# Ask the guy currently at 23,000 feet (on a plane).

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 10, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810 "2014-04-10T18:07:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 18\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/21 "2014-04-11T04:11:03Z")

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> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> I was shocked to get a meal, with free wine, including refills, in coach, earlier this week.

Surely, you’re joking! :dubious:

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**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/22 "2014-04-11T04:13:16Z")

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> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#):
>
> And? Is this supposed to concern me? I don’t really know what the worst case scenario is.

When Ursa Major is no longer visible off your starboard wing! :eek:

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**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/23 "2014-04-11T13:33:02Z")

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> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#):
>
> I’ll come back to this one when I’m on the new plane, but on the phx-lax one, it was a Spanish lady and (I assume) her mother.

Being a SDMB mod I presume you got to fly first class. 🆒

You plan to update the thread title on the flight to Taipei ?

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**Author:** ![mandala](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mandala/32/95_2.png) [@mandala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandala)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/24 "2014-04-11T13:49:25Z")

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Are you _sure_ the flight is not deviating from its flight path? Keep watching the flight map very closely… Post immediately if the flight takes a 90-degree turn over open seas.

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**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/25 "2014-04-11T13:55:47Z")

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> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> You know who else had a [window seat](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fonmilwaukee.com%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fri%2Frichardmatheson%2Frichardmatheson_fullsize_story1.jpg%253F20130625154341&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fonmilwaukee.com%2Fmovies%2Farticles%2Frichardmatheson.html&h=600&w=799&tbnid=C670GDDbQH6OEM%3A&zoom=1&docid=4dAUApP3OnVdUM&ei=GOBGU7qMI5T8yAGahoGYCA&tbm=isch&client=firefox-a&ved=0CIsBEIQcMAw&iact=rc&dur=925&page=1&start=0&ndsp=18)?

> [@Robot\_Arm](#):
>
> [This guy](http://www.themoviescene.co.uk/reviews/_img/853-3.jpg), too.

And, of course, [this guy](http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/images/hoff2/hud5.jpg).

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**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/26 "2014-04-11T14:53:15Z")

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> [@JohnT](#):
>
> And, of course, [this guy](http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/images/hoff2/hud5.jpg).

JohnT: your link gives me “forbidden”.

In the spirit of [“you know who else?”](https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7ilND6B8gq-_HuSGoql78X0OlIdJBWV5CVk6x4m-CfOG4VEhDBw)

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**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/27 "2014-04-11T15:01:09Z")

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in air refueling? holding pattern?

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/28 "2014-04-11T15:02:48Z")

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> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#):
>
> JohnT: your link gives me “forbidden”.
> 
> In the spirit of [“you know who else?”](https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7ilND6B8gq-_HuSGoql78X0OlIdJBWV5CVk6x4m-CfOG4VEhDBw)

Strangely enough, it’s the same picture only smaller.

here’s the other [window seat](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fdangerfones.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F09%2F297_2.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fdangerfones.com%2Ftwilight-zone-the-movie-1983-part-2%2F&h=347&w=618&tbnid=GPT7I5SQoBDWVM%3A&zoom=1&docid=9FLzbK1VVTv-UM&ei=ygNIU9uXBYHlyAHCuoG4Ag&tbm=isch&client=firefox-a&ved=0CFgQhBwwAQ&iact=rc&dur=678&page=1&start=0&ndsp=24) I was expecting.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/29 "2014-04-11T16:17:38Z")

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> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#):
>
> And? Is this supposed to concern me? I don’t really know what the worst case scenario is.

As a mod you don’t know NSA shares data with Cecil?

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**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/30 "2014-04-11T20:09:06Z")

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> [@terentii](#):
>
> Surely, you’re joking! :dubious:

I am serious, & stop calling me Shirley!

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**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/31 "2014-04-11T20:21:58Z")

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(imitates the sound of a propeller)

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**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/32 "2014-04-11T20:49:29Z")

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I would like to know why anyone would pay $7 to use the internet on a PHX/LAX flight.

New York to LA? Maybe, if i didn’t have a book to read, or if i had some urgent work that required a connection. LA to Indonesia? Sure. But not for a flight that’s barely in the air for an hour.

I love the internet. I spend hours a week on the internet. I can also afford $7 quite easily. It’s more the principles of the matter. I take a certain amount of satisfaction in being able to live without the internet when i fly, and i also object to paying seven bucks for an hour of something that i get for less than two bucks a day when i’m at home.

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**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/33 "2014-04-11T21:13:45Z")

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I was going to make a joke about “paying $7 to browse the Dope, but won’t pay twice that to support the website” but noticed the OP is a moderator. Dammit.

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**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/34 "2014-04-11T21:15:50Z")

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You still up there?  
Man! I hate long flights!

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**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/35 "2014-04-11T21:22:24Z")

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> [@mhendo](#):
>
> I would like to know why anyone would pay $7 to use the internet on a PHX/LAX flight.

If that’s for all legs of the trip, it’s a pretty good deal.

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**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/36 "2014-04-11T21:32:15Z")

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> [@OneCentStamp](#):
>
> If that’s for all legs of the trip, it’s a pretty good deal.

Yeah, if it included the international flight as well, it’s OK. But my bet is that it’s not.

United, for example, prices internet by segment:

> [@](#):
>
> On most aircraft equipped with United Wi-Fi, pricing for Internet access is determined and charged by flight segment (from takeoff to landing).

In my experience, most airlines do this.

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**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/37 "2014-04-12T05:12:32Z")

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You should have landed already, but maybe my timezones are messed up.

I do the Seattle to Taipei flight a lot. The biggest pain is waiting for that 1;00am departure.

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**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-currently-at-23-000-feet-on-a-plane/685810/38 "2014-04-15T22:58:21Z")

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> [@terentii](#):
>
> Surely, you’re joking! :dubious:

Water, soda, juices, & champagne (straight, in a cup, or mimosas) were the drinks on a late morning _regional_ flight of \< 1 hour.

Crossing the Atlantic, we were offered a choice of drinks, including red, white, whiskey (Dewar’s) & something else alcoholic. To accompany our _hot_ lunch, all of the aforementioned, with refills. They also walked thru with some after-meal alcohol but I could not see what the bottles were. Then there was also a hot snack about 1-1½ hrs before landing…& this was all in coach!  
If only Lufthansa was decent with my luggage! :mad:

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