Strangest (weirdest) in-flight passenger antics?

[I love to travel]

On a US flight, a passenger asks the flight attendant, do you think the captain would be happy to go to IAD instead of DCA as it is closer to home for me. No words........

 

[ThePointyEnd]

My wife was the same … until she worked for a month in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.
Then she absolutely understood the joy of touching-down in Switzerland, after having escaped Russia and the secret police couldn’t get your ‘plane turned around.

I distinctly remember the relief on leaving Soviet air space, back in '89.

 

[ThePointyEnd]

OK I'll start the war.

First of all, passengers of QF30 clapped after successfully landing at Manila. I think that was deserved (and I think it was also out of relief). OK, so that's a notable exception.

I don't know which cultures around the world clap when the plane lands; I think they do in Mexico or other parts of Latin America. It may be strange to us, but it's not say a stupid thing to do. People make jokes that we should ostracise those who applaud when a plane lands; I'm not one to lean that way, no more than we shouldn't make fun of people who prefer to eat rice with a fork rather than a spoon (or vice versa). Or starting a flight with a pre-flight prayer.

That said, it doesn't make sense to applaud unless basically the whole plane does it.

They certainly used to do that every trip in Greece a couple of decades ago!

 

[happywanderer51]

After 6 weeks skiing around what was Yugoslavia, we returned to Belgrade to fly to Singapore and Bali. As it was very close to the War of 1990, (between Croatia and Serbia) we had 2 families board the plane in what must have been all the clothes they owned. They wore full ski gear for the entire flight. Felt so sorry for them, but they spoke no English, so we were not able to help. Then on arrival in Bali they tried to confiscate our skis and poles as security had no idea what they were but were convinced they were weapons. We eventually were cleared to enter Bali, and it did not put us off ski holidays, as we have continued our love of that sport for the past 35 years, skiing all over the World.

 

[Cloud9]

On a US flight, a passenger asks the flight attendant, do you think the captain would be happy to go to IAD instead of DCA as it is closer to home for me. No words........

Something in my soul says that sort of convo probably happens quite a lot in certain c(o)untries.

 

[Justinf]

Not really behaviour, but I have been waiting to tell this story.
Back in 1993 as a 22 year old I was heading off for the obligatory two year working visa UK and Europe sojourn that many of us did.
The night before departure I went out and pulled an all nighter.
At the club, the girl of my dreams finally told me she was ready for a date, but it was all too late. I was leaving for two years. I proceeded to do an absolute number on myself.
Got a cab 35km to my parents house at 5am and they, along with my whole family - sisters, grandparents, aunt - drove me to the airport for a 10am Garuda flight via Adelaide, Denpasar, Jakarta, Oman, Frankfurt and then finally Heathrow.
40 hours of absolute agony.
Got to the airport and the two mates I was going with wanted to have a beer with their dads and my dad was certainly up for it.
I was keen so we spent 40 minutes or so chugging pots from 8am and generally having a good time.
Upon boarding the DC10 and taking my seat in Y, the captain actually walked up to me and in no uncertain terms looked me in the eye and said “you shouldn’t be travelling today but I will give you one chance to shape up before take off or you’re off”.
That sobered me up quick smart but the next 40 hours will forever remain etched into my memory as some of the most painful hours I have ever bestowed upon myself.
This included descent from DPS to JKT with some of the worst turbulence I have ever felt and two of the FAs running down the aisle with panicked looks on their faces.
To this day I have never boarded an aircraft drunk again.
Tipsy yes, but drunk, no.

 

[VPS]

Not really behaviour, but I have been waiting to tell this story.
Back in 1993 as a 22 year old I was heading off for the obligatory two year working visa UK and Europe sojourn that many of us did.
The night before departure I went out and pulled an all nighter.
At the club, the girl of my dreams finally told me she was ready for a date, but it was all too late. I was leaving for two years. I proceeded to do an absolute number on myself.
Got a cab 35km to my parents house at 5am and they, along with my whole family - sisters, grandparents, aunt - drove me to the airport for a 10am Garuda flight via Adelaide, Denpasar, Jakarta, Oman, Frankfurt and then finally Heathrow.
40 hours of absolute agony.
Got to the airport and the two mates I was going with wanted to have a beer with their dads and my dad was certainly up for it.
I was keen so we spent 40 minutes or so chugging pots from 8am and generally having a good time.
Upon boarding the DC10 and taking my seat in Y, the captain actually walked up to me and in no uncertain terms looked me in the eye and said “you shouldn’t be travelling today but I will give you one chance to shape up before take off or you’re off”.
That sobered me up quick smart but the next 40 hours will forever remain etched into my memory as some of the most painful hours I have ever bestowed upon myself.
This included descent from DPS to JKT with some of the worst turbulence I have ever felt and two of the FAs running down the aisle with panicked looks on their faces.
To this day I have never boarded an aircraft drunk again.
Tipsy yes, but drunk, no.

and did you ever meet the girl again

 

[Justinf]

and did you ever meet the girl again

Many years later yes.
We were both happily married to other people.

 

[PumaPilot]

I was flying helicopters in Denmark in the late 90's/early 2000's from Esbjerg to/from the oil fields. On three seperate flights, we had PAX come forward and say they needed to pee/poop. Bearing in mind, the PAX ( and crew) wore dry suits and life-jackets. The flights were 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes long. 2 PAX needed to pee and pee'd in our coughpit rubbish bag then bought the bag forward for us to look after, that didn't happened ! and the third cr&ped in a food box we received from the rig, again, he bought it forward for us to hold, again, we refused to accept his gift. Also, bear in mind, we had 18 PAX aboard so had to get in the middle of the helicopter under the gearbox, remove the life-jacket, wriggle out of a dry suit then while crouched over pee or cr%p !

 

[AuSammy]

Many years ago I flew Ansett MEL-PER, as we approached our destination the captain advised to make sure the cabin was secure and seatbelts fastened tightly as there was wind shear at the airport. We got to within a few 100ft of touchdown and the landing was aborted with quite a bit of turbulence. Loud gasps amongst the passengers. You could see panicked looks in the eyes if the cabin crew. We had two more go arounds and there was loud sobbing and crying by some passengers and others were saying prayers. I was sitting in J (2a?) with another businessman alongside. As we came in for our fourth attempt the pilot said this will be our last attempt as we were low on fuel and he would have to divert. Boy was it turbulent and aside from some crying the cabin was silent as if everyone was holding their breath. Just as we were about to touchdown and bouncing around my seat mate (stranger) grabbed my knee and started calling out I don’t want to die. We landed successfully. On touchdown the whole cabin was clapping and the cabin manager who was white faced came on the PA and made the announcement of the period “welcome to WA state of excitement”. Later that evening in the hotel I noticed the bruising on my knee where I had been grabbed.