Comments on: Your Most Interesting Airplane Travel Story

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:48:31 +0000

I always ask for an isle seat. For a couple of reasons, one of which was lived out on my way home from California on Sunday which is also my only airplane story…what can I say I must have a boring flying life! The second reason is, I have to pee a lot when I travel, so it is easier to get in and out of the row.

My flight on the way home was packed full. If we crashed some of us would have lived because there were enough people in the plane to serve as padding. I was the first person to sit in my seat, the second was a window seater and she was a tiny Indian girl. As the plane continued to be loaded I prayed and prayed that my row would only have 2 people. The line of passengers loading into the plane started to thin out, but then it happened. The largest guy on the plane walks past me, and 30 seconds later, comes back and says, oops this must be my row. I got up, let him in the middle seat, he stunk! At least 3 days without a shower (seriously). So he sits down, and he is a leg spreader, not straight forward, but into my leg room, and as I said, he was a large man so his arms basically ended up all in my personal space and in the personal space of the little Indian girl. She was already asleep before we took off, fortunate for her. I waited until we were allowed to turn on our personal electronic devices to pull down the arm rest to force some division between me and the Jolly Green Giant. It didn’t help much as he took up both arm rests for himself. Fortunately, being in the isle seat, I was able to turn my body out towards the isle until the stewardess came by with their carts…the isle seat was my only life saver for 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Nicks last blog post..Conversations with a 5 Year Old (Part 5)

By: Brad Ruggles

Brad Ruggles — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:00:36 +0000

Dang! You guys sure have some great stories – way better than mine. Kassie, flying on the same plane as Muhammad Ali? Wow!

By: Kassie

Kassie — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:27:37 +0000

I was flying out to California and was in O’Hare to catch a connecting flight. I’d just finished a pre-flight bathroom stop, when a guy comes up to me as I exit the bathroom saying, “Are you with HIM?” Totally oblivious, I look around and say “Who?” Apparently, as I exited the bathroom, it was at the same time as Muhammad Ali, who I also walked almost right next to for a few feet. Of course, I was NOT with Muhammad Ali, but he did end up being on my flight. On the same flight I get up to the front of the boarding line, and they say they’ve had to switch planes and this plane doesn’t have a “G” seat in the row I’m in. I instantly panic, thinking I’ll get bumped. But what happened was that they reassigned my seat…..up to business class! Comfier and bigger seats, better food, and foot rests! It was the sweetest flight I’ve ever taken.

By: Crystal Renaud

Crystal Renaud — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:06:26 +0000

wow, sorry for the excessive typos in my previous comment. Crystal Renauds last blog post..“New Office Policy”

By: Crystal Renaud

Crystal Renaud — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:04:52 +0000

just happened on the way back from South Africa. i was seated next to a man from Kenya. he was on his way first ever trip to the United States. at first, he was really friendly, i gave him some gum (more for my benefit if you know what i mean – eek wow)… but once we took off — he kept leaning over and watching my tv (all of the seats at personal televisions)… and even though i had my noise reduction headphones in, he kept pointing to my screen asking, “who is that” “who is this” “what show is this”. finally he fell asleep and left me alone, but then he starting to drift toward my direction… and laid his head on my shoulder!!!! needless to say, i ended up moving seats.

Crystal Renauds last blog post..“New Office Policy”

By: Jason Ruggles

Jason Ruggles — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:53:04 +0000

This is not the most interesting here, but I always loved it when I’d find someone afraid of flying and then quote my uncle’s sayings:
“just remember… every part on this plane was made by the lowest bidder.”
And then a couple minutes later saying loudly to my travel companion, “Did you hear that?”
Ah, comedy gold!

And then there was the time I flew out of JFK the day before 9/11… that kinda freaked me out afterwards.

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:50:13 +0000

Flying into Raleigh-Durham, the cross-winds were so bad that I thought the plane was going to do a cartwheel! I don’t scare very easy on planes, but I had some serious white knuckles that day!

Steves last blog post..Twice adopted – Saturday Cafe pt. 13

By: Molly

Molly — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:37:52 +0000

I have several.

But the coolest was going out to meet the dude that would be come my husband. (we met online!)

I got upgraded to first class AND was seated next to a woman who had ALSO gotten upgraded she met the love of her life from a news papwer ad more than 20 years ago-second (or third) marriage for her…she talked about how her family freaked (could identify) and a bunch of other things that were creepy familiar…it was very cool and totally eased my fears.

By: Blake

Blake — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:54:11 +0000

No real “interesting” story. Just a lucky one. We’re flying to Costa Rica two summers ago for a mission trip. About 28 of us. And the plane from ATL to Liberia, CR is packed. Except for one row. Two friends and I are not assigned seats together, but we’d like to sit together.

The one row of 3 that didn’t have a single person sitting there was the exit row. With TONS of leg room. I was able to strike a deal w/ the attendant to hold them til we took off and we got the seats. Started with good conversation, then I had room to flip the trey down and rest my pillow/head on it and sleep for a few hours since I’d stayed up all night.

Made for a much better flight and first day!

[And I'm really jealous of the Catalyst crew]

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:36:24 +0000

Cec and I were in a little prop-jet and we had a guy in front of us passing gas the whole flight. The entire cabin of that little plane was FUNKY! I thought we we’re gonna die!
Also, I got stuck on a plane from Frankfurt, Germany to Detroit, MI sitting next to a 13 yr. old kid. I had the window seat, a day-time flight, so I kept the shade down. He figured he wanted to see what “the view” was like about every 30-40 minutes. We’re above the clouds, the sun is STILL out, and I’m trying to SLEEP. STOP TRYING TO OPEN THE SHADE!!! Frustrating to say the least!