I flew from Beijing to Dallas yesterday. I was looking forward to a smooth and quiet flight. Up until 24 hours before departure, my friend and I were the only ones booked in first class. Go figure the flight the day before canceled (and for that matter yesterday's Chicago to Beijing flight was again delayed…
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He is watching Vikings, I can make out Floki in that pic, he is one of the main characters.
...suppose it could be game of thrones though, you guys have me second guessing myself
yes, it's Vikings you can see Floki and Rolo quite clearly.
if this show had gay sex it would be the best tv program ever! you should check it out. they often go to battles totally shirtless.
I have a working knowledge of Mandarin and I would've LOVED to hear the conversation between Aisha and the Chinese pax.
Senior "Worked here for too long I don't give a fuck anymore" purser vs. Old "I've been alive too long I don't give a fuck anymore" Chinese passengers. Oh God the live tweet would be amazing.
Welcome to flying to China. It's different. I'm guessing as I don't really know, but I think the general flying population does not have a similar "flying culture" as we do in the US or other parts of Asia even. When I went to China, flying by myself, every time I got up to go to the bathroom or take a stretch, I came back to find someone sitting in my seat. Literally every time.
Nothing in this story surprises me. Except that you don't know what Game of Thrones is.
Ben how can you tell that a passenger is a nonrev vs an op up vs their elite status?
@ MW @ Lantean -- Yep, that was the name. Remembered it once it was mentioned here.
I have the same question as Alexander, how could you tell the Chinese passengers are non-rev?
Interesting trip report, but I'm glad I'm not on that flight.
@Does this look like the show the crazy man watching
http://www.history.com/shows/vikings/videos
I've been living in China for 4 years and that's the exact behavior on EVERY flight I've ever taken to any country originating or ending in China. There are always stories in the news and blogs (Chinese and expat) about this behavior too ... So, while I really enjoyed your post and found it hilarious, it's definitely par for the course when flying to mainland China
The Vikings !
I will be going to Beijing with my 6yr. old next week. Tuesday I think. I will bring a little gift for the flight attendants for all the crap they have to put up with. I HOPE that the people like me that fly coach 90% of the time and have an opportunity to sit in business class they will see that we are less demanding and a hell of alot understanding. I personally would have told the pilot to drop the plane 5000 feet on a 20 degree turn to show why the Faster your Seat belt Sign is there !
He is DEFINITELY watching Game of Thrones. Thats why Lucky heard "Gaming" and that's what he is watching.
Dude game of thrones is probably the most popular show on TV right own. Come on. It's also on tons of IFE systems...That's actually how I got into it.
Try flying AA's MIA-LPB-VVI B757. People urinating in the galley or taking dumps in the air sick bags because the 2 lavs are taken. Drinking directly from the full size bottles bought in duty-free. The expression in the faces of the mostly Chilean crew asking God to take them out of their misery soon.
I'm curious to know the rationale of an airline to place someone who does not speak the destination's language as the purser. I hope she knows in case of an emergency her inability to lead the masses will only invite chaos and trampling over her body.
Curious to know what happened to AA 88 on 5/12. It looks like AA 89 made it out on 5/11...was the cancellation a mechanical?
@ JoeMart -- That's perfectly normal all over the world, and that's the point of having a language qualified flight attendant in each cabin. Not sure what that has to do with safety, though? All English PAs were immediately followed by Mandarin ones from one of the language qualified crew.
Dee- You don't even need to fly to China to experience this kind of stuff. There's an area of Queens, NYC called Flushing. It's way more like being in China than any "Chinatown" I've ever been in. No one waits in lines. Starbucks is full of people who didn't buy anything and brought their own food. And don't dare getting up from your chair to get some sugar. Even if your stuff is still there to keep the chair, It'll get moved in ten seconds. The upside is that you can do a Chinese buffet lunch for $4.
Neat story, Ben, and thanks for sharing. These pax were obviously unaware/oblivious/didn't give a damn about safety ( theirs or others').
But it DOES give us a useful insight into other cultures (especially one reader's comments about Flushing, NY).
Turning the tables, what seems perfectly normal to westerners must also seem bizarre to members of other cultures.
The lesson is, I think, that we (westerners) should also open our eyes to the fact that the world is a vibrant, varied place, and we can learn so much from traveling in and spending time mixing with peoples whose lives are very different from ours.
Thanks for sharing this eye-opening take!
Goodness the indignities you suffer flying around the world!
Thankfully, this blog serves as a constant reminder of the people (and credit cards) you encounter.