The last thing I want to do on a plane is get into a fight with a fellow passenger or one of the flight attendants. But I sure would like to get my hands on one of those Knee Defenders. Maybe you haven’t heard about it, but during a United Airlines flight, a man seated in the Economy Plus section, which offers four more inches of legroom than other coach seats, was reportedly using a $21.95 gadget called a Knee Defender to prevent the woman seated in front of him from reclining her seat.
Have you ever had that happen to you? Someone reclines their seat and you have your tray table open with food and a drink or perhaps your laptop. I’ve often wondered why the seats are made to recline, I completely understand that many want to relax and often sleep during the flight but someone is going to suffer so the other person can be comfortable.
In the case of flight 1462 from Newark, N.J. to Denver the one passenger threw water on the other because they could not push their seat back and the plane was diverted to Chicago’s O’Hare International airport. So not only was one person inconvenienced, the entire flight was disrupted as well. Are you kidding me?
The Knee Defender was invented in 2003 and is sold online. According to the AP (Associated Press) report selfish behavior is on the rise, I agree with that. Not only selfish behavior, but a sense of entitlement. People push in front of you; many don’t wait their turn; and are just rude in general.
In a tight spot like an airplane let’s just all get along. Don’t bring your stinky dog for the ride in your purse; don’t ask for extra onions on your Subway sandwich; and check that big butt bag if it won’t fit in the overhead. What about those bums that put their bags in the overhead in the front of the plane and they move to the back? Then when you get on and your seat is in the front there is not a spot for your luggage.
Flying used to be fun, but now, for me, it has become more of a chore. Direct flights are hard to come by when flying out of PIT and I dislike changing planes. I’ll bet I know who doesn’t mind changing planes–that chronic stow away, 62-year-old Marilyn Hartman. How does this woman do it and why hasn’t she been labeled as a terrorist? Reportedly Harman managed to navigate through security at Mineta San Jose International Airport a few weeks ago without a proper boarding pass and got on a Southwest Airline flight to Los Angeles. Somehow she bypassed a document checker after a couple of failed attempts. This time she was able to board the plane, get a seat and land. She was not noticed until they did a head count at LAX. Hartman was arrested by LA County’s Sheriff’s deputies. She faces misdemeanor trespassing charges. Bail was set at $500. Only in America.
(Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com)
