Last night, SWA flight SMF - LAX, deadheading or commuting pilot, proudly sporting his "ALPA" lanyard and his white shirt minus epaulets (clever disguise - nobody would guess you're a pilot), packed plane, only a few middle seats left, one of them happens to be next to him but it's "taken" by his overcoat, man purse, and other assorted crap. I ask, "Mind if I grab that seat?" He looks up with a "really...?" expression. Yeah, really. He slowly moves his stuff. So slowly, in fact, that I tell him, "Ya know what? Never mind." I head aft to find a different one.

No wonder the public hates airline pilots.

Happy Holidays, buddy.