Unruly passengers

Most of my flights are uneventful, although I have a slight fear every time that something will happen and we'll have to make use of life vests, oxygen masks and emergency exits.

Today was one of the more interesting ones. I love sitting at the emergency exit row -- it's free legroom. I try to snag the seats there when I can. Over the years I've pretty much memorized what the requirements are for assisting crew members at the emergency exits in case of an emergency. 

There was a family of three in the emergency exit rows next to me. For most flights we have to provide a verbal confirmation of our ability to meet the physical and mental requirements, and willingness to assist crew members. We all said yes before the plane took off. Halfway through the flight they started offering us snacks and drinks from a menu, though we had to pay for them. They explained that only cards were accepted. When the flight attendant reached our row, the gentleman next to me ordered something. He then fished out some dollar bills and tried to give it to the attendant.

The attendant explained that she cannot accept cash, only cards, but it was clear that the gentleman did not understand her. In fact, he barely understood English, and only the "son" (I assume it was the son) spoke some English. The attendant then went on to say that they will have to move him and the "daughter" to another seat because federal law requires that those seated at the emergency exit rows be able to speak and communicate with crew members in English. 

This went back and forth, and the son got more agitated each time. He demanded to know "why there is such a random law". He even went as far as to accuse the attendant of "profiling" them, something like they were picked on because they are foreigners, or some BS. It riles me up when people play that card, as if the law doesn't apply to them because they are special.   I pointed out, rather not-so-politely, that the English requirement is listed in the safety information pamphlet that they had agreed to at the start of the flight.

Eventually they backed down and the father and "daughter" were moved to another seat.

**********

Not 10 minutes later, the passenger in front of me starting shouting at the person in front of her. This was pretty much the classic case of legroom wars in the news a few months ago. The woman (and two other passengers to her right -- friends or family) started yelling at the man and woman in front of them. The man was trying to pay for his snacks, and in trying to reach for his wallet, accidentally reclined his seat backwards, touching the woman's knees. She became irate, and sides were taken. Flight attendants tried to calm them (she and her friends/family), while she kept shouting at them "SHUT YOUR MOUTH, SHUT UP, SHUT UP". She stood up and that was when the flight attendant raised her voice (taking many of us by surprise  ): "If you don't calm down and behave yourself, we have cuffs onboard the aircraft, and there is an air marshal on the flight who has cuffs too. Would you like us to restrain you and have the marshal arrest you and police officers take you into custody on the ground? I don't think so. Please be seated."

She sat down, but she was intentionally ignoring flight attendant's instructions for the remainder of the flight. She would use the restroom right when they ask everyone to be seated due to turbulence, and when the plane was on the ground and taxiing to its terminal, she stood up and started opening the overhead bins and grabbing her bags even though the seat belt lights were still on and the plane was still in motion. Honestly, the flight attendants were remarkably tolerant of her. I was hoping she'd do something stupid again and get into trouble. 

What a nightmare! At least you had something other than the in flight movie to keep you entertained this time.

I was once on a flight back to Japan from Brisbane, about 75% of the passengers were Japanese business men. After the meal was served the guy in front on me lit a cigarette! The flight attendant rushed over to tell him to put it out and he apologised then asked if he could move to the smoking section of the plane.



How did Jed cope without you? I bet he's happy to have you home again. 

Golly... I haven't heard of anything like that on our domestic flights.  I guess it's just a matter of time.

Those kind of incidents seem to have increased in frequency over the last two decades. Is it because more and more people are flying, or because all flights are non-smoking? Or are people already riled up because of security checks?

Ever-shrinking legroom certainly plays a role.

I really don't understand some people.  When they act like that woman they seem so childish.  I do think people are more tense about flying and of course rules have changed as they try to increase flight safety.  It seems like we hear so much more about people behaving badly.  It makes me glad we don't fly often.  I hate car trips; but at least I only have to deal directly with my own little family. 

Did you see the news article about the gentleman who got himself kicked off a flight (before it left the gate) for going off because he was told "Merry Christmas.".  Just twice.  And it was December 23.  It really makes me wonder about some people; what his reasoning was.  I also think it's incredibly rude to call him a modern day scrooge; even if he acted like that.  I'm not excusing his actions by any means; but we don't know WHY he reacted that way.  In this day and age; i'd expect more people to know that you better be on your best behavior in an airplane.  

I don't think there's enough room in an airplane to be difficult :lol3:. Too bad people can't manage to behave themselves for a few hours.

Last time I flew, we had the whole family, and my cousin's. . .wife? (they're not married but they share a house and 2 kids so I don't know what else to call her. The English language needs a word for this) said that her son was playing quietly with his dinosaurs, talking to himself and making reasonable dinosaur noises but quieter than any normal conversation, and the guy in front turned around and angrily told him to shut up or he'd beat him senseless. She fortunately didn't hear him say that (she was in the bathroom and only learned what happened when she asked the little boy why he had put his dinosaurs away and was looking sad, and the surrounding adults confirmed his story) or she probably would have been arrested . She spent the rest of the flight kicking the back of the man's seat and hoping he'd complain so she could tell him off but I think he knew he had crossed a line and he didn't say anything.

People are so angry. I was in New York City, known for its impatience. In the span of a few hours, I've seen people being yelled at on at least four occasions, and I was yelled at because I crossed the street right when the traffic sign says "Walk" instead of waiting for the car to make a right turn first. 

Ever-shrinking legroom plays a huge role. We were on a Spirit plane, which has the tiniest legroom of all airliners. I paid an extra $15 for the emergency exit row because it has 33% more space.