The Mind Boggles, or the death of civility….

On the death of civility….

I’m flying to New York today, and have yet again been stunned by the lack of civility in public life.

Onboard the plane, I was asked by a mother and daughter if I would vacate my coveted right side, exit-aisle seat so they could sit together. They offered a seat across the aisle in exchange. Though I don’t particularly like that seat, I was moved by their mother-daughter bond, (or acute codependency) so I agreed.

The seat next to the one they offered was empty – which I figured was an instant karmic dividend.

I stood to get my bag and coat out of the overhead compartment. Meanwhile, a tiny woman from several rows back switched seats and took the empty seat next to the one I had been offered.

While I was dealing with my carry on bag, and faster than I would have believed possible, the mercenary mom sold the exit row seat I had vacated for her to another passenger for 60 dollars. She then plunked herself back down in her original seat; this crass maneuver left me with no seat in the exit row at all.

When I asked her to vacate the seat, she merely pointed at the seat the tiny woman had vacated two rows back, indicating I should sit there.

By now the entire plane was waiting on us to depart, and the captain was making the “we can’t go till everyone is seated” announcement. When the flight attendant arrived to try and sort out the mess, the mercenary mom showed her boarding pass, and feigned ignorance. Her pass showed the seat she was in as hers.

The attendant asked me to take the seat the tiny woman had left two rows back. I protested, explaining that Thumbelina had jumped rows to grab the exit row seat, and that I was ticketed for the exit row.

Now the people around us were getting irritable, and it appeared that I was the troublemaker, so I went ahead and took the seat two rows back. (I am six one – and the exit row makes a real difference to me, while Thumbelina could have lain crosswise in her seat.)

By now the flight attendant realized what had happened, came to me and apologized profusely, offering complimentary meals, snacks and anything I wanted from the beverage cart. (This was a low fare carrier – so all the meals and snacks are on a pay as you go basis.)

Being not without sin myself, I conspicuously enjoyed the freebies as the Mom of Fortune complained bitterly about having to pay for her chips. The flight attendant played along, grandly showering me with perks while she barely helped the exit row brigade.

It was a small comfort at least...

Yeeesh!