Arrgh I give up!
I once knew someone living in Australia whose work required her to fly from Sydney to Asia, Europe and the States and then back to Sydney.
She did this throughout the whole year.
Year in year out.
Lots of flying.
Lots of time spent in airplanes.
And she never failed to bitch and moan about fellow passengers she encountered on board.
She complained about their smells, their behaviors (encroaching into her personal space, reclining the seat into her lap, couples making out, inattentive cabin crew, crying babies, blah, blah, blah) and her inability to secure an entire row of seats to herself so she could get some sleep.
But I’m thinking sure, your fellow passengers may be shitheads, the flight attendants surly, and the purser unsympathetic, but you don’t have to stoop to their level. You should take the high road and remain civil.
Scott McCartney, author of The Wall Street Journal Guide to Power Travel: How to Arrive with Dignity, Sanity and Wallet Intact said:
Be kind to your fellow traveler.
The window-seat occupant asked me to move so he could get out and fetch a blanket. “Would you like one?” he asked me. How considerate. We can all improve our travel by recognizing that we’re all in it together.
Next flight you’re on, turn around and ask the person behind you if it’s Ok to recline the seat before you descend into his or her space. It’ll make the trip more pleasant for both of you.