06-17-25 - People Are Now Buying Seat 11a On Planes At A Premium After Air India Survivor

Summary

Summary of "Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona" Episode (06-17-25)

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Podcast Information:

• Title: Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona
• Host/Author: 98KUPD | Hubbard Radio
• Episode Title: People Are Now Buying Seat 11a On Planes At A Premium After Air India Survivor
• Release Date: June 17, 2025

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Overview

In the June 17, 2025 episode of "Holmberg's Morning Sickness" titled "People Are Now Buying Seat 11a On Planes At A Premium After Air India Survivor," host John Holmberg engages with co-hosts Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo in a spirited discussion about the newfound premium status of seat 11A on airplanes. This conversation is sparked by the survival story of an Air India passenger who managed to exit the plane safely, leading airlines to market seat 11A as a desirable option for travelers.

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Key Discussions

1. Introduction to Seat 11A Premium Pricing

   The episode opens with discussions about the surge in demand for seat 11A, highlighting how airlines have capitalized on the Air India survivor story to position this seat as a premium choice.

   • John Holmberg (02:14):
     “We think you may have some Trump derangement. I think, look, I think it's funny because I don't like either side, but man, I'm watching one side throw a huge baby fit. And the other side, if you can't beat Republicans, you're terrible.”

   This quote sets the tone for a broader critique of societal behaviors and the commercialization of safety features in air travel.

2. Analysis of the Air India Survival Incident

   The core of the episode delves into the specifics of the Air India incident, questioning the narrative of heroism often associated with emergency exit seats.

   • John Holmberg (04:26):
     “Because dude pops out of that plane, a Dreamliner smashes into a building, and the guy walks away. So, like, Ganesh is in the lead to me, if there is a God, it's Ganesh, because holy mother.”

   The hosts dissect the circumstances of the survival, emphasizing luck and seat positioning over any heroic actions.

   • John Holmberg (05:22):
     “That door came off and he got out. There was nobody like, let me help. Let me help. Dude's the sole survivor because he was sitting on the door. That's it.”

   This highlights skepticism toward the glorification of such survival stories.

3. Airline Marketing and Passenger Behavior

   The conversation shifts to how airlines have responded by promoting seat 11A, often dubbed the "miracle seat," and the ethical implications of such marketing strategies.

   • John Holmberg (14:46):
     “I love that nobody's talking about the fact that he didn't even look over his shoulder to see if he could help anybody. That door came off and he got out.”

   This critique suggests that passengers prioritize personal safety over assisting others, undermining the notion of heroism.

   • Brett (14:31):
     “I'm not going to Thailand or India, so I mean, regardless.”

   This remark underscores the reactionary nature of consumers avoiding certain airlines or routes based on such narratives.

4. Listener Stories and Anecdotes

   The hosts incorporate listener anecdotes to reinforce their points about passenger priorities and the impracticality of expecting assistance in emergencies.

   • Listener (14:59):
     “Would they believe that she would do. And she broke all the rules. Her tray table was down. It was not going to help her.”

   These stories serve to illustrate the disconnect between expected and actual passenger behavior during crises.

5. Humorous Takes on Passenger Prioritization

   Maintaining a light-hearted tone, the hosts joke about their own intentions to purchase seat 11A purely for the added legroom rather than any safety benefits.

   • John Holmberg (16:49):
     “It's all about you. That's all I'm saying. So congratulations, 11A.”

   This humor underscores the selfish motivations behind seat selection, challenging the altruistic narratives often promoted by airlines.

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Notable Quotes:

• John Holmberg (04:26):
  “Because dude pops out of that plane, a Dreamliner smashes into a building, and the guy walks away. So, like, Ganesh is in the lead to me, if there is a God, it's Ganesh, because holy mother.”

• John Holmberg (05:22):
  “That door came off and he got out. There was nobody like, let me help. Let me help. Dude's the sole survivor because he was sitting on the door. That's it.”

• John Holmberg (14:46):
  “I love that nobody's talking about the fact that he didn't even look over his shoulder to see if he could help anybody. That door came off and he got out.”

• John Holmberg (16:49):
  “It's all about you. That's all I'm saying. So congratulations, 11A.”

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Insights and Conclusions

The episode culminates in a critical examination of how airlines and passengers interact with narratives of survival and safety. The hosts argue that the premiumization of seat 11A is less about genuine safety improvements and more about capitalizing on lucky survival stories for profit. They posit that this trend reflects broader societal tendencies toward self-preservation over collective responsibility.

• John Holmberg (17:00):
  “And if I'm an airline, I'm charging extra for 11A while.”

This statement encapsulates the overarching critique of commercializing tragedy for financial gain.

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Final Thoughts

"Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona" delivers a thought-provoking discussion on the commercialization of air travel safety features, particularly seat 11A, in the wake of the Air India survivor incident. Through humor, listener anecdotes, and critical analysis, the episode challenges listeners to reassess the true value and implications of premium seating options in aviation.

Transcript

[Brett]

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[Brett]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Reverse Auctioneer]

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[Brett]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[David Spade]

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[John]

What the hell is wrong with you? That was cool. David Spade on with us this morning and he's gonna be here Friday. People ask me online, like, how much are the tickets? They're about. I think they're 89 something or 90.89.90 or 8,940 something.

[Nick Toledo]

I saw 72 and Tucson and 90 here. 72 by the time you check out.

[John]

Well, because it's American money, right? Okay, Just making sure. Yeah, Spades up here. Yeah, it's good. It's great to see at the celebrity theater too. So go see David Spade. That's a beautiful thing. I am. I also got an email from somebody earlier about Toledo getting mad at Trump. So immediately, because, you know, it came out quick, we all noticed that it was a very fat. It was reactionary tds. We think you may have it. We think you may have some Trump derangement. I think, Look, I think it's funny because I don't like either side, but man, I'm watching one side throw a Huge baby fit. And the other side, if you can't beat Republicans, you're terrible. Because they're a mess right now.

[Nick Toledo]

Absolutely.

[John]

And the Democrats are doing. They're making me like them. But this guy says after hearing Toledo's quick response to all of your Trump talk, I'm going to buy two Trump phones in honor of Toledo and his wife. Toledo, congratulate yourself. Your family just made more. His family just made more money. You just made Trump two more. Two more phone sales because of your tds. You did jump on that kind of quit. And all I said was, is he allowed to sell phones? No. What's the clause called?

[Brady]

The emoluments cloth.

[John]

The emoluments cloth. I bet you there's posters at your house with, like, lines. We will not emoluments here. There will be no emolumating in the Toledo household. I know what I'm getting you for your birthday, though. Coming up here in July just to see if you are allowed in the house.

[Nick Toledo]

A phone.

[John]

You get in a trumpet.

[Nick Toledo]

Awesome.

[John]

You're getting.

[Brett]

That's the new company phone.

[John]

Yeah, I think. Yeah. The new company phone is. And it's going to say 47 on the back of it. It's going to be all decked out. I'm going to get the family. So your whole. Everybody's got to use it. Would Lisa use a Trump phone if it was free?

[Nick Toledo]

No.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Really?

[Nick Toledo]

Absolutely.

[John]

She wouldn't. Even if I free Trump phone. Not use it. There's no way you've all got tds.

[Nick Toledo]

I didn't say I wouldn't use it.

[John]

You wouldn't be allowed to use it. You'd have to hide that again. I've mentioned Walter White. You have to hide that up in the ceiling tiles. Anyway, it's very funny to me to watch people lose their minds over this. And then of course, now you're gonna get it. It's all that low t. Those commercials for low tea. Yeah.

[Nick Toledo]

That's actually funny.

[John]

Well, Rachel Maddow sucks the tea right out of a fella. Not the old fashioned way either. Anyway. Hi, Larry. You just kind of scared me. Larry's kid. I just read this just seconds ago. The guy who survived the Indian era. That, that, that may actually make me believe there is some sort of higher power. I'm going to lean towards polytheism now. I'm. I'm leaving your people, Brad.

[Larry]

Okay.

[John]

All right. Because dude pops out of that plane, a dreamliner smashes into a building, and guy walks away. So, like, Ganesh is in the Lead to me, if there is a God, it's Ganesh, because. Holy mother. But it does prove my point about humanity. Because within a week of this terrible tragedy, two airlines are now offering seat 11A for a little bit more like they're. It's not always 11 a spirit and who else? Well, I'm not going to say who because it's. I don't know that it's confirmed, but I just looked and they're. And the. And the CEOs are saying, oh, no, those seats are very important. Here's the thing that nobody's talking about with seat 11A and the Survivor. When you sit in the emergency aisle of a plane, that lady comes by and says, are you willing and able to assist in case of an emergency? I need a verbal yes. And of course, everybody.

[Brett]

Yeah, I got legroom. Hell, yeah, whatever.

[Larry]

On a specific plane. Because alone.

[John]

Well, I know. I'm just saying. That's what. You know what I'm saying. So that you neck f the stewardess when she comes by and says it and proven in this Indian Air flight was there is no assisting or helping at all. You crack that door open and you get the off the plane. And that's what he did. There was nobody like, let me help. Let me help. Dude's a sole survivor because he was sitting on the door. That's it. That door cracked open the second he realized there was trouble and he rolled out of the plane. He didn't help a soul.

[Brady]

So he was burning on one side.

[John]

But you know what I'm saying.

[Brady]

No, no, I know. Absolutely.

[John]

He didn't even look over his shoulder. That door opened, and that's what everyone would do. So every emergence. So why not make every aisle have its own door? Ooh. That way we can all leap.

[Nick Toledo]

Doesn't Boeing have enough problems right now?

[John]

They do have door issues, yes. But I'm all right every other than.

[Listener]

Let's. Let's.

[John]

I'll pay a little extra if we can all get the 11A treatment. There's only two doors on the whole thing, for crying out loud. On the big boy. The dude didn't do any assisting. And let's be honest with ourselves. Whenever you've sat in that seat, you never thought, I'll help people out now.

[Brett]

I'll open the door and jump out. I don't want to be in the way of everybody else. So no problem.

[John]

Yeah, your buddies. Not like somebody was decapitated. Billy wasn't in the emergency aisle. He had to step over folks to get to it. So he was helping pick people up and get them out of the plane while he was trying to escape too. But yes, he did help. And once he was on the ground, he started assisting. But he got off the plane. Gotcha. Nobody on that emergency aisle is going to stop and think of anyone else. It's. Even if it's. Nope, nope, you're out. And the only assisting you're going to do is opening that door. I've done all I can do here. I'm getting out of this plane.

[Larry]

But now the most effective way, most efficient too.

[John]

Oh, get the hell out of there. But they don't making way for that. They're not. Look, read the pamphlet. Nobody's ever done that either. You're supposed to stand next to the door and escort folks. I watch a lot of air disasters. The job of the. That's what the stewardesses are trained to do. They're not jumping off.

[Nick Toledo]

What was it that Toronto plane or whatever, where that was upside down and the stewardess trying to help people out. She wanted to get off.

[John]

Of course she did. But somehow or another in her brain she kept thinking, well, I'm going to lose my job.

[Brett]

I'll find a new one.

[John]

Jump. I'll go. I'll go work puddle jumpers for a little while until I earn this back. So let's just stop with the pomp and circumstance of the whole. Will you be willing to help and assist? Can you open the door? I need a verbal. Yes. Yep. Are you going to help and assist? Probably not, sister. I'm. I'm probably. If. Does that thing inflate itself? I'm not blowing up anything either. I'm jumping off the plane. I. And if anything has taught us anything. Yeah, if anything's taught us anything. 11A taught us get off first. The best chance of survival is not hanging around. Leap. Leap to your doom.

[Larry]

Because they made it sound like he got ejected out of there.

[Nick Toledo]

No, like the place he was on it when it landed and then he got the F out.

[John]

And there's a pilot that came on and he made a joke because he said, look, pilots usually get to the crash first, so they don't have much of a chance. We don't put doors in there. And he said, but everybody that's clamoring to get 11A on planes. What? Brady said, it's not always 11A that's in the emergency aisle. And he goes in second. The plane has to hit at a certain angle. It has to be tilted up, down, sideways, whatever tail has to be left in a Building to make one seat more viable than another.

[Brady]

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[John]

Holmberg's morning sickness and he goes it's the luckiest thing that's ever happened in air travel. Ever.

[Nick Toledo]

Your buddy wasn't on the cornfield crash, right?

[John]

No, Billy was on next to the.

[Larry]

Pilot hanging out of the airplane.

[John]

That's amazing. That's happened multiple times. The British Airways flight is a terrifying one. The one that flew over to China, the Chinese guy that was over the cold, cold mountains and six feet below and half of them was stuck to the top of the plane cuz they couldn't reduce speeds. You like 400 miles an hour outside over some Mongolian mountain range. Oh, we got to come back now. But if you are on Indian Air and you hear no, no no no no, that guy's getting out, he's not helping you follow him. The door opens, don't look and go well no, there's no time for for chivalry or anything else. So airlines, you can stop now with the whole willing to assist. Brett and I have only honest ones in the room, right? I'm stomping over grandparents, children, puppies.

[Brett]

Yeah, I'll open the door so I can get out. But I've always that's what I'm doing.

[Larry]

I mean that's the first thing you think about when you you're Sitting in that room like, you open the door. How can I get out of the way to my.

[John]

Brady? You get out of the way.

[Larry]

Just gotta go.

[Nick Toledo]

Fuel is everywhere and it's burning. Yeah, I'm not thinking.

[John]

Let me tell you this. You're a liar. The first thing you think of in that seat is, look at the leg room. I've got suckers. You're not thinking of anything but yourself. Right. The reason you want the emergency lane is so your own comfort is first, you're more comfortable. You're not doing that to be a hero. You're doing it for more legroom. And you don't even need more leg room. Yeah, you're short, but you still would take that aisle because now you can practically lay down. You're not giving up that. That's all for you. So nobody's thinking about anyone else's safety until that lady comes by and says, are you willing to assist?

[Nick Toledo]

Sure.

[John]

You've got it. Are you?

[Brett]

You got it, too.

[John]

I have to. I'll lose my job. I'll be outside if anybody needs me. If there's assistance necessary, I'll be at the bottom of that slide like a third base coach. Come on, let's do this. Let's go, boy. Down, down, down. Home bringer on home.

[Larry]

Hustle, hustle.

[John]

Hurry up. That fire ain't getting any smaller. But you're gonna see me outside the plane. I'll do all the assisting from the ground team. In fact, I'm gonna tell the flight attendant next time. I'm the leader of the ground team. These two here, aisle and center, they're in charge of helping people on the plane. I'm in charge of being down there, making sure that the bottom of that inflatable is secure. I don't want this to go up like a bounce house. 11a. Not a hero. What if he. You found out that he could have taken, like, the person next to him? Like he's gonna slip up in his story.

[Listener]

The lady next to me was very.

[John]

Very scared, and I just jumped out. Like you could have saved her?

[Listener]

Well, maybe. I don't know.

[John]

I did.

[Listener]

It was so quick. No, no, no, no. She was already dead. I. I assumed she was scared from all of. Anyway, I had to get off the plane.

[Larry]

Let's go over B and C again.

[John]

What was the thing you said about the lady next to you? Begging.

[Listener]

Begging for more peanuts. Right before we hit the building. She was very hungry. She was hoping that there was more drinks, but I got out.

[John]

11A. Yeah, this one says usually 11A is not a window, is it ABC? It goes window, middle aisle.

[Larry]

Usually it's like 15 or.

[John]

And then def. I don't know what it is, but I'm saying the ABC and def. But this is a dreamliner. This has like 45 seats across it. Yeah, it's huge. Who knows? But nobody's going to help you. So. Yeah, my buddy Billy was on the plane in Detroit and had another plane land on top of his plane and cut it in half. And he was asleep on the Runway. And when it cut it in half, he woke up and then he stomped over bodies and the things he saw was just horrible. But then he said, I jumped down the slide and then I got to helping people.

[Nick Toledo]

So listener just sent this to us two times. The seat, the 11A has survivors. The 1998 Thai Airways Airbus A310 in December.

[John]

Yeah, 11A left out.

[Nick Toledo]

11A leapt out as well.

[John]

And. And. And if I'm an airline, I'm charging extra for 11 a while. While the.

[Brett]

If these morons are going to pay for it. Yeah, I'm in.

[John]

I'm paying for it. If the 11A is available and it's miracle seat. And it looks like, first of all.

[Brett]

I'm not going to Thailand or India, so I mean, regardless.

[John]

But if that's the case, Indian air should dress up 11 a like New York cabbies driver's seat. It's got all the, you know, the little beads and everything. You know, the Ganesh and the elephant and like you dress it up like.

[Brett]

Brown air freshener right there.

[John]

It's a religious monument. But yeah, I love that nobody's talking about the fact that he didn't even look over his shoulder to see if he could help anybody. That door came off and he got out.

[Larry]

She was in the bathroom.

[Listener]

Would they believe that she would do. And she broke all the rules. Her trade table was down. It was not going to help her. I said, no, no.

[John]

Yeah. I love this story. And dude walked away.

[Nick Toledo]

So that's your positioning right there.

[John]

Yeah. 11A right on the window.

[Listener]

So long.

[John]

Second.

[Brett]

That'd be me.

[John]

Yeah, that would be me too.

[Nick Toledo]

Just forward of the wings, apparently.

[John]

And right before that inferno, you hear.

[Listener]

This is fun. Nobody else thought of it. Is not my problem. Open the door and get out.

[John]

It seems simple. Anyway, so start looking for 11A. And again, like Brady said, first thing you think about is how to help. I got all the leg room. I'm gonna need. Sleep like a baby. Nobody thinks about helping. I'd crack you right in the Face. If you were the center guy and I was move.

[Larry]

The only thing that they. You know, on the. The convenience of the leg room is that the chair usually does not recline. On the window seats.

[John]

Huh?

[Larry]

On the emergency door.

[John]

Yes, it does.

[Brett]

No, the one in front of it doesn't.

[Larry]

No, it's one in the. On the door. That one does not recline.

[John]

Depends on what part of the plane. Because that's what I get every time. Boy, that sucker goes back. I can lay down. I'm 6ft tall, and I got that beauty. It depends on where you're at, too. If you got the ones that flip or if they're. They're.

[Nick Toledo]

Depends on the aircraft in the specific seat location. But exit row seats do recline.

[John]

And actually the. The one that I've seen is there's only two, and they don't even have a window like the new ones that I've been on. They have two seats, and then there's an opening where the door cracks open.

[Nick Toledo]

This says the seats in front of the.

[John]

They're not supposed to go back.

[Nick Toledo]

Do not recline.

[Brady]

Okay.

[Nick Toledo]

That's a safety issue.

[John]

It's all about you. That's all I'm saying. So congratulations, 11A. And if you're dumb enough to buy. I spent extra money on an 11A ticket. What kind of negative Nancy are you?

[Brett]

Dumb enough to fly Air India.

[Larry]

Wonder how much.

[John]

What are you doing in India in the first place?

[Brady]

What about Southwest?

[Nick Toledo]

You got to fight for that seat because you can't buy it.

[John]

This guy.

[Brett]

Here we go.

[John]

Rather be on.

[David Spade]

There we go.

[Brett]

I knew.

[John]

Why am I on Southwest? What's wrong with him? Have I lost a bet? Am I flying to Rockford?

[Nick Toledo]

Money bags.

[John]

Yeah, money bags. Duh. The reason I work hard to not fly with you. You stockpile cash to get away from that stuff. It's a very viable airline for you. I'll be busy elsewhere. We got ourselves the hot releases coming up in just a little bit. 98, Arizona's most powerful, powerful rock radio station.