If Life was like airline travel...
Middle seat gets dibs on the arm rests
The middle seat sucks. You’re constantly worried about encroaching on your neighbour’s side, fearing you’ll fall asleep and drop your head on their shoulder. For this reason, the person in the middle seat gets dibs on the arm rests.
As I flew home yesterday, I took my window seat and an older lady took the aisle seat. The middle seat remained ominously empty as passenger after passenger walked past row 6. Then the doors were closed. We just looked at each other as if we had just won the lottery. The middle seat was empty and we just piled our belongings on it and had a short polite chat. I left it at that . (More about that later)
So what are the "middle seat " moments in our lives?
Ever had that meeting that you are dreading and it gets cancelled at the last minute?
Or have you been sweating about initiating a 'difficult discussion' and the person involved does it instead and saves you from doing it?
Or, as a teacher, that child who has been driving you nuts lately goes on an extended holiday with their family?
I'm sure that we all have these moments, and different occupations present their own scenarios that mean so much more to those in that occupation.
2.
Stand up to let your neighbours through
Don’t do the half lift, awkward lean back. Stand up, unbuckle your seatbelt and wait in the aisle till your neighbour returns. It’s a good excuse to stretch your legs at the same time. Win-win.
Keep your belongings to yourself
I still remember trying to push someone else’s shoes back onto ‘their side’. Yes, there’s not a lot of room, but manage your belongings and keep them in the pocket of your seat, under the seat in front of you or stowed overhead.
When someone's belongings actually encroach your space, do you dare to touch them or shuffle them back to where they came from?
In real life - Who has that colleague whose 'stuff' just always finds its way into your space? Or, does that colleague just not look after their stuff and they are always pinching yours? It's not just keeping control of your things, it's also making sure you provide your own things.
4.
Say hello, but read the room
It’s always nice to greet your neighbour, but gauge whether they want a conversation. Earphones generally mean they have zero interest in chatting.
Yep, I totally agree with this one. I tend not to risk becoming involved with discussions with fellow passengers just in case it goes pear shaped, and it becomes too difficult to extricate oneself from the discussion. It sounds totally weird when you are rubbing shoulders with someone for a few hours and you don't say a word to them! I go with the headphones trick every time, and have been known to put in headphones that are totally flat just to avoid having discussions with those in my section.
5.
Don't recline on short haul flights
Unless you want your neighbour’s coffee or meal to end up in their lap, be mindful and resist reclining on short haul flights. I know it’s tricky when the person in front of you reclines; it often creates a domino effect with everyone then reclining to create more space. But think about that person in the last row who can’t recline at all. It’s 6 hours or less, suck it up.
Well Readers, this makes my blood boil. I'm not tall by any standards, but my knees still generally touch the seat in front of me. Imagine my rage last week when the person in front of me reclined their seat while we were still boarding !!! It was only a 2 hour flight and this raises the question - How long must a flight be to justify reclining the seat? I don't begrudge them their right to recline, but before the plane has even taken off !!! Let's just say my knees 'accidentally' banged into the seat many times on that flight!!!
It’s not a nail salon
Why this needs to be reminded is beyond me, but here we are. Just because you’re bored and forgot to do your nails or toenails at home does not mean you can cut them on the plane. No one wants to receive a bit of nail shrapnel in their face or worse, in their food.
I sat next to someone on a flight who continually chewed their fingernails, then flicked the 'bits' in any direction that meant they didn't land on the person they belonged to. It was nearly snowing in our section !!!!
In real life? How do you go with those people who are totally comfortable with doing things in meetings or work situations that clearly should or could have been done earlier? Having a cup of tea or coffee is fine, but finishing their breakfast ? Makeup or shaving? Just doing personal stuff in a public setting really bugs me, because why do we need to be made aware of nitty gritty things that more often than not make us feel queasy at the best of times. I'm not against things that are natural, just things that are being done due to not being organised.
7.
Odourless food only
The rules of the office microwave apply on the plane. No tuna, no pungent curries, no oozy cheeses – save anything smelly for your home.
Yep. We've all got one of these.
Ever had to use the microwave after someone has zapped a very aromatic fish dish? Or have you been in a meeting where someone continues to eat a really strongly odoured food? Often they might apologise for it, but if you need to apologise, why bring it in the first place? But for those who bring meals that smell utterly sensational...keep it up!!
As I write this on my porch, I can smell the corned silverside in my slow cooker wafting out to me. I need to be aware however that although it smells divine to me, it might be the aroma that makes others just want to vomit !!
8.
Have all your stuff ready before the plane lands
We all want to desperately get off the plane and you have hours to get your stuff together. Don’t hold everyone up and decide to pack your belongings after the plane lands. Get it done before the descent.
Wait your turn to exit the plane
Don’t you love it when people from the last row jump up and try to get as far ahead as possible? It then becomes impossible to get your bag from above because everyone is blocking the aisle. Just wait till your aisle is up to grab your bag and exit.
I think I covered this in the previous paragraph.
10.
Just be nice
We’re all in the same confined space together so let’s just all get along. Be respectful of the crew and fellow passengers, and we’ll all have a more pleasant journey.
This is the one that resonated with me most, and one that I'm always conscious of doing. The radio segment suggested just doing something so basic as smiling at the cabin crew as you enter and acknowledging them, and doing the same as you leave the plane. I always find that they are so appreciative of such a simple gesture, and it always makes me feel good at the same time.
In real life ? Do likewise for the people that you encounter in shops, at work etc. Any research shows how well it makes us feel when we do things like this. It costs nothing and everyone wins.
