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Letters to the Editor

Airline passengers not out to annoy one another

When I read Jenny Specht’s article on annoying airline passengers, I was so overcome with guilt that I felt compelled to write. For, you see, I realized that she was talking about me.

First of all, I want to apologize for not attending charm school. Hard as my mother tried, she was never able to convince me that I would offend my fellow airline travelers with my improper dress. I don’t fly that often and, when I do, it’s normally for vacation or to see a friend. Especially if I have a long flight, I try to dress as comfortably as possible — even if that means (gasp) jeans. I could be wrong, but many people are dressed in business casual attire because they are business people (imagine that), flying to Chicago or New York for a meeting and often return that same day.

The airlines understand that space is limited. Therefore, they only allow two carry ons and they even provide a handy little “test” space before boarding the aircraft to ensure that your bag is small enough. If it is, you can take it on the plane. Often, if I am flying standby or have (as a friend did) experienced the joy of lost luggage, I relish the idea of taking my bags on board. And if memory serves, the plane doesn’t leave the gate until all passengers are seated, so I never have to worry about the plane taxiing down the runway and people falling over in the aisles as I put my bag overhead. In the big picture of life, standing an extra 15 seconds while my fellow passenger situates his/her luggage has never caused particular hardship. (But, remember, I never attended charm school, so I probably wouldn’t know.)

Part of that hefty ticket price includes a beverage and perhaps pretzels on the flight. If the person in front of me gets the last Dr Pepper, my first thought is usually “Oops, the stewardess must not have filled the drink carrier before she brought it down the aisle.”

And if I am concerned about being parched on my flight, I normally try to board with a bottle of water and perhaps an apple.

Last time I checked, I had to pay the stewardess for any alcoholic beverage (unless flying first class), and often, the friendly stewardesses will walk through the cabin asking people if they want a second bag of pretzels.

Ah yes, exiting the plane. Perhaps the airline industry could invent a way for everyone to simply climb out their own window — then you wouldn’t have to wait the extra 15 seconds while I retrieve my baggage from the overhead bin.

The world is full of horrendous inconveniences — planes being flown into buildings, war in Iraq, concerned families with loved ones in Iraq, increased tension among various faiths, starving children in India and annoying airline passengers like me.

— Hannah Mowrey, a senior piano performance major