• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Musings  >  My Silent Seatmate From Sydney…
Musings

My Silent Seatmate From Sydney…

Matthew Klint Posted onJanuary 2, 2020 16 Comments

My seatmate from Sydney to Los Angeles was an odd bird. I still cannot figure her out…

I’m not much of a talker on flights, short or long. I’ll generally engage my seatmate if I am first engaged, but I’m not someone who will ever talk your ear off.

But I will always say hello. Just a short greeting, especially if I have to climb over you to get to my window seat.

My seatmate was a woman of about 50 years old. She was sitting in her seat staring off into space when I boarded. I said hello and she did not respond.

Flight attendants came around to offer sparkling wine, orange juice, or water from a tray (or any beverage by request) and she simply pointed at the glass of water.

Later, when a flight attendant came by to take lunch orders, she simply pointed to the portobello mushroom choice and said nothing else. 

After takeoff, when asked what she wanted to drink, she simply pointed to her water bottle.

Still not a word from her.

I wondered if perhaps she was speech-impaired. She made no attempt at using sign language, but then again, she did not have to.

Lunch service began. She took a couple bites of the food and then stopped eating. When a flight attendant walked by, she pointed to it and shook her head. The flight attendant asked if she was finished and she nodded yes.

But when the dessert came around, she eagerly enjoyed an ice cream sundae, pointing to the ingredients she wanted instead of vocalizing them.

Fast-forward three hours.

A flight attendant walks by and the woman stopped her and said,

“Can I please have a Diet Coke?”

Not only did she speak, she had a nice Australian accent!

The flight attendant brought the Diet Coke over and she said, “Thank you.”

And that was it.

She slept through breakfast, but woke up about 30 minutes before landing. A flight attendant noticed she was awake and asked if she wanted coffee. She nodded, but said nothing.

Upon landing, she got up, grabbed her bag, and walked toward the door. No goodbye, of course.

CONCLUSION

She reminded me of the silent flight attendant I had on United several years ago. He was also silent, in a very annoying way. I won’t make assumptions about why this woman was silent, but it did make for a fairly odd encounter.

> Read More: Silent Treatment from the Purser

Previous Article Review: United Airlines 787-9 Business Class Sydney To Los Angeles + Lounge Hopping In SYD
Next Article “Lucky” Airline Passenger Fined $17,000 For Good Luck Stunt

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • COVID-19 Holy Week

    Passing Over Holy Week

    April 11, 2020
  • Travel Blogging Future

    The Future Of Live And Let’s Fly In Our New World…

    March 21, 2020
  • Kobe Bryant Musings

    On Kobe Bryant, Helicopters, And Life…

    January 27, 2020

16 Comments

  1. NJ_EWR Reply
    January 2, 2020 at 3:54 pm

    Hello Matthew,

    I wouldn’t read too much into her silence. I think, she might have:

    1/ Speech impairment (I have a family member who does display some of the characteristics that you called out). you called out this already or
    2/ Asperger’s syndrome (folks with this symptom) don’t interact with strangers or
    3/ Going through depression or a family tragedy or
    4/ some thing else around emotional issues

    I am no Doctor but basing my guesses purely on my personal experience.

    Keep writing good articles like always..

    NJ_EWR

    • Victoria Reply
      January 3, 2020 at 11:54 am

      Maybe she didn’t have anything to say. I’m more interested in why you were so busy minding her business. It’s annoying to me when people want to presume that something’s wrong with you just because you prefer to keep to yourself.

      • Matthew Reply
        January 3, 2020 at 12:44 pm

        Chill out Victoria. I wasn’t criticizing her, just wondering why she chose to be silent.

  2. Al Reply
    January 2, 2020 at 4:04 pm

    People go through a lot of things in life. Perhaps she lost a relative, friend, family member… you don’t know. I’ve seen people cry at the boarding area.

    • Ggg Reply
      January 3, 2020 at 1:21 am

      Why did you write this? Who do you think you are?

  3. GUWonder Reply
    January 2, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    Maybe English wasn’t even her native language. I know some Scandinavians who claim to struggle or get exhausted speaking English despite understanding a fair amount of it and having a British, Australian or even American accent when speaking a brief sentence or two when more or less forced to do so. And in some cases, this wasn’t just a claim without substantiation, it was truly the case.

    Separate to that kind of situation, I’ve also run into people who speak American or British or Australian accented English to such great level that most people from the relevant countries wouldn’t realize they are foreigners whose only connection to the English-speaking country of relevance was via TV/movies/computer stuff and some school stuff. It doesn’t mean they don’t get tired dealing with a foreign language.

  4. Dublin Reply
    January 2, 2020 at 4:26 pm

    At least you had the self awareness, which so many people lack, to realize it and let it be. I can imagine that woman getting stuck with somebody who just wanted to yak her ear off.

  5. Michael Reply
    January 2, 2020 at 4:38 pm

    Sore throat? I’m usually unusually quiet when it hurts to talk.

  6. ChuckMO Reply
    January 2, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    Odd yes. But I can think of far worse things on a plane than a quiet seatmate that keeps to herself.

  7. derek Reply
    January 2, 2020 at 6:21 pm

    Once I visited Budapest and did not say a word. The language was strange. I arrived in the early evening. I ate my own food and slept like a homeless person, no hotel. I had my own water.

    The next morning, I looked around Budapest and stayed until after lunch. Then I left Hungary. I hadn’t eaten in a restaurant.

    • Sam Reply
      January 2, 2020 at 11:37 pm

      “Then I left Hungary. I hadn’t eaten in a restaurant.”

      I bet you were! 😉

      • derek Reply
        January 3, 2020 at 7:29 pm

        pun intended

        More details of the trip: I had a rental car. That made it easy to be anti-social. The next morning, I got a parking ticket while leaving the car while I explored an area of the city. I couldn’t understand what it said. Later, in the US, I had someone translate it for me. It was more of a warning but no fine.

  8. brad Reply
    January 2, 2020 at 7:08 pm

    She kept to herself, what’s the big issue? I nod a lot to indicate if want or don’t want something.

    • JW Reply
      January 2, 2020 at 8:50 pm

      He did not say its an issue and why do you take offence of it. He was just sharing an observation.

  9. James Reply
    January 3, 2020 at 2:48 am

    Huh? She didn’t trouble anyone at all. Not you, the passenger, not even any FA. Why does it matter? I’m confused….

    Or….

    Is it slow nowdays at the office?

  10. M Reply
    January 3, 2020 at 7:57 am

    “….fairly odd encounter.” a.k.a. me on almost any flight or even a train from Begen to Oslo.
    In a world of ‘listen to me’ silence is surely odd.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • United Airlines Wants Flight Attendants To Create “Wow Factor” Onboard March 30, 2023
  • Homeless Man Steals Luggage
    Homeless Man Helps Himself To Luggage In Atlanta Airport March 30, 2023
  • Delta SkyMiles Schedule Change
    UPDATE: Delta Air Lines Strands Senior Citizens In Middle East After Absurd Schedule Change March 29, 2023
  • Turkish Airlines IndiGo 777
    New Turkish Airlines 777: Only 7 Business Class Seats, 524 Economy Class Seats March 29, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Kayleigh Scott United Airlines
    The Tragic Death Of A United Airlines Flight Attendant March 21, 2023
  • Delta SkyMiles Schedule Change
    UPDATE: Delta Air Lines Strands Senior Citizens In Middle East After Absurd Schedule Change March 29, 2023
  • Southwest Airlines Wife Slap
    Enraged Husband Attacks Man On Southwest Airlines Flight After He Bumps Wife March 8, 2023
  • United Polaris Lounge LAX Review
    Review: United Airlines Polaris Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) March 24, 2023

Archives

March 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Feb    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.