Foiling the Frequent Flopper

Feb. 22, 2006 — -- Will Rogers -- once known as the American patron saint of aviation -- did, indeed, say he'd never met a man he didn't like. But if Will could join us today on the average airline flight, I'm fairly confident he'd make an exception for one guy in particular.

I'm sure you know to whom I'm referring. It's the "Frequent Flopper," a subspecies of the human race who may be described (at times of anger) as a boorish, clueless creature who's somehow convinced that the airspace immediately behind the airline seat he (or she) occupies has been deeded to him. This is the guy who annually breaks dozens of laptop screens, smashes fingers in slammed lids and trays, beans countless fellow passengers who were fated to lean forward at the wrong moment, and has apparently no idea that you may not be pleased to spend the rest of the flight to Cleveland with your face inches from the top of his head.

Think I'm being a bit harsh here?

Well, maybe for those of us who've momentarily forgotten on some dark and stormy flight that there is human life aft of our seat rows, or who -- Robert Fulghum to the contrary notwithstanding -- are unable to remember the lessons on airborne courtesy from kindergarten. (Actually, I don't think that course was offered.)

In fact, years ago The New Yorker hit that point rather squarely with a cartoon concerning mutual passenger courtesy. In the panel, a weary, obviously wrung-out businessman has taken the last seat in a rush-hour subway as an obviously disgusted woman, forced to stand, glowers at him.

"No, Ma'am," the caption says. "Chivalry isn't dead ... I am."

So, yes, sometimes slightly discourteous passenger behavior in an airliner may be understandable. But in the absence of a clear and present reason to ignore common courtesies, we really should be far more disapproving as a people of certain airborne behaviors and attitudes that clearly cross the line, and reclining a seat in an airplane without any regard for the welfare of those behind you is certainly first on my list.