Air travel today might be considered the triumph of individualism. It involves people in their own bubbles rushing to destinations with little human contact. It is a case of Hobbes’ “every man against every man” as all travelers compete with each other to navigate inside the lonely crowd. All think about themselves in a climate that can quickly degenerate into selfishness and unruliness whenever obstacles threaten personal comfort and agendas.
Thus, except for travel companions, most people block others out. Air travel has become a sterile anti-social experience. Despite numerous occasions for interactions and close proximity with fellow travelers, most trips are boring and uneventful.