I remember when flying over the Atlantic was calm, fun and very enjoyable.
Today you get on a flight you’re packed in like sardines, treated like dirt off the homosexual guy or the stewardess .
Pay a fortune.
Maybe lose cases, and arrive or take off late.
Then have to put up with a handful on the plane with obnoxious can’t stay off the phone, all about me me me travelers.
Wife and I were returning to CA from Paris. I’d been working nearly a year over there installing Fire Effects at EuroDisney. Window seat for wifey, all stuff stored away overhead, shoes kicked off, chilling before takeoff..
French couple with 3 kids had seats scattered all over the plane. She asked steward if passengers could do some seat swapping so they all could be contigous. Many complied, though grudgingly, but it was obvious that we were the last to be asked in this checkers game.
I told steward “No. We are all settled away and it is not my problem if she’s too cheap to get contigous seating.” French woman was incredulous someone would refuse. Steward came back again - same question. I told him “Frankly, I don’t give a damn about her, or her kids. We are staying put.” Now tell her that exactly.
International relations frosted over for some time after that, I think. Frankly, I enjoyed being the “Ugly American” that day.
Some Gaul.