Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.

Five ways to avoid a chatty passenger

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) on Oct 1st 2009 at 8:00AM

You usually know within seconds whether the person next to you will leave you alone. The talkative types may wait until they have their bags stored, though some will start even before they've tossed their carry-ons into the overhead bins. From before the door shuts to well after touchdown, chatty passengers can consume your flight, making your books, magazines and iPods irrelevant.

Some people love this. Stick two talkers together, and they'll reach baggage claim the best of friends. The unfortunate pairing of one of these passengers with the type that prefers to be left alone can make the flight a living hell for the latter, with severity linked to duration. If you like nothing more than to occupy yourself while flying, here are five steps you can take to be left in silence.

1. Keep your magazine in your pocket
A talker can strike while you're fishing through your bag for reading material. Keep your magazine handy, and you narrow your neighbor's window of opportunity. Roll it and put it in your back pocket, that way you can pull it out in fractions of a second. Open it while you're sitting down to avoid making eye contact.

2. Act like a workaholic
Stare at your Blackberry and shake your head. Mutter to yourself about "that asshole, Steve." When you have to turn off your electronic devices, pull out a notepad and start scribbling furiously. The passenger next to you may try to strike up a conversation, but you can reply, "Sorry, I have to deal with this." Don't give any details: they can only lead to more questions.

3. Look exhausted
Merely waiting to sleep isn't enough. A chatty passenger will try to keep you awake. You have to look weary (the prospect of having to listen to this person should help this along) and in desperate need of some shut-eye. If you have to say something to the person, just mention that you didn't get to sleep much last week ... and that the coming week will be worse. Then, close your eyes and tilt your head. Don't give in to any offers to converse.

4. Stick to short answers
Try to telegraph your lack of interest in talking through one-word answers and grunts. Usually, a single word in reply to an open-ended question drives the message home. After you answer each question, close your eyes and turn your head away, or lift your magazine or book higher. Make it clear through body language that you have no interest in continuing the discussion.

5. Be direct
If you've tried to be polite and sought to avoid conflict without the desired result, it's time to get tough. If you don't like to be rude, think of it this way – you tried, and your neighbor is the one acting inappropriately. Be firm: "I'm not interested in talking. I really need to [pick one: sleep, work, etc.]." Sometimes, the direct approach is the only one that will work.

Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines

Search Travel Deals

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Cate Oct 1st 2009 10:03AM

This is really all common sense. If people don't know how to politely deal with a chatterer, as adults, then they need to work on assertiveness. But it's always nice to know someone like you can help those in need. Good ideas here and nicely written.

Unexpected Traveller Oct 1st 2009 11:31AM

I agree - I've met a few chatty passengers before and a firm word always went a long (polite) way.

Of course, sitting next to someone who doesn't chat at all can be just as disconcerting; this happened to me on a flight back to Brussels from Nashville not too long ago: http://unexpectedtraveller.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/patience/

The Unexpected Traveller

Joe Oct 1st 2009 11:32AM

Why is "be direct" last on the list, and why be indirect at all? It IS possible to politely tell someone that you're not in the mood to talk -- and not play games by looking preoccupied (doing things that you didn't want to do in the first place, no less), acting like a terse jerk (by only giving short answers) or hiding in plain sight with your magazine.

This article makes no sense to me.

-joe

sue Oct 2nd 2009 10:14PM

I sat next to one of these blabbermouth people on a short 2-hour flight. All she could talk about was her ranch, her cars and her children's sex lives. In between us was a man that didn't say much of anything. I was boiling about mid-flight. I just wanted to lean over and shout to her, Shut up! I should have asked the attendant to move my seat just in case. I can't tell you how maddening it was. If I could have, I would have opened up an emergency door and thrown her out.
Thankfully the flight ended and I pushed ahead of her and left. I hate such self-centered people.

Ken Oct 3rd 2009 9:16PM

Alas.... what the world needs.
A female Kenny Tarmac!

susan Oct 3rd 2009 7:32AM

I usually like to talk during short flights as it makes the time go by faster, not constantly though ..I usually just say hello and if the person responds with a sentence and I feel like talking back, I respond with a sentence and it goes from there..The hello is just a polite acknowledge of a body next to you.You can usually tell by a person's demeanor if they are interested in talking or not even if its ocassional idle chit chat.. I have meet some very interesting people on flights..

csencerare Oct 3rd 2009 12:55PM

I think it¨s nice to got to know someone who your rubbing up against in a long flight.Maybe you´could learn something.Some people are friendly and then there are those who couldn´t be bothered.Open up your ears and get to know people.