Airplane Etiquette
We’ve all heard about it and maybe been unfortunate enough to experience it- poor airplane etiquette.
But on my last flight I came face to face with it myself. As I passed through security and walked to my gate, the airport had an eerie, quiet and uninhabited feel to it like I have never experienced before. Only a handful of guests filled the wide hallways, the food court was almost empty, and there was a hush in the air. With the weight of the reality and seriousness of the coronavirus heating up it was definitely at the forefront of my mind. Feeling anxious about flying I tried to reassure myself that I would be fine, was SURE that people would be very mindful of the seriousness of the coronavirus and how to handle themselves accordingly, and that I would keep my personal safety a priority including wearing gloves for most of the flight.
As the guests began boarding the aircraft, I took to my position in the middle of the aircraft waiting to brief the guests seated at the over-wing exits. Guests quickly filed on in search of their seats and eventually one of the guests seated at one of the windows took to his seat. He was a middle aged, well dressed, good looking fellow. As I approached him I saw looks of displeasure from the other guests seated beside him.
He was flossing his teeth!!!
I was totally speechless.
Surely this type of behavior would not be acceptable on a regular day, but now given the whole world wide coronavirus pandemic and the need to avoid placing your hands in your eyes, nose, and MOUTH how could this be?!!! My mind kept thinking that surely I was mistaken and if not, he would certainly stop once he saw the look of horror on my face and my colorful antivirus gloves I was sporting. Unfortunately this was not the case! As duty called, I began giving him the directions on the operation of the exit waving my glove covered hands for emphasis hoping it may trigger in him some kind of recollection of the current health crisis we were all in. Instead, he continued flossing perhaps even more vigorously as I spoke; flicking the floss in and out between each tooth as specks of spit drifted through the air and onto the back of the seat in front of him and surrounding areas . I took a step back to avoid the spray and completed my briefing remaining speechless in disbelief. Unsure of how to address the situation I began to move to other duties when another flight attendant happened upon the situation and she too was in disbelief. We discussed the situation together and our shock turned to anger for putting us all in a compromised health situation. We decided to head back out into the cabin to address him head-on as long as he was still at it. Thankfully he was not so we left it at that.
I may have been stopped in my tracks this time over this situation- it is hard to always think on the spot with so many thoughts running through your mind at one time and so many observers waiting to see how you will handle the situation.
But believe me next time I’m coming after you! If you’re flossing your teeth, cleaning your ears, clipping your nails, plucking your whiskers, or pulling out lint from between your toes I’m ready!
You’ll have to either continue in the lavatory or catch another flight.
And I won’t be on it!!
Just when you think you’ve seen it all…..!!!
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