The 3 types of people you’ll meet on a plane
What kind of seatmate are you on an airplane? Do you like to sit down, eyes averted, in fear that too much eye contact with your neighbour may warrant a dragging conversation? Or are you perhaps the chatterbox keeping the rows around you up with lively small talk?
There are positives and negatives to pleasant conversation at 30,000 feet, with anecdotes for both sides of the coin. However, one thing is for certain, you are sure to often come into contact with three typical experiences, and it’s good to be able to sum up in the first few moments what you can expect from your new plane buddy.
1. The one that likes to chat
You can see a chatterbox coming from a mile away. They’re usually a lone traveller, vocally excusing themselves as they move down the cabin, and will greet you with a friendly smile and pleasantries. The pros of this kind of traveller is that they are sure to have a story or three hundred up their sleeve and likely to share any snack they may have. If you’re not up for the interaction though, we suggest making use of your headphones and politely telling them you’re looking forward to some relaxing quite time.
2. Silence is golden
Flying is one of the times we’re allowed to truly unplug, so there’s no shame in not wanting to spend it getting to know a stranger. You can identify this person from closed off body language, a book or two and someone who has brought their own headphones to shut out the world. If for some reason you are, don’t be offended. We’re all different!
3. The unexpected friend
Despite the fact everyone is different, sometimes your new plane buddy can surprise you. If you find yourselves bounding over turbulence or watching the same inflight entertainment, perhaps it may be appropriate to strike up a conversation? Travelling is all about breaking out of your comfort zone, after all.
Do you have any interesting stories to share about people you’ve sat next to on a plane? Let us know in the comments below.
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