What behavior by passengers on aircraft or at airport check-in counters bothers you the most?

Friday 20th June, 08:00 AM JST

Latest 15 of 103 Total Comments Show All

Jessi4681 at 02:55 PM JST - 23rd June

I have a lot of pet peeves about air travel--international flights in particular--but they all have one thing in common: people who don't exercise common courtesy to consider the needs or the comfort of those around them. I do understand that there could be cultural differences at play here. But I think there are some things that ought to be self-evident common courtesy, and some people just blatantly ignore this. These are the people who make my blood boil, because they either aren't considering others around them or they see them as less important than themselves.

My number one pet peeve is the person who refuses to close their window shade on a long-distance international flight. Most people on the plane-- who are crossing multiple time zones over possibly several legs of a single journey--are trying to sleep (and parents are trying to afford their babies and toddlers as much sleep as possible so that everyone is happy). The sunlight that pierces through the cabin from that one person's window affects every one of the 8 or 9 people in their row as well as the people several rows ahead and behind. The worst is the person who keeps trying to peek out the window at the view below, causing a disruption in sleep for those around him every 20 minutes or so. And for those in the window seat who wish to read or get some work done on the flight--the far less intrusive personal light above your seat is there for a reason. Use it, and spare the rest of us who would rather not stay awake with you.

There's also the person that rests his or her elbow way beyond the armrest and well into the bounds of my personal space. The personal space we're allotted on an airplane is small enough as it is without a neighbor's elbow encroaching on it. I don't feel like this is something I should have to request of the person sitting next to me--it should just be a given.

As I watch the instructional airplane videos, I often think to myself that they ought include something on those about airplane etiquette for people who just don't understand what's expected of them in shared quarters.
Mark_McCracken at 09:32 PM JST - 23rd June

"What exactly would you want me to do with my screaming baby?"

Stay home.

"The baby doesnt understand, its too young."

Exactly, it's too young to fly.

"We have grandparents both sides of the ocean, who want to see their grandchildren."

Have them fly.

"I want to go back now and again. "

Wait until your desire to travel doesn't physically hurt your baby. If flying causes your baby's ears to hurt for 13 hours, your baby is too young to fly. If you can't overcome your desire to travel, and can't leave your baby with someone else while you enjoy your trip and absolutely MUST fly with your 10 month old baby and cause your baby's little ears to hurt for 13 hours, please give the baby medication to relieve its pain.
yabits at 10:22 PM JST - 23rd June

What exactly would you want me to do with my screaming baby?

Carry a decent supply of earplugs for everyone around you. At least it shows you care about the discomfort you are causing others.

Actually, I never travel on planes anymore without several sets of disposable earplugs, sound-reducing headphones and an iPod. When I'm not listening to music, the combination of earplugs and headphones puts me into a very nice private zone. I can tell when some kid is screaming, but it's never loud enough to elicit anything but a smile from me.

What bugs me are the obese passengers whose body flab spills over into the seats next to them.
flammenwerfer at 07:34 AM JST - 24th June

smelly feet, one flight I was on some unhygienic slob took off his shoes and his feet were unbelievably wretched! OMG it was abhorrent. He was a self important type who did as he pleased....

Fat people who ooze into my seat, the seats are narrow enough without some "metabo" encroaching. Fly business if you are that fat.

Screaming kids used to bug me a lot until I took my own kids on a plane, it's funny how you change your tune when its you in the hotseat, even the most placid docile sweet kid can turn into a screaming monster on a plane. People without children just don't get it, its laughable to read their ignorant comments. Big planes should have a small separate sealed off section in economy for families, but we live in hope.
pinga at 08:36 AM JST - 24th June

What exactly would you want me to do with my screaming baby?"

Stay home.

"The baby doesnt understand, its too young."

Exactly, it's too young to fly.

"We have grandparents both sides of the ocean, who want to see their grandchildren."

Have them fly.

"I want to go back now and again. "

Wait until your desire to travel doesn't physically hurt your baby. If flying causes your baby's ears to hurt for 13 hours, your baby is too young to fly. If you can't overcome your desire to travel, and can't leave your baby with someone else while you enjoy your trip and absolutely MUST fly with your 10 month old baby and cause your baby's little ears to hurt for 13 hours, please give the baby medication to relieve its pain.

There is no rule that says children, babies, fat people or smelly people are NOT allowed to fly.

It is my right to fly as I wish, with my children, as long as I pay for my tickets. Flying is not only for the benefit of the childless.

10 months is NOT too young to fly. Ive flown with mine since they were 6 weeks old. Of course I give suitable pain medication, but it really doesnt totally dull the pain. I refuse to give sedatives to my child, which could harm him or disorintate him.

Moderator: Readers, that ends discussion on this point. Please stay on topic and refrain from posting personal information.
pinga at 07:03 PM JST - 24th June

I actually tried medised, a sedative/painkiller/antihistamine. Licensed for 6 months plus. It made the room spin. Awful stuff. I wouldnt take it again, let alone give it to a child.

We will fly in comfort in business class this time.

I wouldnt have a dehydrating alcoholic drink on a plane, let alone give a minor or a baby alcohol under any circs.

We will enjoy our flight and wish others the same. Im going to ask the doctor if there is anythign else they can do to help, but he will cry, he is a baby, its a long flight which we have to do.

I apologise in advance....

Moderator: No further discussion on this particular point please.
bushlover at 11:47 PM JST - 24th June

I must say tall people who get their knees 'smashed' usually do so because they don't extend their legs under the seat in front of them and their knees are digging into the person in front of them so the person in front of them thinks how rude the person behind is always kneeing them in the back so purposely put the seat back to sleep hoping the person behind gets the geometrical idea of extending ones body. Also the attitudes that parents with babies that cry should be sympathized with especially after we pay an enormous sum to fly and have our little chance at rest disturbed by them. They simply should not have a baby on board. Or have special compartments to isolate them and the person who just has to travel with them gets to pay an appropriate sum for the privilege of flying with a baby and having to provide for it's comfort. So Airlines that haven't thought about these 2 problems are what bother me most about flying. Can't they see the common problems/complaints about flying that they can't adjust accordingly? Imagine if that were their non-reaction to flight safety let alone flight comfort.
marshalsea at 02:33 AM JST - 25th June

For me it's the folks who, when the plane comes to a stop at the terminal, jump up and try to elbow their way forward toward the exit doors in order to get out of the plane before everyone else.
pinga at 10:13 AM JST - 25th June

Dream on. Airlines are not nazis who would ban tall/young/fat etc people from flying because of some neurotic type who needs to remember to take his pills.

Nor would they do me a favour and make a parent and child section, raise costs too much.
1keiron at 08:26 PM JST - 25th June

British yob behaviour
rajakumar at 02:14 AM JST - 26th June

At airports/aircrafts, it just like noisy market,hope people would not talk so loudly and uncivilised behaviour abounds here.
thedeath at 01:00 PM JST - 26th June

marshalsea, i think this this is about

"behavior by passengers on aircraft or at airport "

it is not " the behavior by passengers on J morning train" !!!

marshalsea For me it's the folks who, when the plane comes to a stop at the terminal, jump up and try to elbow their way forward toward the exit doors in order to get out of the plane before everyone else.
VoXman at 10:32 PM JST - 26th June

post 911 Stewardesses attitudes in the US. Seems that they can act which ever way they want and if you comeplain they threaten to call the air marshal. They've gotten better. But not too much. Ie.. United Airlines is a prime example. Of tawdry old dolts that should have been retired to the checkin counters, yet they still serve as stewards on planes because of the union rules.......
damexicanbuda at 12:59 AM JST - 27th June

Smelly feet!! I was on crummy Singapore Airlines, and a very rich, beatutiful Indian beauty with gold coming out of her nose rings etc..thought it would be nice to keep her bare feet warm, UNDER MY PILLOW which I was using to put my head up agains the window in economy class, her feet smelled so bad, she give me a horrible head ache all the way to Los Angeles! Singapore is a hell hole! They need to learn some manners! I will never fly on the smelly airline ever again!
whyamiinjapan at 12:26 PM JST - 2nd July

You should have said, I don't mind you putting your feet there, but go wash them first please!

Butting in line! I try to butt in line but people get mad at me all the time. That REALLY annoys me.