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Monday, December 13, 2004 · posted at 1:14 AM

Flying the not-so-friendly skies. Traveling Delta always seems to be hit or miss. There's either a smooth flight or vertigo-inducing one. They show a good movie (Elf) or they show a bad movie (Without a Paddle). It's empty enough for all the passengers to have their own row or you're squished up against an overweight 40 year old.

On the way to NY, I had the luxury of three seats (with retractable armrests), three blankets and three pillows all to myself. It was heaven, or at least the makings for a good 4 hour nap.

On the way home, the flight was 60% filled and luckily anachronic and I had seats next to each other (thanks George!). The aisle between initially served as a great buffer to the preservation of personal space... however three mid-conversation near-decapitations later, it seemed wise to perhaps change up the seating arrangements.

Attempt #1. The window seat guy in Jon's row. He looked like an SDSU Samahan member who would be sympathetic to the cause. However when given the opportunity to switch into my lovely aisle seat, he steadfastedly declined claiming an unwavering love for the window seat.

Attempt #2. The window seat girl in my row. The Texan knitter in pigtails. She refused to move but graciously offered that we could fit three to a row.

What's the Ann Landers etiquette on this? Is the window seat that much of a coveted prize? I wanted to say, "You know if one of the engines fall off the plane... it's hitting you first!" but I don't think that would have made a convincing argument.

Perhaps for a motion sick individual, being in the window seat allows them to find their bearings by using visual landmarks such as the horizon. But this was an evening flight (dark outside) and I think they even pulled the shades!

Maybe each enjoyed having a cold metal wall to lean against during naptime? Maybe they liked having to wait for everyone else to exit the plane before being able to grab their luggage? Maybe they liked having to displace others each time they needed to get to the loo? Who knows.

I know in the movie theaters I can get testy at people asking me to move because I specially picked a seat that's not obstructed by a partial view or covered by a sticky floor. Maybe that's how these people felt about their window seats. That sitting in the aisle with the roving elbow-banging beverage cart was a fate worse than any karma incurred for a missed good deed.

In the end, the college kid ended up squished against the window once we piled into his row and the Texan knitter ended up with the platinum blonde head of a brazen New Yorker edging into her lap.

Bet that empty aisle seat looked real good then.



	Monday, December 13, 2004 · posted at 1:14 AM Flying the not-so-friendly skies. Traveling Delta always seems to be hit or miss. There's either a smooth flight or vertigo-inducing one. They show a good movie (Elf) or they show a bad movie (Without a Paddle). It's empty enough for all the passengers to have their own row or you're squished up against an overweight 40 year old. On the way to NY, I had the luxury of three seats (with retractable armrests), three blankets and three pillows all to myself. It was heaven, or at least the makings for a good 4 hour nap. On the way home, the flight was 60% filled and luckily anachronic and I had seats next to each other (thanks George!). The aisle between initially served as a great buffer to the preservation of personal space... however three mid-conversation near-decapitations later, it seemed wise to perhaps change up the seating arrangements. Attempt #1. The window seat guy in Jon's row. He looked like an SDSU Samahan member who would be sympathetic to the cause. However when given the opportunity to switch into my lovely aisle seat, he steadfastedly declined claiming an unwavering love for the window seat. Attempt #2. The window seat girl in my row. The Texan knitter in pigtails. She refused to move but graciously offered that we could fit three to a row. What's the Ann Landers etiquette on this? Is the window seat that much of a coveted prize? I wanted to say, "You know if one of the engines fall off the plane... it's hitting you first!" but I don't think that would have made a convincing argument. Perhaps for a motion sick individual, being in the window seat allows them to find their bearings by using visual landmarks such as the horizon. But this was an evening flight (dark outside) and I think they even pulled the shades! Maybe each enjoyed having a cold metal wall to lean against during naptime? Maybe they liked having to wait for everyone else to exit the plane before being able to grab their luggage? Maybe they liked having to displace others each time they needed to get to the loo? Who knows. I know in the movie theaters I can get testy at people asking me to move because I specially picked a seat that's not obstructed by a partial view or covered by a sticky floor. Maybe that's how these people felt about their window seats. That sitting in the aisle with the roving elbow-banging beverage cart was a fate worse than any karma incurred for a missed good deed. In the end, the college kid ended up squished against the window once we piled into his row and the Texan knitter ended up with the platinum blonde head of a brazen New Yorker edging into her lap. Bet that empty aisle seat looked real good then.	Recent Posts That's why I couldn't be happier No, I couldn't be... Novels, in the proper sense of the word, are not w... Batmobile lost a wheel Courtesy of my ever-benevo... I am woman, hear me roar This week, Andy was fire... LORELAI: Do they not understand we are unapologeti... The perfect cup. Everything in life is a strugg... You think it's like this but it's really like this... Iris Chang (1968-2004) I just read that Iris Chan... Channel your chi away from me. People will go t... I'm only a half block out of the store when I see ... Morning news babie goose ryan bluemouse daves son dawntaught desiree diorama emily escadawg galveric high entropy invisible cube jepgato kyellow lilly mhuang mogbert nudream starfish + coffee verbivore Archives March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 January 2007 March 2007 April 2007 November 2008

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