Thursday, April 13, 2006

The Old Man is Snoring

I had a difficult request from a passenger the other day.

It was an early morning flight, and the man seated behind her had fallen back to sleep.  How did she know he was asleep?  Because his snores could be heard throughout the entire cabin!

She asked me if I could make him stop.  

I tired a few of the old stand by tricks:  walking by and gently bumping into him, asking if anyone in his row wanted anything, suggesting that she recline her seat back, and I even tried leaning across him.  Nothing worked.  So I put my hand on him arm, and spoke directly to him, “ Sir?  Sir?”  Still nothing.

The passenger grew more and more agitated.  She wanted him to stop.  Hell, the whole cabin did.  But nothing seemed to work, and she just huffed at me, turned away, and yelled at me for not doing my job.

I would never shake someone who was asleep for fear that they could wake up startled, and potentially aggressive.  I’m guessing that on a few occasions someone has rolled over in bed and kicked him to get him to stop.

But short of that, what more could I do?  

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe give the passengers near him complementary headphones?
(If you had any headphones, that is.)

Fly Girl said...

This was going to require the noise elimination Bose type of headphones.

Anonymous said...

Maybe one needs to keep those nose strips handy.

Anonymous said...

I have a hard time with adults who can't handle these situations on their own. If it bothered her so much, she should have done something herself.

You did everything you should have done!

Anonymous said...

She needed to build a bridge... and get over it!! Not much else you can do, really...

Fly Girl said...

Hi Tray! I have a feeling that line can get way too much use during a typical work day!

Anonymous said...

Hmm - as someone who snores like a buzz saw, I know how embarrassing it is to wake myself on a plane with my own snores. (Sadly, this is true!)
I don't know how you could have wakened him, though - short of pinching his nose! *grin*

Anonymous said...

you could have spilled a drink on him.

Anonymous said...

If it was bothering her enough she could have woken him up. I mean you did whatg you could. You could get in trouble for waking him up, she wouldnt. What a bitch! (pardon my french but its the most fitting word) I can't stand it when ppl assume that those who are in service industiries must please them no matter what. As a teacher I had parents who would demand ridiculous things from me. It's not right.