Seinfeld wasn’t just ridiculously entertaining and one of the most successful sitcoms EVER. It was also incredibly insightful and educational at times too.
Looking back on this show “about nothing,” I’ve learnt many things about the world and the sometimes crazy people who inhabit it during the sitcom’s nine seasons.
Specifically, here are five things I learnt about flying from Seinfeld.
(Also, check out the seven things I learnt about office etiquette from the one and only David Brent.)
1. It’s just not possible to sneak into First Class
Economy Class is never any fun. It’s cramped, it’s hard to get any sleep, and, if you happen to be unlucky on the day, you may just find yourself sitting next to one of these annoying passenger types with little escape.
But up in First Class, well, things are much, much better.
However, unfortunately, even if there’s room in First Class for your bum, and you’d feel much more comfortable up front, you’re just not allowed to sit up there, and no matter how awesome your ninja stealth moves are, you’ll be caught if you dare try – as Elaine found out in The Airport episode!
2. Always bring a book on a flight
Travelling these days is much different from travelling back when Seinfeld was on air. Back then, most planes didn’t have personalised entertainment screens, and so you had to prepare and plan for your in-flight entertainment accordingly, such as taking a book or magazine on the flight with you.
But if, for some reason (such as if flying a budget airline) you don’t have entertainment onboard on your next flight, then for god’s sake take something to read or entertain yourself when catching a flight – if not for your own sanity, then for the sanity of passengers like Elaine who found it extremely irritating that her on-again off-again boyfriend Puddy would just stare at the back of the seat for the whole flight!
3. Airlines are much smarter than you think…
Airline staff are no strangers to dealing with rude and dodgy passengers who try to scam their way into getting a cheaper flight. And in response, they’ve developed some pretty air-tight policies to prevent these characters from taking advantage of them.
That’s what both George and Kramer learnt in The Implant episode. Trying to score a 50 percent discounted bereavement fare, they were told they needed to provide a death certificate to receive the discount, which of course they didn’t have as they were just trying to scam the system.
Nice try boys!
4. It’s much better to sit in an aisle seat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R5mVF6jeTU
As Elaine finds out in The Airport episode, not sitting in an aisle seat puts your bladder at the mercy of your neighbour’s sleeping patterns. And although it wouldn’t be against airplane etiquette to wake up the person sitting next to you in an aisle seat so you can visit the bathroom, it just doesn’t feel right to do it…
Which means that you’ll have to either work up the courage to disturb the poor passenger from their slumber, and deal with their grunt and evil eye, or just hold it in – which is simply not possible on a long haul flight!
So yeah, go aisle all the way!
5. Security at airports wasn’t so crash hot in the 90s
https://youtu.be/3byktWwsY74?t=76
These days, just getting through airport security is almost as intense, time-consuming and intrusive as a full body cavity search. And rightfully so I suppose, with all the concern regarding terrorism and the like.
But back in the 90s, it wasn’t such an intense affair, and things were much more relaxed. Which made it possible for someone like Kramer to find himself on the runway at La Guardia airport in New York.
Ah Kramer…!
