window seat
On the first leg of my flight from the East Coast back home to the West, I boarded the plane and shuffled along to my seat in the first row behind the first class section. A couple was there getting situated, and taking their own sweet time in doing so, so I went ahead and “ahem”-ed them, and said, “That’s my seat.”
“Oh,” said the woman, “do you mind if I take the window seat?”
When I reserve my tickets I usually request a window seat, because I like looking out the window. Occasionally, I even get some good shots. Plus, I’m not one of those people who feels the need to constantly get up and walk around during a flight. I like my window seat.
But…maybe this lady hadn’t flown out of this airport before, and wanted to look out the window, I reasoned. I gestured magnanimously, smiled, and said, “Please.” Whereupon she took my window seat, fastened one of those cybernetic pillow-devices around her neck, closed the shade, and promptly went to sleep.
Needless to say, I was not pleased.
To top it off, I discovered that my complete exhaustion mixed with the two cups of coffee I’d had in the terminal had come together in the losing combination that left me too scatterbrained to focus on my book, but too stimmed up to be able to even close my eyes. Also, since no one in the forward half of the plane was smart enough to figure out that the two bathrooms near the tail were mostly unoccupied, they kept walking forward to wait for the first class lavatory to open up. With my aisle seat right at the boundary between first class and coach, I had someone standing right next to me any time that the “fasten seatbelt” sign wasn’t on. If you’ve ever wondered what’s worse than being stuck on a plane for six hours without being able to read or sleep, the answer is “being stuck on a plane for six hours without being able to read or sleep and having butts in your face the entire time.”
For the second leg of my flight, I boarded as soon as I was able and seized my window seat right away, determined not to be suckered a second time. I looked out the window for most of the flight home, and was rewarded with a view of Mt Hood as we began our descent.
You can see two previous shots from either side of Mt Hood here.
I rarely trade seats… even if somebody begs… unless there’s a compelling reason to do so (like a family being split up, or whatever). I reserve seats so I can sit where I’m happiest, and it’s not my problem if other people can’t do the same. That may make me an a$$h@le, but at least I’m a comfortable a$$h@le!
I’m with Dave2… unless it’s to let people who’ve been separated sit together… it’s MY seat!
I’m always amazed that someone would actually ASK a complete stranger to swap seats with them - just… because.
That’s just bizarre.
I like looking out the window too, but I tend to get really frustrated when I don’t know what I’m looking at. I wish there was an audio channel with a docent recording like at museums. It could tell me about how clouds are formed and also about all the cities.
I would NEVER ask someone to switch seats with me unless they were seating my two-year old somewhere else entirely. Even then, I’d never ask for a window seat and I’d especially never ask for one and then promptly go to sleep. What a jerk!
Yeah, I got suckered. I suppose this just means I’ll have to travel out east more often.
She DID NOT!!!!! That’s so wrong. But, it has the unintentional effect of making me even more fond of you, because it proves that you really are about the coolest, kindest guy on the planet. Of course, it also makes me want to hunt her down and slap her with an injuction which prevents her from ever sitting anywhere but the middle seat on any public transportation for the rest of her life.
See, this is why you’re my favorite lawyer.
I like the window seat, too. It’s the best. It is really cool at night when you are flying. It looks like Christmas lights. I do confess that sometimes I do fall asleep in the window seat. But only if I reserved it. I have never asked to switch seats. Even when I was separated from my husband on a long flight in which we had intended to watch a DVD. I’m not brave enough.
““being stuck on a plane for six hours without being able to read or sleep and having butts in your face the entire time.”
I * might * be persuaded to enjoy this if I were able to CHOOSE the butts that would be gracing my face you know.
Johnny Depp, Brad, Pitt, Beckham, Jolie, Duchovny, Theron, Fergie (I’m equal opportunity)
Yeah, I didn’t really get that option. My only choices were Sweaty Dude and Dude Clearly Suffering From Indigestion. And there was no ‘opt out’ choice.
There’s nothing, nothing, like landing in Portland….that view is one hell of a view.
Lewis, I absolutely agree. It’s a gorgeous sight to come home to.
Seriously WTF is with people putting the window down?! F*ing pisses me off every damn time.