civility is declining stems at least in part, from the enormous increase in air travel and from the ever worsening treatment of passengers by the airlines.

Maybe this is the real reason we can’t have sharp instruments on the plane. Hair flipped over the seat? Back in the day we could have given them a haircut while they slept. ; )

I had a guy in the office across from mine for a year who thought clipping his fingernails frequently at his desk was fine….

I will repost from an earlier topic...

LOL. Reminded me of the time I was flying for business and a young women in her late 20's with very long hair, reclined and flipped it back over the seat in front of me on to my tray table. While it was very attractive hair, it was almost as gross as the Diet Coke clinging to her hair from the cup I kept soaking her hair in before asking her to remove it. I'm smiling as I write this because of the memory of the arrogance and displeasure she displayed when I asked her to remove it. I wish I had been eating soup!!!

On our flight back from Rome last October, we booked Premium Select on Delta. The man in front of me lowered his seat back all the way for the entire ten hour flight. It was a daytime flight and he was not sleeping. He kept it back for the lunch that was served and while he watched movies. My husband and I had bruises on our thighs because we had to squeeze past his seat to use the restroom. I was not careful when I left my seat and probably bumped the back of his seat when I had to get up. I stewed the whole flight and debated whether to say something to him or the flight attendant. What do others of you do in such a situation? i felt like we wasted our money on booking Premium Select because I had such a small space in front.

Never seen any of it. But if one hundred in 2 billion passengers does it, it becomes internet click bait and we discuss it.

Some deep truth in this comment. Amazingly I've never experienced any of these social foibles on any flight. Certainly nothing to develop the vapors over, yet it seems these are par for the course on every flight every day for everyone else.

Hahahaha Threadwear !! Good for you !!!

Maybe passengers need to pass thru a nail salon at airports, before going thru Security.

And you have to keep your liquids in a quart Ziplock bag … perhaps long hair needs a shower cap.

People stuck in a middle seat absolutely get first dibs on the armrests, but it would be nice if they didn’t hog them the whole flight.

I was sent the survey story yesterday by Kayak. They asked several times about assorted footwear, are sandals OK, and high heels, and sneakers, and boots. All got more than 50% approval, to varying degrees. As if the style mattered. It was silly reading everything being reported.

Other responses indicated that most folks agreed that the window seat passenger gets control of the window shade, and reading lights are the prerogative of the person sitting beneath the light.

Cutting past people when deplaning was not appreciated, but a surprising number of respondents said they didn’t approve of people being the last off the plane. If you’re not in a hurry, and for some reason don’t indicate you want off before people who sat many rows behind you, what’s the issue? So many people are in a rush to get on the plane early; maybe some want to linger in that environment.

Some of the survey questions posed odd situations, but extending body parts into someone else’s space would seem to need no debate. Yet it’s happening!

I've had people stick their feet on my armrests on more than one occasion. (They weren't of any identifiable ethnic group, either, so I don't see why that is relevant.)

That's when my elbow "accidentally" lands on the offending foot. "Whoops!"

This may be controversial but here goes.... I don't understand why some individuals think the overhead bins are only for those with "wheelies". If I pay for a seat and have only a small backpack and a jacket why is it rude for me to put them in an overhead bin? I always check my large backpack for various reasons. Why should I have to think about saving space in an overhead bin to accommodate someone who didn't want to bother/pay for checking their luggage? Don't get me wrong, I don't begrudge anyone who chooses to only bring a carry-on. I just don't want to be forced to give up space in a bin for them. I paid for the space too! Can someone further explain this to me? I just don't get it!

Traveler Girl

People stuck in a middle seat absolutely get first dibs on the
armrests, but it would be nice if they didn’t hog them the whole
flight.

Why first dibs? Especially when you end your comment with this;

Some of the survey questions posed odd situations, but extending body
parts into someone else’s space would seem to need no debate. Yet it’s
happening!

If we're calling the dibs game, I get first dibs on the overhead above my seat.

My husband and I had bruises on our thighs because we had to squeeze
past his seat to use the restroom. I was not careful when I left my
seat and probably bumped the back of his seat when I had to get up.

Same.

Traveler girl, you are so spot on.
My small bag is also a carryon, so what gives?

You can see by replies that even on this forum, people are on different sides. I guess it is them, and us. Hey, that’s the US now.

Regarding various things of all sizes in the overhead bin and under seats, last week we watched people getting off of a Ryanair flight and within 5 minutes of the last passenger walking down the stairs, there was no jetway for our flight at Stansted, our line of people in the terminal were walking outside and boarding. (Don’t get me going on how that plane couldn’t have been cleaned in 5 minutes!)

It made me look differently about the strict rules Ryanair imposes about number and size of bags allowed in the cabin and where they are stowed. People were not fumbling luggage, backpacks, purses, jackets, pillows, lunch bags, shopping bags etc. getting off and on the plane. I’ve never seen a plane board and deplane so fast. It was kind of amazing.

I’m not one of the 73% who thinks it’s ok to stow various little things in the overhead bin. I’ve watched too many people hold up the whole aisle when it comes to fishing around in the bin to retrieve their things when it’s time to deplane.

Who are these 8% that think it's OK??🤢

I suspect my ex-co-worker/ex-cubicle neighbor who thought mid-afternoon in an otherwise quiet office was the perfect time to clip his nails.

Clipping your toenails

The entertainment value of seeing someone able to contort themself to do that might be worth it.

For those that move to Premium Economy, or business for that matter, to escape the lesser classes of people that clip toe nails and the like. To think that people who are less finacially secure or less finacially flamboyant are not as civilized would put the individual presumeing that dead center in the class that they are attempting to escape.

The behavior being discussed is one in many, many thousands in any seat class. In well over 150 flights over 20 years I have never, ever, experienced it ... and almost all of my flights are the cheap seats. I have been in good economy seats maybe a dozen times and business class exactly twice. Yes, I am one of those low class travelers you detest. To be honest, I have probably met more inconsiderate rich people than inconsiderate poor people.

As for the overhead vs under the seat. Consideration would dictate that one use the underseat. But failing that, do what the flight attendents dictate. Passengers entered into a contract to do that. And they will dictate using the underseat. On my recent Ryan flight the flight attendent saw me putting my rather small backpack in the overhead and asked me to put it under the seat. I held up my personal item, smiled, and he understood and I put the backpack in the overhead (and the personal item under the seat). As a matter of fact, almost every flight i have my personal item under the seat. The only exception might be if the plane is loaded and I look up and see room in the overhead.

I also have no gripe with the cheap seats size. The fact that the airline has packed in a few more rows allows me to travel more often. The fact that the airline is charging extra for the permium people to have 3 more inches also subsidizes my cheap seat, so; thank you. I am 6 foot tall and weigh, well lets say a tad too much. My knees never hit the seat in front on any flight. My solution for a little additional comfort is simple, an asile seat and I get up and walk from time to time.

Seat reclining. I do it. I enjoy it. Unless the flight attendent asks me not to. The person behind me knows what they bought. They didnt have to buy it; there are options. And I bought my ticket knowing full well the person in front has the same rights that I have.

Arm rests? On the asile or the window you are guranteed one arm rest. The center seat sucks, I let them have the two arm rests. I still get to my destination and dont obsess over someone haveing something that I don't have I dont notice the loss.

Some flights can be tiring, but its rare that I dont have an "okay" flight.

What did i miss? Rant over.

This is why we can't have nice things.

Why first dibs?

It’s only right. They get stuck in the worst seat on the plane, and both the window and aisle occupants get at least one armrest all to themselves. The least their row companions can do is allow them to not be forced to sit with their hands in their lap the entire flight. Spectators at a theater or hockey game have to jostle on both sides of their seat for arm rests - different scenario.

Especially when you end your comment with this; Some of the survey questions posed odd situations, but extending body
parts into someone else’s space would seem to need no debate. Yet it’s happening!

I’m referring to arms/legs/hair/previously-attached trimmings thrust into the seat space behind (or in front of) the offender. The edge of an elbow on a 2- inch wide armrest is not at all like an arm/leg/foot/head draped over a headrest or into the face or onto the shoulder or lap (or whatever) of the person next door, in front, in back, or diagonally. Cut the middle seat person a tiny bit of slack, and don’t insist that you get the whole armrest the cc entire flight. Maybe they’ll reward your courtesy with some of their own. It’s not a difficult concept.

If we're calling the dibs game, I get first dibs on the overhead above my seat.

Sounds fair to me, as it did to the majority of the Kayak survey. But you might have to be prepared to share there, too.

To Mr E,
I don't mind if people recline their seat back when sleeping on an overnight flight, but to recline the seat immediately after take-off on a daytime flight and keep it reclined for the whole ten hours of a flight, even while eating, I think is very inconsiderate. You say you do it and enjoy it. You might consider at least raising the seat back up while eating to give the person behind you a little respite from having your seat back over the top of their tray table. It would be nice for people to have some slight courtesy on flights but I guess people feel they should always do only what makes them happy, not what might be courteous to those around them. A sad commentary for the state of affairs in this world.

"To think that people who are less finacially secure or less finacially flamboyant are not as civilized would put the individual presumeing that dead center in the class that they are attempting to escape." Agreed!

Regarding small items in the overhead bin, I don't do it, but I fail to see how it slows down deplaning. On every single of the dozens and dozens of flights I've been on, without exception, people are standing and waiting for the jetway or staircase to be rolled up and the door to open. It's not the people that are gathering their stuff that's the holdup.

Thank you Threadwear!

You might consider at least raising the seat back up while eating to
give the person behind you a little respite from having your seat back
over the top of their tray table.

Terry, that is always dictated by the flight attendants, makes good sense, and is considerate. Never had anyone intentionally doing it to me. Ocassionally someone forgets or doesn't realize and the flight attendants reminds them.

Follow the rules and relax for the ride and if someone does clip their nails you have a great story to tell.

I just don't share in the kind of stress I read here.

For clarification - The backpack I put in the overhead is 18" x 12" x 8" so not really "small" IMO. It does fit under a seat if it needs to. I travel with my husband who has to place it in the overhead bin for me (see below). I also take a smaller backpack that fits under the seat and. which fits in the larger backpack for boarding and disembarking. Sometimes I do put the larger carry on backpack under the seat as sometimes persons who don't need/want an overhead bin are allowed to board relatively early. In that case I can get all settled in before most others board.

If I wanted to worry (which I don't) I would be worried about being hit by a hard sided case that fits in an overhead bin. Again, I don't worry about it. I've been flying since I was 10 years old (57 years) and have never experienced a situation where the overhead bin doors came open. I have been hit and bumped many times by individuals loading and unloading their hard sided cases in and out of bins. I don't get upset about it. Sometimes I do say "Ouch"!

My Dad worked for an airline so I know to always do what a flight attendant asks. They have a tough job. And always have had. I've never had a flight attendant tell me where to place my carry on luggage. But if I did I would obey.

If I ever have occasion to fly alone I will need to think hard about my carry on luggage. I would definitely need to check a bag because I am short and unable to safely lift over 10 pounds. And I would have to put my backpack under the seat. My husband says someone would help me, but I wouldn't want to trouble anyone. I will say if I ever win a lottery (unlikely as I rarely purchase a ticket) I will be traveling in business class for the comfort, not to get away from those traveling economy.

As to atrocious behaviors I try to remind myself that before air travel became more affordable many people flying now have had no experience traveling when it was a real "occasion". Growing up I was required to wear a dress or skirt. No slacks. This requirement was because I was traveling on a standby pass basis as a perk of my Dad's employment. Today I rarely even travel in jeans. So I try to keep that in mind when I see people dressing or behaving in ways which I believe to be inappropriate and/or obnoxious. They may not know any better.

I don't really care where travelers put their legal sized carry on luggage. Just wanted to know people's opinion on the subject.

Traveler Girl

treemoss2 hit the nail on the head.

I have a side hustle delivering part-time (when not at my teaching-coaching job) for UPS and Amazon. This allows us to travel premium economy for flights over 2 or so hours.

Screw coach for long flights. It blows.

Sorry to be politically incorrect, but the quality of people in premium is better, period. It's like a nice neighborhood compared to the rough side of town that has situations that make the newspaper every other day. Sorry, but it's true.

@treemoss

This is all part of the degeneration of our society in general. There are no social norms. Everyone gets to do what they want. …….. Now, no one is embarrassed by their own behavior. In fact, they revel in it.

You and BigMike pretty much are spot on, IMO.

While I haven’t posted much on this site, I’m a pretty seasoned traveler, with maybe as many flight miles as anyone here. And I’ve flown with colleagues that have more miles than I, and that is scary. The common courtesy of flyers has slowly disintegrated over the years, could be roughly proportional to the race-to-the-bottom of ticket prices turning aircraft into buses. A broad generalization but you typically get a different category of diners at a fast food joint than you do at a fine restaurant. And before someone jumps on that, it has nothing to do with “good” or “bad” people.

All those past hard miles provided me the well earned privilege of the option to fly up front, and my wife and I do just that. More space, privacy, amenities, bin space for carry-on! and better food. Yes, you pay for it. No, I don’t look “up” at the folks flying in the front nor do I look “down” on the folks in back. Everyone has their budget and hopefully spend accordingly. As Mister E opined, I am likely lowering the cost of his ticket. Your welcome.

I have experienced some pretty crazy stuff (outrageous / disgusting / amazing / nuts - depending on your tolerance) over my travels, but they have been pretty far between. Social media loves and feeds on the outliers.

Traveling today I’m satisfied enough when the flight is on time, the scotch is a good, the FA’s reasonably courteous and we safely arrive at a destination that is leisure based and not work.

Safe travels.

So now those flying in economy are lower quality people? What an insulting overgeneralization. FYI, snobbery is not a virtue.

I blow in the the rough side of town 😮☹️

I agree with TravelerGirl regarding use of the bin over one’s seat. I usually check my carry on bag (normally around 30 lbs.) because it’s free to me, due to having a loyalty credit card and I like the freedom from having to schlep it through the airport and into the overhead bin. Therefore, I DO feel entitled to put my personal item (RS Civita Day pack pack, stuffed full) in the bin over my seat and my handbag under the seat if I want to.

Regarding the behavior of people in economy vs. premium economy vs. business class, I’ve seen obnoxious behavior in all 3. Like many of you, I’ve “graduated “ over the years to be able to afford to pay for the seats up front with extra perks and more comfort. It seems to me that the types of annoying behavior in the “cheap seats” may be due to real physical discomfort and understandable resentment toward those in the more comfortable sections. Sometimes, those in the higher price seats come across as entitled, with a “me first” attitude, perhaps because they’ve paid more. I think flying is very stressful for many people, and they often don’t handle it well.

may be due to real physical discomfort and understandable resentment
toward those in the more comfortable sections.

1. Seats aren't that bad.
2. The assumption of resentment requires the assumption that the people in the expensive class are more wealthy. Which, if one thinks that way, one might be surprised to learn that by and large it probably isn't true. I suspect there are as many in the cheap seats that look forward and think how careless others, who are less well off than they are, can be with their money.
   

Truth told, I suspect in most instances, it about what you most value, 3" on a single flight or season box seats at the Opera. 3 trips over seas or 5 trips overseas? Never good to project your values.

https://www.quora.com/Do-rich-people-ever-fly-coach
And there 100's of similar stories.

MisterE, I don’t agree that any resentment people in Economy may feel toward those in PE or Biz is because they MAY be wealthier. I do travel in Economy or Premium Economy, and when I do, I admit I envy the extra COMFORTS of those in PE or Business class. For example, even when I’m sitting in PE, the FA tells us we must use the toilets in the back of the plane because the ones in front are reserved for First Class. I resent that, because the ones in back are miles away, necessitating a walk past many people whose feet are often in the aisle. I would prefer to walk by 6 rows instead of 30 rows. Not a huge deal, but annoying to me.

I respect your opinion that coach seats are very comfortable. I happen to disagree and I believe that this discomfort sometimes contributes to bad behavior on planes.

I just flew again this past weekend. I almost always fly premium as it allows me to board earlier and the seats are just a tad bit more civilized. And yes, my seat mates tend to be a bit better (no pajamas etc). On my flight home yesterday, I did see two different people go up and use the restroom in first class. Nothing was said to them. One was an elderly lady that used a cane and struggled, but I mentally gave her a free pass. She was in premium, but the other was a lady maybe 30 or so, and she came up from way back in the back of the plane. Rather frustrating.

On one flight on Air France from CDG to SFO, we were in the upper part of the plane and there was sort of a shelf along the window wall. There was a French family behind us, and the mom proceeded to take her socks and shoes off and rest here foot on that shelf, right next to my arm. Disgusting! I just pushed her feet out of my way, but it still gave me the heebie jeebies.

All these behaviours are horrible when you’re on along flight, but my gripe is people who smell horrible.
Soap and water is free last time I checked.
Shower, wash your hair, brush your teeth and wear clean clothing before you plan to fly .
Please.
I’m begging you.

Unfortunately, inappropriate and disrespectful behavior is not limited to flying.

I’ve worked retail for over 38 years, all of them in large supermarkets. While we’ve all seen a downturn in how people act over the decades, the descent has picked up speed in the past couple years. As any long term retail worker knows, there has always been “one of those” customers, but the level of selfishness and entitlement we now see daily has reached new levels (depths)…across all social and economic levels.

That said, my biggest pet peeve when flying is when people from the back of the plane aggressively push forward, physically blocking people from getting out of their row when deplaning.

wyattsaunt, i understand. Didn't mean to be too harsh, just amazed by the social prejudices.

But I guess I will always be "one of those people". 🤣🤣🤣

On my flight home yesterday, I did see two different people go up and use the restroom in first class. Nothing was said to them. One was an elderly lady that used a cane and struggled, but I mentally gave her a free pass. She was in premium, but the other was a lady maybe 30 or so, and she came up from way back in the back of the plane. Rather frustrating.

Why? Maybe all the other toilets were occupied and she was having digestive issues, or was sick. We're all human, we all use the bathroom, even those of us "way back in the plane" do the exact same things in the bathroom as the "first class" people. 🤔

On my flight home yesterday, I did see two different people go up and use the restroom in first class. Nothing was said to them. One was an elderly lady that used a cane and struggled, but I mentally gave her a free pass. She was in premium, but the other was a lady maybe 30 or so, and she came up from way back in the back of the plane. Rather frustrating.

Why? Maybe all the other toilets were occupied and she was having digestive issues, or was sick. We're all human, we all use the bathroom, even those of us "way back in the plane" do the exact same things in the bathroom as the "first class" people. 🤔

I've always assumed that the different parts of the cabin are sectioned off and those areas are for those who paid to be in that part of the cabin. Well, sort of. First class cabin passengers can use all the toilets in all the cabins; Business class passengers can use toilets from business to economy, and economy class passengers can use only economy. I thought that was the custom. I have seen flight attendants enforce that.

But that said, I'm now recalling that this is for when each section of the cabin is sectioned off by a curtain. Do they not do that anymore when the plane is cruising? Don't flight attendants pull down the curtains between each section? And sometimes the curtains even have a sign that says something like "For business class passengers only" and so forth.

Before 3-1-1 laws were instituted ( which, let's remember was to make it harder for someone to assemble a liquid bomb on board) I sat across the aisle from a woman who whipped out a 11 ounce bottle of nail polish remover, cotton balls, etc, went to bare nails and then re-did multiple layers of polish and top coat in a 4 hour flight. I also remember a guy pulling an apple and a paring knife out of a plastic bag. Oh, the wild west days of air travel, remember smoking sections?

Around 2019 I flew to California with a work colleague, she was a couple rows behind me across aisle so I could see her. She opened up a bottle of liquid bandage which has a very strong chemical smell. I watched the flight attendants start a fast security walk thru and said to one " its that blonde woman in the blue coat" HAH

On the clipping of fingernails; I used to attend a church where the same guy trimmed his fingernails every week during the sermon. The pastor finally had a chat w him asking him to do that particular deed at home.

Now, no one is embarrassed by their own behavior. In fact, they revel in it.
Perhaps it is a product of our boomers, who came of age and introduced the me world. Me, me, me. No restrictions on behavior, sex, drugs and rock and rock. That sort of thing. Freedom. Yeah, freedom. Now we reap the generations since who do not have any memory of a more considerate world when out and about and dealing with other people.

I am so tired of Boomers being blamed for everything, just like I am tired of Millennials being called lazy and rude, etc. We should stop dividing people by many ways, by generations is just one of them. My parents were polite and considerate (as were their friends), as do I try to be (and as are my friends), and as is my daughter (actually, I think she is even more considerate) and her friends. I don't think 20 years worth of people can be lumped together as the same. IMO, there is a subset of every age group that has been allowed to vent hostilities that they would have kept to themselves 15 or so years ago. In other words, there will be misbehaving people in any class and lovely people in any class.

For years I have flown economy and might again. However, as my older self, I have found it easier/faster to get on and off the plane towards the front of the plane so I choose the economy plus type now, usually using some points, (and business class once...didn't see the big deal, but it was 'free').

I just returned from a round trip: Boston/Atlanta on Delta. I hadn't flown Delta for years, if I recall correctly. It was a Boston flight crew...don't know if this makes a different. The flight attendants were very clear with directions: 1. That little crossbody under your jacket needs to go into the personal item. I did. 2. The bins are for wheeled luggage to be put into the bin and turned on its side. Most people did and I was thrilled my case fit easily. And no one had to check their bag on both full flights. 3. Small bags under the seat. I did. 3. Jackets don't go into the overhead. I usually have a grocery bag to put my jacket in under the seat...as I've never flown in an even cool plane. I roast. Sigh.

Getting on and off the flight, no one was told to go by rows, but both flights were relaxed and most people remain sitting until their aisle's turn, but even those standing waited their turn. What a relaxed deplaning both times. Now I will say I was in rows 13 and 15. When boarding the line by me seemed to go on forever and I can't image how long this A321neo was, seemed like it must have been the longest plane ever! I had not looked. LOL

I noticed on both flights the business person in the seat next to me did not follow the rules for putting away their personal item and laptop, but I recognize that the middle seat person must be a contortionist to remove anything from their personal item while in the middle seat, if it is at all possible, so their laptops and in one case PI remained out.

I am rambling because I was impressed on how well run the process was and how little obvious rebellion there was. Now, I might add I was kind of frightened by all that is said about the airport in Atlanta. Returning to Boston, from entering the terminal to my gate, I think it was the shortest I have ever walked, even compared to Greensboro NC or Providence RI decades ago. I will say that I think this short walk was helped by a man in a suit and me in a camel blazer being pulled out of a line and taken across to hidden ticket agents with no line. Because we were dressed nicely? Dunno

I've tried to adjust to any problems I see relating to my comfort. I'll suffer with the seat reclined in front of me, but I must use it to get out of the seat and I'm not sorry. I can no longer contort myself in that way. Hair over the back of the seat in front of me? I have managed to have the person remove it with no words. So...who were the people who bothered to answer the survey? That's always my question...

And I'm surprised at this one:

Hang up that phone. After you land, 69 percent of passengers find it rude for others to make a phone call while waiting to deplane.

This is all part of the degeneration of our society in general. There are no social norms. Everyone gets to do what they want. There are few sanctions. And even those lightly enforced. In the past embarrassment might have been a stop. Now, no one is embarrassed by their own behavior. In fact, they revel in it.

Very well said indeed! AMEN! I'll leave it to the sociologist to decide which generation started it all, but my observations indicate that people born in the 40s, 50s, and 60s rarely engage in the behaviors listed in prior posts. There are exceptions, of course, as there are to any general statement. But lumped all together, calling a large segment of the population the "me, me, me, me" generation(s) seems accurate. A neighbor recently commented on the behavior of some of that group by saying "I'm just glad I'm on the way out, instead of just starting out".

That said, my biggest pet peeve when flying is when people from the back of the plane aggressively push forward, physically blocking people from getting out of their row when deplaning.

I literally have never experienced this once in 5 decades of flying.

I will add that I prefer an aisle seat, and when the seat belt light goes off, I immediately get up and stand in the aisle next to my seat. And I am a fairly big guy, so anyone thinking about pushing past me has another think coming...

But lumped all together, calling a large segment of the population the "me, me, me, me" generation(s) seems accurate.

The one constant when I was growing up was that the Baby Boomers were known as the "Me" generation, totally obsessed with themselves. IOW, whatever generation the 20-somethings belong to, that is the "Me" generation.

IOW, whatever generation the 20-somethings belong to, that is the "Me" generation.

It's not just the 20-somethings. There are many (not all, of course) who are much older who belong to that "ME" generation. It would be nice if, at age 30, a switch could be thrown to cause a change. Unfortunately that's not the case. Just my opinion.