Ahh...miles above the earth flying in a plane. Do not get me wrong, I love travel and I love flying. There is something about it that I like a lot. However, sometimes there is that one flight that goes just terribly wrong. No. I am not talking plane crashes or anything of that sort. No. I am talking about the annoyances that one may encounter upon flying. This is not meant to push anyone away from flying, it is simply here for (what I hope to be) comedic relief as well as a learning experience so when this happens to you on your next flight you will be prepared. Buckle up and fasten your seat belts and prepare for take off.
The Beginning
My mother and I were traveling to Texas to visit family. I got pulled out of school early so we would be sure to catch our flight out at 2PM. This flight flew us into Chicago. And yes, this is where it all begins. Chicago, one of the busiest airports in the US. There are so many connecting flights and people going in and out that the entire Chicago airport experience is a whirl wind. We had about a 2 hour 30 minute layover, so my mom and I got dinner and walked around, and eventually sat down at our gate to wait till they began to board at 6:30PM. It was it this moment when I sat down...that I heard it....I heard the sound that would (ultimately) ruin the rest of my night. The most loud and obnoxious coughing coming from a hefty looking business man -- I will from now on refer to him as the man. And it was not just a cough, it was 3 coughs in a row...every 5 minutes. Plus, this was not even a cough, it was from another world. It was a hacking, coughing, disgusting gurgling coming from the man. And I just knew that with our luck, we would be sitting in close proximity to him on the plane...I just knew.
The Flight
We boarded the plane, waiting 15 minutes in the freezing cold connector that connects the gate to the plane. But this did not bother me much, just more drama until we reach the climax of this story. We get to our seats, and they were nicely placed, right by the wing, could not complain. Except that the seats that my mom booked were next to each other, while the ticket had misprinted and put me on the right side of the aisle, and my mother was put on the left side of the aisle. A minor glitch, but we rolled with it. She sat next to me in hopes that the passenger with that seat would be kind enough to switch considering that we were mother and daughter. And when this passenger came along she was completely A-okay with this. But then, what to my wondering ears did I hear, but the coughing man from earlier, and where is his seat...oh, just right next to where my mother almost had to sit. My condolences went out to that kind woman, sacrificing her well being, but still, he was right across the aisle coughing and chomping at my last nerve. Luckily, I brought my head phones...sound canceling (thank you God)! However these were ones that sit on top of your ears, so after an hour, my ears hurt so bad I had to take them off and return to the everlasting hell of the man coughing. To make matters worse, this was a 3 hour flight. It spanned from 7 PM to about 10-11PM (the flight took longer than expected....dang delays), so anyway, this flight was a night time flight. All the lights were out in the cabin to allow people to sleep if they so pleased, however, your individual light to your seat was still accessible. The entire flight...up until the point we landed...the two women in front of me talked, in an obnoxious manner, about there life and their boyfriends, and they laughed till the point that their seats began to shake. I'm sorry, but I thought it was common flight courtesy to not talk or leave your bright light on during a night flight.
I understand this may sound like I am being very judgmental and picky, however, in the moment, it was bad. My personality is not one to slander or judge. I really think that being up since 5:50AM for school, going through a half day of school, traveling, and not getting any rest all attributed to my extreme irritability.
Continuing on, yes these women talked with their lights on all the way to our destination in Texas. I had to listen to it because of my stupid head phones. (yes, the headphones were my fault, but they do add in just another peachy inconvenience) Also spawning from my lack of headphones was the onslaught of coughing and repeated hacking from the man. Trust me, I understand getting sick and I understand that when you have to cough you have to, but this was just too odd for me. He could have done so many things to help the issue, in yet he didn't. He could have been sucking on cough drops or throat lozenges..maybe even both. He could have been drinking water or tea, but he wasn't...and trust me, they serve both of those on the airplane. But no, instead he drank a Bloody Mary. Sorry, but I do not think tomatoes are proven to cure coughing and hacking. Moving on, this entire time the woman next to him is a saint, simply ignoring his coughing while she read a magazine. She even offered this man some of her snacks! God bless this woman's soul.
Once off the Plane
Finally, this sleepless flight filled with pain and annoyances all ended when we landed. I could not have been happier to get off that plane. Once off the plane, I gave one last glance to the man, and overheard the conversation he was having with his business partner who had been elsewhere on the plane. He said something along the lines of how the woman next to him was rude and unfriendly and blah blah blah and how she was a terrible flyer. It took just about everything in my power not to hit this man right across his face. If anything she was nothing but an angel and he was the terrible flyer. All in all, I moved on from this horrid flying experience. Honestly, this has been the only bad experience I have had thus far....
What can we Learn from this Experience?
One, we can learn to bring comfortable head phones that will not force you to listen to the dreaded noises coming from the man across the aisle. Two, bring one of those night time eye covers to void the light streaming in through your eyelids from the lovely ladies in front of you. Three, prepare to see many walks of life on the plane. But not only on the plane, but in the airport, and anywhere on earth for that matter. Just know that there will be people you do not expect, but it is good. It is good to meet new people! (this is just about the only positive thing you might take away from this story) And fourth, don't be that sick coughing guy. Take care of yourself and your health. Not just for yourself, but for the people around you. No one A. wants to listen to you all sick and B. no one wants to get your sickness.
Glad I could vent and share this story. If anything this is just a little example of what may happen on a flight. Glad it is over, but it will not stop me...or stop you.... from traveling and seeing the world. Till next time, bye bye! Have a great week!
-Krissi ♡
-Krissi ♡