# Seat mate on a long flight **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 27, 2024, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155 "2024-05-27T20:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/61 "2024-05-28T21:28:19Z")
It was a sketch on SNL. Al had supposedly been injured or something so he just walked around it a daze repeating the punchline while Tom Davis was trying to raise money for his treatment. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/62 "2024-05-28T21:43:56Z")
Since fictional people are allowed, I pick Neal Page, Steve Martin’s character in _Planes, Trains, and Automobiles_. He’s clearly not the type to want to chat on planes, and he’s an average sized guy. And I promise not to talk his ear off about shower curtain rings. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/63 "2024-05-28T22:43:58Z")
Mark Twain would be full of interesting stories. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/64 "2024-05-28T23:00:10Z")
Yeah, but he was a Shakespeare denier. Don’t get him started on that. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/65 "2024-05-29T01:00:56Z")
First choice is my husband. Second choice would one of my friends who likes to play cards or cribbage. If I have to pick a celebrity, it would be Sandi Toksvig or Susan Calman, who both also have the advantage of being on the short side. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/66 "2024-05-29T01:22:51Z")
If we’re allowed to resurrect dead people, probably J.R.R. Tolkien. Or maybe Jerry Garcia. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/67 "2024-05-29T01:42:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Hypothetical- You are stuck in coach for a 15 hour flight. Which real or fictional person would you want seated next to you during the flight? > “Nobody” is not an option. a freshly washed midget, bonus points if they are deaf/mute ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/68 "2024-05-29T02:12:43Z")
I think Bill Bryson for a real person. He’s probably got some great stories that didn’t make it into his books. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/69 "2024-05-29T02:19:35Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > I think Bill Bryson for a real person. He’s probably got some great stories that didn’t make it into his books I agree! Based on all his books, I think you’re going to want to make sure he gets served beer whenever he wants it. (In his travel books, every chapter seems to end with him finding his way to the local pub and getting happily lubricated.) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/70 "2024-05-29T03:44:17Z")
Stephen Colbert. I’m sure he has great stories and is also a great listener and just plain fun. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/71 "2024-05-29T04:14:29Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > In any case, I would NEVER take a coach seat for 15 hours. Not gonna happen. Not rich, but I can avoid that hell. I did just that about 15 years ago, on a flight from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand. Not fun, but it wasn’t torture. The woman I was sitting next to was a biologist, on her way to Antarctica to continue her studies of elephant seals, so we had some interesting conversations. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/72 "2024-05-29T10:16:28Z")
Carl Sagan would be a great seatmate. He could explain everything! ---
**Author:** ![Wincerind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@Wincerind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wincerind)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/73 "2024-05-29T10:51:04Z")
I agree too, but remember the story about the nun he sat next to. he should have the aisle seat and you wear old clothes and bring spares just to make sure ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/74 "2024-05-29T11:00:41Z")
R. Daneel Olivaw. A capable fellow who can supply intelligent answers to any of my questions, who is sure to have taken care of his body and clothes (i.e. will not stink), and on whom I can at any time invoke the Second Law to shut him up. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/75 "2024-05-29T11:35:50Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I’m sure he has great stories and is also a great listener As long as you’re on his left side. . . ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/76 "2024-05-29T12:22:00Z")
Thats why I said Jesus! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/77 "2024-05-29T12:29:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > “Nobody” is not an option. Darn! LOL I would prefer a petite middle aged woman. Petite means that her flesh isn’t spilling over into my seat. Middle aged means that she is old enough to be mature but young enough not to have special needs or issues. It also means that, should we strike up a conversation, we wlll have similar interests to discuss. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/78 "2024-05-29T13:01:38Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > If we’re allowed to resurrect dead people Given that, I would choose Neil Peart. He was obviously intelligent and was apparently quite introverted. He also liked cycling, as do I. So if he was feeling particularly expansive I assume that it would be a good conversation. Otherwise give me a few glasses of wine and my iPod and I’m good. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/79 "2024-05-29T14:00:31Z")
My son who died 9+ years ago. How I would love to just sit and talk with him again. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155/80 "2024-05-29T16:31:06Z")
Michael Brecker. Seems like a nice bloke who wouldn’t mind answering a few questions about saxophone related topics. * * * Interesting how both Encinitas and Wincerind have not been seen for 5 months, and then both post consecutive posts within an hour of each other. Coincidence ? Yes, probably ! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-mate-on-a-long-flight/1002155.md?page=5)