Recliners vs. Uprights: Tighter Seating Puts Passengers at Odds

Wall Street Journal ^ | 28 November 2006 | SCOTT MCCARTNEY

[MoochPooch]

Sorry, my wife also remembers the old days, she was raised in an airline family and still works in the industry. She remembers having to wear white gloves when they travelled.

I remember that era, too.

To this day I still like to "dress up" for air travel, especially since flying is still a once-in-a-while treat for me. The style, though, is "dressy casual" -- not the total slob look I see nowadays, but not overly formal, either.

My theory is, you feel different about yourself when you look nice. Hopefully, people treat you better.

[jude24]

A few weeks ago, I flew a tiny commuter plane into La Guardia. I barely fit - and I am not exactly the biggest guy to walk into the room.

[allen08gop]

Well, yeah if you can afford it. I was trying to be a bit more pragmatic. Besides, Lears are mighty fun on take off.

First private jet ride was on a GII. Spoiled for life.

Some guy wrote: GII's are as fast a lightning and make their own thunder! Gotta love those two RR Speys.

But then, that was back in 1978 or so.

[CORedneck]

I like that. It would have been fun to be the "fly on the wall" to see this transpire ;) BTW, how was the note passed anonymously ?

It takes a few hours to fly that route so I finally passed an anonymous note to the parents, "Would you consider putting a little Vodka in your baby's orange juice?"

The father leapt up and looked around with a very evil look in his eye. I slid down in the seat lol. But the parents got out a bottle, gave it to the kid, and silence ensued. I think the baby's ears were plugged from ascending, and drinking the bottle unplugged them.

[CORedneck]

I flew on private plane when I worked for this one company. It was nice, no security to deal with, park at a small airport, therefore, no parking hassle. I am sure that has changed since 9/11.

[GretchenM]

Everyone on that flight (I think it was a 727 so there really was no way not to hear the kid) wanted that baby to stop its nonstop screaming that had gone on for at least 30-45 minutes. I wrote the note, folded it over, wrote "To the baby's father" on the outside, handed it to the person next to me and said, "Would you pass this up, row by row, to the father of that baby?" he willingly obliged, as did everyone else between me and the father. I was about six rows back on the opposite side so it was easy to look quite innocent. What a relief it was when dad got out that baby bottle.

[allen08gop]

As I understand it, not by much overall for domestic flights. There are some additional security checks like checking manifests with HS and that makes things tougher if you have last minute unscheduled passengers.

International has always been a bit more cumbersome.

But the smaller airports and less stress combined with saving time makes Private air a winner.

What will be really interesting to see is how an real air taxi network does.

[mombonn]

I'm so glad I have no need to fly any longer.

[colorado tanker]

When my kids were younger, toddler but no longer lapchild, stewardesses from hell twice forced my wife to strap them in even though the seatbelt light was not on. They cried because all they wanted to do was sit on mommy's lap. Once the aircraft wasn't even in the air. The pilot pushed back from the gate to be "on time" and then informed us of an air traffic hold. We sat on the tarmac over an hour while my daughter screamed because the b$%^&h wouldn't let my wife hold her. Needless to say, we didn't get any free drinks, either.

That said, you need to use parental common sense. Bottles when the kids are nursing and snacks and/or gum when they're older to relieve the ear pressure. Also, a backpack with games and coloring things is essential. Don't tell anyone, but we've even resorted to allergy medicine for longer trips. Makes 'em drowsy.

[GretchenM]

When my kids were younger, toddler but no longer lapchild, stewardesses from hell twice forced my wife to strap them in even though the seatbelt light was not on. They cried because all they wanted to do was sit on mommy's lap.

I would have lodged a formal and written complaint with that airline with names, dates, and places and I would have made a big stink out of it, asking them to inform their stewards and stewardesses of the basics of human needs, child care, etc., the wonders of a little give-and-take, and made a huge point that I will be telling all my friends, family, coworkers, of their ill-treatment of a hapless traveling family who won't be using their airline again, that sort of thing. And I would have informed the offending steward/s stewardess/es at the time that I would be filing a formal, written complaint against them to their bosses.

[Xenalyte]

You have RLS too? Do you have PLMD as well?

[Yankereb]

That's surprising. My son is the same size as you and hates to fly because of the hassle. He has to ask for a seat belt extension, and is not allowed to sit in the escape row. Why? I don't know. He has to lift the seat arms because the seats are so small. He never flys alone. Will only fly with me or my husband so that we can lift the arm rests. I always plan far enough ahead that I can get the 2 seat configuration. Forget the local small jets which fly out of our smaller city in Texas. I think the seat size is about 16". We measured them one time. I'm 5'2" and weigh about 140 Lbs, and I just about fit.
I once asked a Pilot as I was leaving a plane when they are going to have us stand up for the entire flight strapped to a back board. this way they could get another 50 people on board. He said he thought someone had already suggested it.
My husband is 6'4" and normal weight for his size. He absolutely hates to fly. He usually sits there with his knees around his ears. He can't fit in those seats either. He also will get the person who believes it's their God given right to fly the whole trip with their head in your lap. BTW their names are both Brian.

[AppyPappy]

I doubt it. I have a very mild case.

[pinz-n-needlez]

Stow and go seating! :-)

Chrysler does it, why can't Douglas or Boeing??