- Introduction: A Secret Mission To Dubai
- Review: Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport (MCO)
- A Final Emirates First Class Farewell!
- Review: The Dubai EDITION Hotel
- Paying To Upgrade On FlyDubai: My Experience
- Review: Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai (DXB)
- Review: Marhaba Lounge Dubai Terminal 3 (DXB)
- Review: FlyDubai Business Class Boeing 737 MAX (DXB-BEG)
- My Drunk & Unusual FlyDubai Seatmate…
- Hyatt Regency Belgrade: My Four-Hour Stay
- Review: Air Serbia Premium Lounge Belgrade (BEG)
- My Frustrating Air Serbia Transfer Desk Experience
- Review: Air Serbia Business Class A330 (BEG-JFK)
- Review: Frontier Airlines A320neo Stretch Seats (ISP-TPA)
I recently published my review of FlyDubai’s Boeing 737 MAX business class. The review was nearly 3,000 words, so I figured it was long enough as is. I did want to share one other story from the flight, about my strange, drunk seatmate.
In this post:
Mr. 2B, FlyDubai’s beer drinking champion
I don’t typically keep tabs on what other people in an airplane cabin are ordering to drink, but on the five hour flight from Dubai to Belgrade I couldn’t help but notice just how many beers the guy across from me ordered (we were both in “throne” seats, so he was seated across the aisle from me).
I noticed this for two reasons:
- The constant sound of cans opening
- Hearing the flight attendant apologize twice to him for not having any of his preferred beer left (he must have had it all), to which he responded “just get me any beer”
He was keeping to himself most of the flight and wasn’t acting particularly strange, so I just thought to myself “I guess this guy has a really good alcohol tolerance.” Furthermore, usually if people are looking to get plastered, beer isn’t their drink of choice, since that takes a lot of effort.
And then we started descending…
The seatbelt sign was turned on about 15 minutes before landing. For most of the flight the guy had headphones in (and was presumably listening to music), but at this point he took it to the next level, and started singing. Like, really loudly. And he didn’t have a singing voice. He was also fake “playing” the drums with his fingers.
Odd…
I’d estimate maybe 20 seconds before landing (a couple of minutes after the gear dropped) the guy fully stood up (which he struggled to do), and then just took a good 360 degree look around the cabin before sitting down again, literally a few seconds before we touched down (and he didn’t put his seatbelt back on).
Hmm…
Then we arrived at the gate and the seatbelt sign was turned off. I’m not usually someone who jumps up when the seatbelt sign goes off, but I don’t judge those who do.
At this point Mr. 2B starts motioning for everyone in business class to sit down, by waving his hand in a downward motion.
“Sit, what is the hurry? It doesn’t work this way!”
At this point he looked at me, almost as if he wanted me to say something in support of him, because I was the only other person who didn’t get up. I didn’t, but he still talked to me.
“What is their problem, do they not understand?”
He didn’t stop.
“Sit, sit, sit, everyone. It is no hurry! We are all going the same place.”
Funny enough when the door did open, this guy stumbled out of the plane at lightning speed, and pushed other people out of the way. I’m a fast walker, but he was so fast that I didn’t see him again in the immigration hall.
I was fully expecting to see him either passed out somewhere in the terminal or in handcuffs, but neither was the case (as far as I could see). Maybe this was actually just a ploy on his part to be first off the plane?
Bottom line
It’s not unusual to see people get a bit tipsy on planes. After all, some people deal with their boredom when flying by drinking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone drink as much beer on a plane as the guy seated across from me in FlyDubai business class.
I wouldn’t have thought much of it, except for how the guy acted on approach. It was almost comedic, because he saved all his strange behavior for the descent and landing. I think it’s safe to say that the flight attendant may have over served this passenger.
I recently had a guy sitting across the aisle in J who drank about half a bottle of whiskey and passed out with his face in the food tray…
May be he is an on board security officer,,,,,,,, just a guess,,,,
I'm 3 out of 3 landing in serbia with frenzys to get off the plane hehe
Honestly there isn't a heck of a lot of interest here. Guy drinks lots of beers and tries to get off a little too soon to piss...ok,nothing to special here
This guy was smashed in first class on a flight the FA brewed him a pot of coffee while we were still on the ground. It was an A319 exUS Airways plane with only 8 seats in F. Glad I wasn’t upgraded but it was fun watching from the first row of economy.
I once went to Alcoholics Anonymous. So I started drinking under a different name.
Mine was better back in the days of virgin America. The guy behind me was rustling a lot before take off. I thought he kept popping tic tacs but it turns out to be prescription pills as I observed mid flight because he was popping them pills for hours. Half way into the 5 hour flight he was babbling and flopping all over his seat and arms dangling over my head and kept smacking me...
Mine was better back in the days of virgin America. The guy behind me was rustling a lot before take off. I thought he kept popping tic tacs but it turns out to be prescription pills as I observed mid flight because he was popping them pills for hours. Half way into the 5 hour flight he was babbling and flopping all over his seat and arms dangling over my head and kept smacking me accidentally. He was 10x my size like a middle eastern Arnold but I didn't give a F and accidentally smacked his arms a few times and might have twisted his ears a few times too not that it mattered because he had no idea what was going on. FA tried to rouse him up a few times but it was pointless. When we landed 2 equally large policemen boarded to my delight. I was hoping to see some tasers. But we deplaned after the officers asked me a few questions and kept the guy onboard. VA barely apologized and not until I wrote them a complaint. That was the last time I flew VA.
Nice little story ... still enjoy your writing style and humor.
Unfortunately flight attendants can't say no in Fly Dubai..Have seen it on Emirates but then they got abusive. No wonder flights have to be diverted for these types of passengers.
Its obvious he had a good tolerance drinking habit. Don't judge! And he apparently kept you pretty occupied, curious of what next!
I was in first on Asiana. once, and witnessed a flight attendant gently cut a guy off from an apparent plan to drink all the gin on board. Smoothly done, and welcome.
"Furthermore, usually if people are looking to get plastered, beer isn’t their drink of choice, since that takes a lot of effort."
-CHALLENGE: ACCEPTED
love, flyinryan
Hah!!!! Hilarious response:)
I don't think beer or alcohol alone would result in such behaviors.
The obligatory, "sorry for partying"? :)
This could have been my husband.
Or mine.
Well, I have to say, I found you quite odd, the way to were taking pictures of everything. And then you didn't even respond when I talked to you. Sad.
Sound like Bubba J.
Reminds me of my college buddy who before we boarded the train in East Berlin, downed 13 pints of strong German lager at the train station in two hours. Then after boarding the train, he settled down in the dining car and drank another 20 pints before we reached Budapest early in the morning……
In Germany they say "Beer is Food"..... Your buddy & this guy must have been really hungry!!
That guy must have had a whole bunch of cash on him, that much beer is worth like a whole week's pay to buy at stations or on trains!
This guy didn’t cause any big problems for you or anyone else on the flight which was largely due to luck but one has to wonder why the FA didn’t cut him off? This story could have ended quite differently and not in a fun way.
The British have an old saying,
Money does not buy Class.
It is still as true and valid as ever.
Money does not buy class~ unless it's First Class!
I’m sorry. Must’ve been our Prime Minister.
Signed, a Brit.
Good to see Wade Boggs is enjoying his travels.
May he rest in peace.
This means NOTHING to anyone outside the US and born after 1990.
Phew, I'm just so glad this story didn't involving any vomitting. I would have loved to have heard the singing!
Haha - I too was waiting for vomit to somehow work its way into this story. Glad that didn't happen!! Yuck!
Working theory:
Realized on final approach he had to pee, badly.
Got up, realized toilets were locked. Flopped back down.
Entire post landing exercise was to keep the *four* people ahead of him on the plane out of his way.
Sprinted for the toilet at first opportunity.
Sprinted to the can... Thus the reason Lucky didn't see him again. We can't rule out the vomiting but we'll never know.
After the Snake head article, I don't think that I can handle a vomit article. Need time to recoup.
I unusually get plastered on the lounge and consistently sip while airborne to keep my buzz:)
Alcohol never improves behaviour.
I'm impressed he could walk that fast to immigration after that many beers!
How many is "that many"? It's not mentioned in the article.
Sounds like 5 hours' worth, downed fast. Maybe you can do the math if you want numbers.