A passenger was blocking the aisle with her smelly foot, but I managed to teach her a lesson — and the whole cabin applauded me.
I boarded the plane expecting a peaceful flight. Everything was fine at first, until I noticed a young woman sitting right in front of me. She was dressed flashily and clearly believed the world should revolve around her.
Right after takeoff, she slipped off her shoes, placed one foot on the empty seat beside her, and stretched the other straight into the aisle. Her foot blocked anyone who wanted to get to the bathroom or simply stretch their legs. At first, people politely asked her to move it, but were met only with nasty looks and annoyed hissing in return.
Before long, she began deliberately ignoring the requests. One man trying to pass got a loud, dismissive reply:
— What, can’t you go around?!
But going around was impossible — she had sprawled herself out as if she owned the entire row. The worst part was the overpowering smell coming from her foot. It was so strong that a woman across the aisle hid behind her scarf, and a child sitting behind me asked his mother:
— Mom, why does it smell like someone never changes their socks?..
I pressed the call button for the flight attendant.
— Excuse me, — I said, — this passenger is blocking the aisle and refuses to move her foot. Maybe she should pay for this seat, since she’s using it?
The flight attendant gave her a courteous yet firm reprimand. The woman mumbled and rolled her eyes:
— I’m not sitting here, though. I will not make the payment. I am entitled to certain privileges.
After hearing this, the traveler sitting beside her spoke up:
— You cannot simply steal someone else’s seat like that. We can make a formal announcement about the payment. If she doesn’t want to, I can record it.
The woman’s face went pale. The flight attendant took the opportunity to call the purser.
In the end, she was required to pay the current fee for the extra seat — nearly the same as her own ticket. After that, she finally sat properly for the first time.
When the flight attendant walked away, the back of the cabin broke into polite applause. As people grinned at one another, the woman across from me leaned in and quietly said:
— I’m grateful. I was also growing impatient.