Have you ever had seatmates that made your flight unbearable? Let me tell you about the newlyweds who turned my 14-hour journey into a nightmare. They acted like the plane was their personal honeymoon suite, and when they pushed the limits, I decided to give them a lesson in airplane etiquette they wouldn’t forget.
My name is Toby, and I’m 35. Recently, I was on a long flight, eager to return home to my wife and child after being away for what felt like ages. That’s when I encountered the couple who would ruin my trip. I had treated myself to a premium economy seat for this lengthy journey. With so many hours confined in a metal tube, every bit of extra comfort matters.
As I settled into my seat, the man beside me cleared his throat and introduced himself as Dave. He asked if I would switch seats with his wife, who was sitting way back in economy. While I understood that newlyweds want to be close, I wasn’t going to give up my upgraded seat.
I politely explained that I paid extra for my seat and suggested that if he wanted to switch, he should cover the price difference—around a thousand Australian dollars. His face fell, and he shot back: “You’ve got to be kidding”. I put my earbuds in, feeling satisfied with my decision, but I soon heard him muttering that I would regret this.
Things quickly went downhill from there. Dave started coughing violently, making me wonder if I needed to wear a hazmat suit. When I asked if he was okay, he responded with a glare and kept hacking away.
Then, he pulled out his tablet and blasted an action movie without headphones, disturbing everyone nearby. A passenger asked him to turn it down, but he just smiled and said everyone would enjoy it together. I could feel my frustration mounting as he showered pretzel crumbs all over me while his new wife, Lia, joined him in the fun.
She then plopped down on his lap and started acting as if they were the only ones on the plane, giggling and whispering loudly. I tried to focus on my book, but I was beyond annoyed. I decided to take action and called over a flight attendant, explaining the chaos around me. Dave and Lia immediately went into full honeymoon mode, making gooey eyes at each other.
The attendant listened as I pointed out their disruptive behavior. She looked annoyed but professional and told them they needed to follow the rules. When Lia tried to argue about it being their special day, I chimed in that it had been their special day for the last hour.
Finally, the attendant said they had to move back to economy class due to their disruptive actions. I felt a rush of satisfaction watching their expressions change as they gathered their things, whispering angrily at each other.
As they passed my seat, I couldn’t help but wave goodbye, smirking as I wished them an enjoyable honeymoon. Dave’s glare could have burned a hole in the ground, but I just settled back, relieved.
The flight attendant returned, offering me a drink as a thank-you for my patience. I happily accepted, feeling like I had just won a battle. As the flight continued smoothly, I noticed Dave and Lia at the back, probably sulking. I chuckled at the thought of their karma catching up with them.
Then, just as I thought things were calming down, I heard Lia shouting she needed to use the bathroom urgently. She was standing in the aisle, and a flight attendant was trying to explain the seatbelt sign was still on.
Dave chimed in with a ridiculous excuse, claiming she had a medical condition. I couldn’t help myself; I stood up to block their path and reminded them they were supposed to stay at the back of the plane.
After some back-and-forth, I exposed their earlier warnings to the attendant, which made Dave and Lia squirm. The attendant firmly told them to return to their seats, and without another word, they retreated to economy. As the flight began its descent, I felt relieved. The remaining journey was peaceful, and I was excited to see my family again.
Once we landed, the flight attendant approached me again to thank me for my patience. I told her she handled the situation perfectly. As I left the plane, I saw Dave and Lia still avoiding eye contact with everyone. I felt a brief moment of sympathy but quickly dismissed it, recalling their obnoxious behavior.
Just before I exited, I couldn’t resist one last quip: “Hope you learned something today. Enjoy your honeymoon!” Dave looked furious, but I just smiled as I made my way into the terminal, feeling victorious. When I spotted my wife and child, their faces lit up with joy. All thoughts of the newlyweds faded as I rushed to embrace them. I was finally home, and that was all that mattered.