Ever have to chase passenger out of your seat on airplane ?

[CKN]

I travel about 15-20 times a year and notice some passengers look like they just rolled out of bed and put on a pair of filthy old sneakers.

Some have no care about the way they dress or look.

I don't believe in being a slob. But since coach seats are a torture device one needs to at least start off comfortable.

 

[BHopkins]

I've had a few occasions where I've had to tell someone that they were sitting in my seat. In a couple of those, the person had just made an honest error, either mistaking which side of the plane A started on, or being off a row. In at least two instances, I got the impression that the person in my seat was hoping that my aisle seat would be unclaimed. But I have never had to do more than point out that the seat they were in was on my ticket.

I don't believe in being a slob. But since coach seats are a torture device one needs to at least start off comfortable.

This ^^. If upon landing, I would be going straight from the airport to a customer, I traveled in business attire. But when heading to a hotel first, I dress in nice casual, comfortable clothes. But even then, I typically find myself dressed nicer than a large share of my fellow travelers.

 

[97prizm]

One might need to define cheaper.

In the 1960s the seat pitch was often 40" in some economy seats. Many seats today have a pitch of 28". Checked luggage was free in 1960s. I often see people on a "cheap ticket" paying hundreds in unplanned checked baggage fees. Meals were provided in the 1960s on most flights, and a decent meal. Not so today in economy on many domestic flights. Seats were reserved at no charge in the 1960s. Not many flights in the 1960s departed before 7am, nor took off after 7pm. Today flights, especially the "cheap flights", often depart at 5am, meaning one has to arrive at the airport prior to 4am.

Flying in the 1960s was a very different product and service than flying in 2025.

Not sure if you ever took an aviation history class but during government regulation airlines didn't have to be competitive on fees, fuel economy, routes, or fares as they were given set routes. After deregulation people voted with their wallets. If you want to spend $3500 on a round trip ticket from say LA to Houston I'm sure Frontier, Southwest, Delta etc would be more than happy to offer full meals with silverware. As far as the seat pitch yeah when your ticket is $375 out the door with taxes airlines have to cram way more people on a flight.

 

[CKN]

Not sure if you ever took an aviation history class but during government regulation airlines didn't have to be competitive on fees, fuel economy, routes, or fares as they were given set routes. After deregulation people voted with their wallets. If you want to spend $3500 on a round trip ticket from say LA to Houston I'm sure Frontier, Southwest, Delta etc would be more than happy to offer full meals with silverware. As far as the seat pitch yeah when your ticket is $375 out the door with taxes airlines have to cram way more people on a flight.

Flying has become cheaper-but also couch seats have become the absolute pits.

I am not even talking about "pitch". The seat (bottom) cushions are horrendous.

 

[fdcg27]

Flying has become cheaper-but also couch seats have become the absolute pits.

I am not even talking about "pitch". The seat (bottom) cushions are horrendous.

Good point.
The seat bottom cushions have gotten really uncomfortable.

 

[MRC01]

Absolutely. The Deregulation Act of 1978 changed everything...for better or worse. In my opinion it was a net positive to remove government influence from fares, routes, etc.; however, the steep competition that ensued has mostly destroyed what once was a wonderful experience.
...
Today we stick with one of the Big-3 airlines and almost always upgrade to Main Cabin Extra/Economy Plus, or higher. It's not always as expensive as one would think.

I think deregulation and competition has been a good thing overall. While it has made coach travel a miserable experience, it's made it cheaper making it available to millions of people who previously could not afford it. And those who want the premium experience from the good old days can still get it, flying business or first class which is more expensive, but not more than it used to cost back in the good old days, relative to overall inflation/CPI. That's a win-win.

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

I don’t care how passengers are dressed , I care about how they behave.

Even pilots/flight attendants today’s can have tattoos all over the arm and wear scruffy beards unlike in the past.

It’s a different world today.

 

[97prizm]

Flying has become cheaper-but also couch seats have become the absolute pits.

I am not even talking about "pitch". The seat (bottom) cushions are horrendous.

oh yeah I took a four-hour flight from Denver to Philadelphia when I worked for Frontier Airlines. My rear hurt, plus Frontier has "pre-reclined" seats. According to news sources Frontier is looking to offer a business or 1st class on flights. Apparently a number of aircraft they've ordered will be delivered this way next year.

 

[Dave Hess]

oh yeah I took a four-hour flight from Denver to Philadelphia when I worked for Frontier Airlines. My rear hurt, plus Frontier has "pre-reclined" seats. According to news sources Frontier is looking to offer a business or 1st class on flights. Apparently a number of aircraft they've ordered will be delivered this way next year.

How was it working for Frontier Airlines ?

 

[97prizm]

How was it working for Frontier Airlines ?

Not bad. Was there seven months then the pandemic and they layed off 1/3 of the company. Add to that they had real old and archaic software which didn't help. I updated A&P manuals. I was sort of the link between the engineering department and the A&P department.

 

[GSCJR]

If the passenger won’t move, let the FA know and let them handle it.

This happened to me once when flying from FLL to YYZ. Next thing you know, this family of entitled jerks start getting angry with the FA! I couldn't let that happen to the FA, so I raised my voice with those idiots. The FA said, "Can you please wait for me in the galley?" After the FA finished dealing with the jerks, the FA came and thanked me more than once for coming to their aid, plus, I received an entire row of seats for myself and a complimentary soda. You get more with honey than vinegar.

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

This happened to me once when flying from FLL to YYZ. Next thing you know, this family of entitled jerks start getting angry with the FA! I couldn't let that happen to the FA, so I raised my voice with those idiots. The FA said, "Can you please wait for me in the galley?" After the FA finished dealing with the jerks, the FA came and thanked me more than once for coming to their aid, plus, I received an entire row of seats for myself and a complimentary soda. You get more with honey than vinegar.

This is the way I see things; when I go to work, I have to show my security card and obey the instructions given to me by security when required. I also have to be polite. If I disobey, or get rude, I won’t make the flight, they will not allow me to pass through security.

It’s federal law to obey crew members , not a recommendation.

If the flight attendants have a problem with passengers disobeying them, or get rude , they are required to advise me ( Captain ) and I will order them off the plane.

 

[y_p_w]

This is the way I see things; when I go to work, I have to show my security card and obey the instructions given to me by security when required. I also have to be polite. If I disobey, or get rude, I won’t make the flight, they will not allow me to pass through security.

It’s federal law to obey crew members , not a recommendation.

If the flight attendants have a problem with passengers disobeying them, or get rude , they are required to advise me ( Captain ) and I will order them off the plane.

Judging by public airport/airplane meltdown videos, it seems that enough people are under the impression that that once they paid for a ticket, airlines are obligated to transport them regardless of how inebriated or belligerent they are.

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

Judging by public airport/airplane meltdown videos, it seems that enough people are under the impression that that once they paid for a ticket, airlines are obligated to transport them regardless of how inebriated or belligerent they are.

They are entitled to prove themselves wrong when flying with me.

 

[GON]

This thread brought back a memory from a year or so ago.

On a early Saturday morning flight, I received a complimentary upgrade to first class. Guy I was seated next to appeared to have partied for 48 hours non stop. He smelled so awful I thought I was going to throw up. The guy ordered double bourbons on this very early Saturday morning flight.

I always tell my Wife, once I retire I plan to never be a passenger a commercial flight. I have no idea how flight crews put up with this. One thing I know for sure, cabin flight crews are not paid enough for the current passenger environment.

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

This thread brought back a memory from a year or so ago.

On a early Saturday morning flight, I received a complimentary upgrade to first class. Guy I was seated next to appeared to have partied for 48 hours non stop. He smelled so awful I thought I was going to throw up. The guy ordered double bourbons on this very early Saturday morning flight.

I always tell my Wife, once I retire I plan to never be a passenger a commercial flight. I have no idea how flight crews put up with this. One thing I know for sure, cabin flight crews are not paid enough for the current passenger environment.

I have been very lucky and I operate leisure flights only.

Unless FA's aren't telling me about badly behaving passengers, I have not had many of those problems on my flights.

I will do anything to help passengers but I don't have any patience for those types of people ( badly behaving, won't listen to instructions ).

 

[Pew]

If the flight attendants have a problem with passengers disobeying them, or get rude , they are required to advise me ( Captain ) and I will order them off the plane.

Hopefully while in mid-air with or without a parachute?

 

[Astro14]

This is the way I see things; when I go to work, I have to show my security card and obey the instructions given to me by security when required. I also have to be polite. If I disobey, or get rude, I won’t make the flight, they will not allow me to pass through security.

It’s federal law to obey crew members , not a recommendation.

If the flight attendants have a problem with passengers disobeying them, or get rude , they are required to advise me ( Captain ) and I will order them off the plane.

When somebody buys a ticket on an airline, they are entering into a contract with that airline.

Folks don’t seem to understand what’s involved in that contract, what the airline owes them (we cannot control the weather for example, we will not fly when it is unsafe no matter how important the meeting, wedding, or vacation) and more importantly, what they owe the airline in terms of behavior, compliance with policy, and compliance with federal law.

Contract of carriage used to be around 35 pages long. Like most things on the Internet, people scroll through without actually reading.

 

[y_p_w]

When somebody buys a ticket on an airline, they are entering into a contract with that airline.

Folks don’t seem to understand what’s involved in that contract, what the airline owes them (we cannot control the weather for example, we will not fly when it is unsafe no matter how important the meeting, wedding, or vacation) and more importantly, what they owe the airline in terms of behavior, compliance with policy, and compliance with federal law.

Contract of carriage used to be around 35 pages long. Like most things on the Internet, people scroll through without actually reading.

It's amazing how many people think there's an obligation once the ticket is purchased. Even those who slept through the boarding process and woke up after a plane pushed off from the gate.

I get that it's easier to just refund an unruly passenger rather than deny boarding and keep the money, which could be within an airline's rights.

 

[fdcg27]

I think deregulation and competition has been a good thing overall. While it has made coach travel a miserable experience, it's made it cheaper making it available to millions of people who previously could not afford it. And those who want the premium experience from the good old days can still get it, flying business or first class which is more expensive, but not more than it used to cost back in the good old days, relative to overall inflation/CPI. That's a win-win.

We'll be taking a Euro trip in July so I'm looking to book us on an itinerary of DAY to VCE, ground to Istanbul and from there to TBS and from there back to DAY. With the shortest time en-route to Italy and favorable flight departure time from SAW to TBS and then from TBS and back to DAY. it will run us around $1612.00 each. If we were willing to spend another sixteen hour total in transit, which we aren't, we could get down to $1240.00. Just out of curiosity, anyone who has an interest in visiting Japan should check out flights in July on either JAL or ANA. Both are surprisingly cheap.
With current traffic and competition levels, airfare is incredibly cheap.