Discourtesy in flight

Well, I just got back from vacation Saturday, and going there and back, I was in 3 different planes, 3 different airports, spending roughly 7 1/2 hours in flight.

I had no issues with the airports and their even-more-heightened-than-last-time security. I had no carry-on baggage, so it was just a matter of emptying my pockets, removing my jacket and shoes, and passing through the metal detector.

I didn't have much of an issue with the airline, either. The flights went without incident.Though I think having to pay $2 minimum for food of any kind after I just paid $300 for tickets is kind of a joke.

No, my only issues with the flights and the airports were my old enemies, discourteous people.

On the way there, I had the unfortunate luck of having to sit in the middle seat. The woman in the aisle seat presented no problems, but the gentleman in the window seat obviously had no concept of personal space. I kept getting elbowed by his outstretched arm. And although there was a clear division in leg room/footspace, his leg and foot kept finding its way into my space, occasionally stepping on my toes. This continued despite my protests to him.

The return flights were nothing too major. On the first flight a woman was sitting in my seat, but she was sitting next to her young daughter, so I didn't mind (besides, it gave me the singular window seat). I also sat in the window seat on the second flight, this time next to a boy perhaps in his early teens. He had a somewhat unsettling habit of leaning forward or to the side to glimpse out the window. We were over the wing and facing the sun, creating an uncomfortable glare and heat. This caused me to keep the shade mostly closed, except for some reading light. I obliged the boy when we passed over "landmarks" such as the Mississippi River,and when we were landing. He gave an annoyed grunt as I gathered my belongings before landing, as I was "blocking" his view for a whole minute. Not terribly inconsiderate, but still, a bit annoying.

Most of my ire, however, is reserved for those people at the baggage claims. I don't quite understand people there. They rush to get to the baggage claim, as if thinking that their luggage will magically appear as soon as they get there. Then, when it doesn't magically appear, they stand right against the track, blocking everyone's view and path to get to their bags. On the way home there was a nice gap that allowed me to see the bags coming off of the track and to let me get in quickly to grab my bag. I stood up against the wall, allowing a wide berth. In the course of 5 minutes 4 men came in and filled the gap. When my bag finally came, I went in to take it, and the men barely budged. Come on, people, by now you should realize it may be awhile before your bags show up. Might as well be considerate and hang back a little.

But, these minor annoyances didn't get to me too much, because the rest of the people I encountered on my trip were some of the most considerate people I've encountered in quite some time. Any time we talked to some one, they politely answered our questions, laughed at our jokes, or gave helpful directions without so much as a grimace. Maybe it's true about small town people, that they just don't have the stressors that usually create rudeness. But small town living is a talk for next time..