I really don’t love traveling. I really really don’t like waiting on things that I have no control over - waiting to see if my carry-on will fit into the overhead bin, waiting to see if anyone’s going to sit next to me on Southwest, waiting to see if we’ll be delayed, essentially just waiting to see when we’ll get home. I also really REALLY really really do not like making people annoyed.
I think I must have signed up for Southwest’s early bird check-in and forgotten about it because Alex and I both forgot to set a 24 hour alarm to check-in - for those of you who fly Southwest, you know what a rookie mistake that is. Not checking in exactly 24 hours in advance lands you straight in Group C, aka the very very very back of the plane. But when I signed in 10 hours in advance, I landed A24. Alex? C51. Pretty much last to board.
When we got to the airport, I made the plan to go to the way back of the plane, grab myself a window seat, and put my backpack in the middle. While this is frowned upon (seat saving is a no-no), who really wants the middle seat in row 29? If anyone were to ask, I’d just move it. They called the As, I said goodbye to Alex, and our plan was in action.
The plane filled up fast. 10 minutes in, the way way back was starting to get packed. An older woman looked at my bag.
Are you trying to save this seat?
I gave her my best sad puppy face. Well, if I can, yes. I said, thinking that would satiate her. There was a full open row beside me and behind me. It did not.
You’re really not supposed to do that.
I went to move my bag. You can sit here if you want. She gave me a nasty look and was about to say something else when her daughter said, Mom, just sit here, this entire row is empty. I put my bag back down.
Another couple minutes later a second woman and her husband looked at my bag. At this point, there weren’t many 2 seats together available, so I knew that that was the draw. Is anyone here? She gestured to the two seats.
Here, you can sit here. I moved my bag.
She’s trying to save the seat! The old woman from earlier piped up. Oh my god, I thought. Seriously?
Well, the second woman said, the flight is completely full. Someone is going to have to sit here.
Ohhhhh. They think I’m just trying to not have ANYONE sit next to me.
I was trying to save it for my boyfriend, but it’s okay. I explained. I know I’m not supposed to.
Just then the flight attendant, seeing the issue, piped in. These two right here are together!
Oh, perfect! Woman number 2 exclaimed. She and her husband happily sat. I put my bag back.
At this point, my heart was racing. I was getting sweaty. I could just barely see Alex’s head as he started making his way down the plane aisle.
Just watch her boyfriend not even show up on this plane. If he exists. The old woman said behind me. Good god. Did she realize that I could hear her? Probably.
About 10 people before Alex, a third woman with a dog carrier waved to the aisle seat. This one taken?
No, I said, moving my bag once again so she could put down her little dog, who was softly whimpering and letting out a few yips every now and then. Poor dog. Flying is stressful for me, but I couldn’t imagine how stressful it must be if you have quite literally no idea what’s going on.
She’s trying to save it for her boyfriend! The old woman cried out.
I am trying to save the middle seat, I explained, but if you need 2 seats for your dog, my boyfriend can just sit across from us.
Oh, no, if the two of you don’t mind, I don’t mind.
Alex finally arrived at row 29. I held the woman’s bag and dog treats as they both got situated. Stella, her dog, continued to yap.
Do you think it might help if you opened the carrier enough that she could peek out? I asked.
Oh, definitely. But it’s not allowed. We got kicked off our last flight because she couldn’t calm down, but if I can just take her out and hold her, I know she would be quiet.
Well, I said, we’re not going to tell. How about you just unzip it a little?
She did, and Stella immediately went quiet. Another five minutes later, we at last pulled away from the gate. As we started to gain speed for take off, Stella’s mom, with shaky hands, pulled out a couple free drink vouchers and handed them to me and Alex. Thank you both for being so kind, she said. We’ve been on over 20 flights together and Stella has never had any issues. I was so worried. We just want to get home.
Hours later, the flight had landed and Alex and I were waiting for our Uber after our golf clubs had taken 40 minutes to come out of baggage claim. We were drained, it was almost midnight, and we, also, just wanted to be home.
I’m so sorry, excuse me, someone said. Alex and I turned to face an older woman. Can you do me a favor and push that old lady right there outside? I’m just not strong enough.
Of course. We both answered. We went over, introduced ourselves, and he wheeled her out with me following with her two suitcases to where the first woman stood.
Thank you both so much. She said, almost in tears, trying to press a $20 bill into both of our hands. We laughed and held our hands behind our backs. No no no, it’s really no problem, you both have a nice night. We hurried back to our abandoned luggage. Our Uber was 2 minutes away.
After a truly brutal first 10 minutes of that plane ride, I came out of last night feeling okay. Had I managed to make some people angry? Absolutely. But I had also managed to be kind. Net positive.