A VC - Latest Comments in How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

ryancoleman — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:52:17 -0000

You've got stronger willpower than I do fred... if I had been you, in that position I probably would have hedged my bets someone was headed west to pitch, stood up and loudly offered a term sheet to the first entrepreneur to trade seats with me ;)

I did have an exit row turn into a window seat that wouldn't recline, facing a bulk head (I'm 6'2" so basically the bulk head was hell) that also ended turned out to be missing half an arm rest going from Zurich to Toronto... I used up all my flight karma/luck when it turned out there was one aisle seat still free in the entire plane though that I ran for as soon as the attendant pointed it out.

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

Sanjay Raman — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:35:50 -0000

Fred - you should check out this video on Howcast (disclosure: I'm a founder): http://www.howcast.com/vide...

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

TimWalker — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:06:34 -0000

Thanks, Fred -- You're about the eighth person to recommend the Curve -- I'm going to get one this weekend. Cheers!

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

Litty — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:10:44 -0000

Smart move because I'm going to blog/write/tweet/meet everyone i can while I'm in India anyways and share it with all who are interested!

Here's my first post -- http://www.blog.littyhoops....

I'll think of your flight advice when i'm sitting in my crappy coach seat!

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

Todd Savage — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:29:21 -0000

Guess you're not going to free me of my guilt then? I guess I'd rather feel guilty and fly in comfort for 5 hours than feel not guilty and fly in pain! ;-)

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

Michael Lucca — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:11:07 -0000

I think we have all been there at some time. Could have been worse though - you could have been in the middle seat.

Have you ever weighed the value of a confirmed upgrade on two connecting flights versus the experience you had on the coach non-stop? 3 hours longer, but with comfortable seats, a reasonable workspace and better service. There should be a fromula that compares first class hours versus coach hours.

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

PKafka — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:17:53 -0000

I have that nightmare/fantasy about walking off the plane whenever I fly. I'm always scanning my fellow passengers for possible users of seatbelt-extenders. Then I obsess about not being seated next to them.
Then again, on my last x-country flight I was someone's nightmare - me and my were holding a 3-month old. (Who ended up being a great flier, but noone knew that at the time).

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

fredwilson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:28:18 -0000

I'm getting there myself todd. I hate doing it but I am picking up the cost of the upgrade more and more

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

Todd Savage — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:55:27 -0000

Fred,

I recall you blogging a while ago how you never fly upfront and out of principal of remembering where you came from, you would fly coach. I happen to be 6' 5", 220 pounds. My rule is that any flight over three hours I try to fly first class. I simply cannot fit in coach class. I actually feel like the ability to have quiet time where I can catch up on reading and work is SO valuable in this day and age, that it is a shame if I can't even work on a flight because the quarters are so tight. So, anything over three hours I go first class.

However, every time I book first class you are on my mind and make me feel SO guilty! I am self-made as well and take pride in never forgetting where I came from, but can you please tell me I am not a bad person for flying first class so I can get on with my traveling in comfort (at least, somewhat)?

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

chrisherbert — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:15:28 -0000

What's worse than sitting next to a baby or a large person on a plane?

Having the person sitting next to you say that they get motion sickness...True story, on a trans-Atlantic flight http://tinyurl.com/5mvwt8

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

fredwilson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:50:11 -0000

That's a great pitch. But I gotta get there myself!

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

Nate — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:05:46 -0000

Mindfulness in Plain English is a good guide to getting started with meditation. Nothing magical about it. Put some pillows on the floor, sit comfortably, and focus on your breathing for 10 minutes or so. It's physically easy, quieting the mind is the hard part.

However on a flight from hell, I'd choose medication over meditation ;-)

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

Litty — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:58:13 -0000

I'm flying coach to India next week. If you or USV wants to "sponsor" my upgrade to the front of the plane I'll blog/write/tweet/meet and overall be your man on the ground in Delhi for a few weeks...

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

fredwilson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:16:29 -0000

Yup, I said that

But I am working on breaking it

The gotham gal is pushing me hard on that one

She¹s tired of me being tired and cranky when I get home from trips

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

scottfromshanghai — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:07:38 -0000

Fred, continuing the vein of trying to use comedy to make you feel better, you are lucky at least you didn't travel Yorkshire Airlines http://www.youtube.com/watc... (I'm from there originally!)

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

fredwilson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:07:06 -0000

Ha!

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

fredwilson — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:07:09 -0000

david, i reblogged this video on tumblr and so far it's been reblogged 22x. thanks again for the link, it's made quite a few people laugh today

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

fredwilson — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:59:48 -0000

i like the curve and will get the new curve (aka javelin) when it comes out even though it does not have 3g

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

fredwilson — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:59:09 -0000

i used to go to mass as a kid too. i never counted like that but i did learn some good time killing techniques, some of which i put to good use last night!

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

Brad Inman — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:20:55 -0000

Here is an idea: Count to 21,600. When I was a kid attending Catholic Church on Sunday, I would count to 3600, which is approximately an hour. Often I would get to 3400 or so and mass would be over, like getting out of prison early for good behavior.

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

jaymeydad — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:01:14 -0000

The bright side about your travel policy is that coach is probably a better environment to end up sitting next to an entrepreneur who might be working on the next big thing...

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

TimWalker — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:41:33 -0000

Just curious, Fred, since I'm in the market for a new Blackberry: which model do you use?

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

ErikSchwartz — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:48:42 -0000

Being short helps too.

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

MParekh — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:19:49 -0000

Fred,
The only additional gadget that I've found helps in these kinds of flights is the Amazon Kindle...but a portable LED back-light is essential since I almost always seem to find that only the reading light over my seat doesn't work.

Re: How To Survive A Horrible Seat Assignment

GL — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:42:31 -0000

...."Every time the big guy leans on me, I gently push back towards his wife"

Classic line. That was funny. Cheers