Don’t get your knickers in a knot

Yes I know air travel can test the patience of a saint but really – the incidents of air rage are on the rise according to an article in Travellers United – read for yourself –  Air rage is on the rise

So what is the answer – is the problem the alcohol that is consumed before and during the flight or is it the fact that seats are getting smaller and bums are getting bigger?  We hear all the fanfare from the airlines about dream liners coming on stream but when you sit down and check out the seating plan it really sucks!  Probably the worse configuration you can have on a plane is the 3 – 3 – 3.  That means for sure that on every single row in economy you have at least 3 unhappy people.  Those who get stuck in the middle seat.

Not much fun at all.

Only 23% of cases of air rage involved alcohol – the rest all seemed to involve physical aggression towards other passengers or crew or damage to the aircraft.  Yep – people can get pretty mad when they are cooped up on an aircraft –

and

You can sympathise really if you just think of the things that make you mad on your way to work.  That guy who cuts in front of you or that stupid woman who doesn’t know how to merge.  But the difference is you are free!  You can give them the finger and drive to work muttering all the way and then regale your colleagues with the story over a Tim Horton’s coffee.

When you are stuck in a metal cylinder with this other person who is SO getting on your nerves there is no escape.  Add to that the frustration of being cramped up like a sardine in a can – no wonder.  But hang on – does this sort of thing happen to first class passengers?  Well no – of course not to the same degree – but an interesting statistic here.  Air rage amongst economy class passengers is way higher when they have to walk through the first class section.

We have all been there.  Finally you get on the plane after a long line up.  You are in row 39 and you walk past these people lolling around in their big seats, sipping on champagne.  Huh!  Finally you get to row 39 (and yes you are in the middle) and you think “What the hell????”  Unfortunately it sets the mood – so maybe airlines should think about boarding from the back and doing away with the middle seat.

I will add that to my wish list next time I get the long half of the wishbone!