September 8, 2022 by Beat of Hawaii 13 Comments
We’ve been flying to and from Hawaii a lot recently, and there’s more to come soon. Stay tuned for some additional eye-opening Hawaii flight reviews. One thing we noticed on our recent flights that we reviewed on Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines is that flight attendants were busy either on the intercom or in the aisle, trying to corral some errant passenger behavior.
What can you expect when stuck for long hours in tiny spaces with barely enough room to move? The days of glamorous Hawaii travel aren’t completely over, but they are definitely harder to find and come with steep price tags.
Who hasn’t bemoaned some inappropriate use of phones on flights to Hawaii? This was a problem on both Jeff’s Alaska flight to the mainland and his Southwest flight back to Hawaii. How the airlines handled it was somewhat different, but it was a real issue.
The guy next to Jeff was blasting whatever entertainment he was listening to. It was honestly deafening. The flight attendant visited more than once to ask politely, then more directly, that the passenger either plug in a headset or turn it off. The passenger at first said he wasn’t even aware that he wasn’t wearing a headset. Really? Part of the problem might have been the number of alcoholic beverages he consumed.
On Southwest, it was handled differently. In several intercom announcements, the flight attendants asked that passengers use headsets if they wanted to listen to entertainment.
The airlines had a role to play in all this, as did advancements in mobile technology and even, for example, the lack of headphone jacks now on most new devices.
While it is still relatively hard to talk on the phone en route to Hawaii (thankfully or not), using cell phones for entertainment is now the norm. Even more so now as airlines move away from providing seatback entertainment (think Hawaiian Airlines (narrowbody pictured), Alaska Airlines, and Southwest Airlines).
One big distinction is this: while your phone can blast the sound through its tiny speaker, the plane’s seatback entertainment system cannot.
An AT&T study said that we aren’t alone in our frustration with phones on airplanes and especially the headset issue.
When asked what should be done about these issues, 30% said the devices should be confiscated, while some suggested a fine or removal from the flight. Most, however, did not suggest consequences for these annoyances. We aren’t sure what to think about the consequences here. Any thoughts?
“One minute you’re enjoying your flight, the next you’re daydreaming about throwing the guy next to you out the window (over the Pacific). And you wouldn’t feel that bad about it, either.”
Who doesn’t want to get on first, be able to store your carry-ons, and get yourself situation before the onslaught of humanity strikes?
This was noticeable on our recent Alaska and Hawaiian flights. It was not the situation with the unique boarding system that Southwest uses.
This is a particular pet peeve of Jeff’s. You’re seated in the aisle, and the person coming by has too much stuff, and they’re turning about for this and that reason with their bulky and heavy carry-ons flailing about the cabin hitting the passengers seated in the aisle. Totally impolite.
What more is there to say? It just doesn’t work. We always try to think more about the poor sap in the middle seat and give them the armrest as their war pay.
We’ve seen passengers on our recent flights put them everywhere, including on the armrest of the person in front of them and on the bulkhead. Not only that, but feet without shoes on a plane is for most considered just plain bad behavior. Others may and have disagreed.
As mentioned in our review, the Southwest lavatory suffered from the trash that made its way to the floor. Who doesn’t want to enter a nice clean lav on a plane? Isn’t it incumbent on all of us to ensure that for the next person? Apparently not.
Thankfully, we haven’t noticed it so much lately. This can be a problem, and if we’re not already feeling claustrophobic enough, this will put some of us over the top. For whatever reason, we’ve noticed fewer people reclining as much as possible, no matter the impact on those behind them.
This came from our Southwest review. Someone behind Jeff decided it was okay to let their child run freely through the plane. That was until the flight attendant got on the horn to say, please don’t allow that. But seriously, who would have thought that was okay in the first place?
How do you handle your cell phone in terms of Hawaii flight behavior?
Disclosure: We receive a small commission on purchases from some of the links on Beat of Hawaii. These links cost you nothing and provide income necessary to offer our website to you. Mahalo! Privacy Policy and Disclosures.
Filed Under: Hawaii Travel News
I consent to receive communications and agree to Beat of Hawaii's Privacy Policy.
Comment policy: * No profanity, rudeness, personal attacks, or bullying. * Hawaii focused only. General comments won't be published. * No links or UPPER CASE text. English please. * No duplicate posts or using multiple names. * Use a real first name. * A "please" or "thanks" is required for a reply. * Comments edited/published at our sole discretion. * Beat of Hawaii has no relationship with our commentors.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Your comment * Comments limited to 750 characters.
Your name * Please, use first name and last initial only.
Sign me up for Hawaii Travel News! ( I consent to receive communications and agree to Beat of Hawaii's Privacy Policy)
Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.
* Denotes required fields. By commenting you agree to our Privacy Policy.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I feel that airlines missed the chance to be customer friendly when the charge to check bags, but make it free to bring on board. Think how much easier flying would be if fewer people brought all their baggage on board. Charge for that convenience and make it free to check. It would be better in all areas. Mho
It is hard to pick just one to dislike the most. What is the most troubling is that they all have the same cause: a disregard for other people. I’m exposing myself as an old fogey, but people used to pay attention to their surroundings, and not block grocery store aisles by being oblivious, and not pull emergency u-turns when there’s a perfectly good sidestreet a half block away to turn around safely. Don’t get me started on people that march down the center of sidewalks and force people coming toward them into the bushes to get by. (I’m looking at you, Portland, OR.) Bah! Humbug! A little recognition that other people exist, and one’s behavior affects them, is all I ask. Is that too much?
Many years ago the storage bin above Your seat was yours. I don’t know when this stopped being the case but it would sure stop a lot of frustration if this was true today. Every seat has a overhead bin so why is it people don’t use them instead of using someone else’s space. As far as alcohol use I think a two drink limit is reasonable…most people drink responsibly but it only takes one to disrupt an entire flight because of too many drinks.
I fly a lot for business, and I see all of those things, and worse. People just don’t care about anyone but themselves these days, take a look at the comments below from Eldo R. as an example with his extensive use if “I” and his dismissal of “you”. But the airlines don’t really help the situation either. For example, the boarding issue. The other airline’s could adopt the Southwest way of lining people up at the gate. They could set up separate lines for each boarding group, for example, that don’t block the “entrance” to the jetway. I’ve seen that in a few places, but it’s rare. They could also provide headsets that work with phones, for example. Some actually do, but again, it’s rare. But mostly, it’s just being considerate.
I just recently flew SW to Oahu on 8/30 and returned home on 9/5. As I sat next to the window the person in the middle seat took her shoes off for the entire flight and appeared oblivious that it was disturbing to myself and then feigned asleep for the whole flight with them off. As for all of those with bulky bags – that too was an issue. Perhaps what the airlines need to do is to say anything that appears to look like a suitcase needs to be with checked baggage under the plane to avoid people dragging their whole trip on board the aircraft. We even had one family try to bring a stroller on board that had a fit that they couldn’t keep it on the plane with them. Really airlines – just limit carry on baggage to a carry on bag not a suitcase!
So glad I’m not alone. After a recent Southwest flight I sat across the aisle from two boys playing games on their cell phones. The kind of shooting games with many loud shots and explosions etc. I was at first relieved when the flight attendant almost immediately asked them to turn the volume down or use headphones. Of course they ignored her as did the mother. The attendant made no less than three more requests to no avail. Then I became frustrated that apparently there is no recourse from ignoring the attendant. I wish there was something more that could be done. FYI, another peeve is when people crowd the luggage carousel leaving no room for others to maneuver to their bags. Why not just stand back a couple steps?
Ah – the days when you used to get “dressed up” to get on a plane! These behaviors simply reflect what society has become these days – me, me, me and then me!
Get used to it (at least in the U.S.A.) We have become a society of entitled “all about me” individuals. It has now impacted the sky. There is a rule or at a minimum accepted courtesy involved in each example provided. If you are reading the listed examples and don’t see an issue, well the issue is probably You. Societal rules are created for a reason. If you feel your opinion isn’t winning, than you have to convince society that they too want it your way. Remember airlines are not Burger King! If they feel they want your crap silenced no matter what their reasoning is, your option is to go elsewhere. If people spent more time trying to fit in and get along, we would all function better and get along better.
#2B and #3, are controllable in the Pre-Board Area, Announcements as to Boarding Priorities 30 minutes prior, as well as # and Size of Bags, handled best at the Counter, Passenger’s enter the Queu when their Group is called. Over-sized bags those larger then 22x14x8 and more then one Personal item (Briefcase, Purse, Laptop Bag), anything (Brown Bag) in one container that will not fit under the Seat in front of One (see their Space). Once aboard, Flight Attendants Announce the parameters for #1 and #2A, if Seatbacks didn’t work w/o Adaptors, that would solve the problem, as to Phone, suggesting courteous behavior using your Headphones, or those Provided, or simply “Phones should remain in the off position during Flight”. Then pets!
My pet peeve is after landing to pick up luggage at the carousel. If everyone would stand 3 feet from the carousel, everyone could see their bag and move forward and safely remove it. Having to ask people to move, who have been crowding the rail and then not hit anyone when you have to awkwardly twist your bag off as to not hurt anyone, is a pain. There used to be a yellow line around our local airport luggage carousels that helped remind people to stand back.
Don’t forget people bringing their child right up to the carousel so they can touch the bags as they go by. It’s like people check their brain along with their bags.
Some observations: 1. Rich peoples’ problems. 2. Taking shoes off isn’t gross; leaving them on is. Do you wear your shoes to bed? Do you store your shoes on your table? No? Didn’t think so. I’d prefer people removed their shoes (a little shoe bag for everyone would be a nice gesture from the airlines) on entering the plane, like most civilized societies do when entering their homes. 3. I wont close my window shade just so that you can watch some movie on your phone. You can watch that stuff any time you want later; I’m only going to be on a plane for a few hours and the view is incredible. Mahalo for your kokua.
My wife’s pet peeve is all the people jamming themselves at the front of the line making you have to weave your way through a very tight mess. On the newer Max aircraft there just isn’t much of a recline in the seats. My pet peeve is men falling asleep with their legs/feet out in the aisle. That can get pretty nasty around the restrooms. And of course, that problem is much more noticeable on the narrow body aircraft. I agree with you about the headphone issue. A lot of this behavior is magnified by the narrow body aircraft. I can’t imagine what the Max 10 will be like with so many more people on board. Glamorous it ain’t. Narrow bodied aircraft will be common with flights off the west coast.
I consent to receive communications and agree to Beat of Hawaii's Privacy Policy.
Copyright © 2022 · Beat Of Hawaii. All Rights Reserved.