On my early morning walk one day, I came across a middle-aged lady listening to an audiobook on speaker at full volume. It was so loud and rude, I had to stop and say something on my third lap around. It reminded me of recent flights where I’ve encountered similar situations, which got me thinking of all my air travel pet peeves. So I’ve compiled my top pet peeves while flying below but please, feel free to leave a comment with your own travel pet peeves. RELATED: The One Thing Some Women Do on Airplanes That Drives Me Nuts – And I Can’t Believe It’s Not Illegal
10 Air Travel Pet Peeves and How to Deal With Them
1. People coughing or sneezing without covering their mouths
One of my biggest pet-peeves when I was traveling regularly pre-pandemic was passengers who coughed or sneezed without covering their mouths. I would see it on almost every flight, no matter what class I was in. Actually, the worst offender was a woman on a Virgin Australia flight from LAX to Brisbane years ago in first class. She wouldn’t stop coughing without covering her mouth and she was throwing her dirty tissues in the aisle for the flight attendant to pick up. I spoke to the flight attendant about it, who said that she’d given her a mask but she refused to wear it. So I asked for one and I wore it.
I wrote about the rude seat mate I had on my LAX to Miami flight once (here’s the story) and how he kept taking his mask off. When he started coughing without it, the flight attendant pounced on him.
2. Watching videos without headphones
On my return flight, I was in 10A and the passenger all the way on the other side of the plane decided to watch his movie on his phone without earphones. Everyone around him was looking at him like, “Is he insane?” but no one said anything. I was just about to get up and say something when the flight attendant told him to put headphones on. And he was pissed.
3. Listening to music super loud
I’ve had countless seatmates listen to music so loud that I could hear the thumping beat from a row or two away … and they had earbuds on. I was guilty of this once and my seatmate told me. I was embarrassed and apologetic, but that’s why now I never play music or listen to movies at full volume and I take my earbuds off my ears to see if they’re emitting noise.
4. Using speaker phone
I find people watching videos without earphones the worst offenders or talking on Facetime or speaker phone. It’s like they think they’re the only ones in the world.
5. Loud talkers
On the same flight, the passenger in 6G was greeted by his friend/wife/girlfriend in the aisle and she sat there speaking really loudly for about twenty minutes in the middle of the flight. Most passengers were sleeping or watching movies so it was not the time and was disturbing the surrounding passengers.
6. Cutting toenails or fingernails
Believe it or not, this has happened on more than one occasion.
7. Using nail polish
Ding. I just rang the call button and pointed to the passenger. The flight attendant jumped on them because it’s a fire hazard.
8. Flossing teeth
I kid you not: On a flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok on Cathay Pacific, the lady across the aisle was flossing her teeth. With her HAIR!
9. Passing gas
Why do airlines serve gassy foods onboard or in their lounges? I can personally confirm that masks don’t mask the odor, thanks to my rude seatmate the other day.
10. Parents of out-of-control kids
I have two little kids and I understand they’re not easy to travel with but parents who don’t even attempt to discipline kids drives me nuts.
I have a lot of pet peeves when I fly and I usually can’t bite my tongue. So I usually say something to the passenger(s) or, better yet, ask the flight attendant discreetly to deal with it so things don’t escalate.
Occasionally, the passenger doesn’t realize they’re being loud or inappropriate and appreciate you bringing it to their attention … though that doesn’t happen often. Usually, they get pissed so it’s best to have someone with some authority, like the flight attendant or pilot, deal with it, someone who can make them stop by having them arrested, fined or banned, depending on the offense.
Did I leave something out? What in-flight behavior irks you most?
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People who are seated at the rear of the plane and stow their bags up front rather than where they are seated so that those sitting up front have no room for their luggage
As I read down your list, I was like “yep, ya, yes, you bet” On a flight, the watching videos without ear buds is probably my top one. Out in public, the use of a speaker phone is. Who is so self absorbed that the think everyone must want to hear their conversation? My boyfriend teases me and calls me the ultimate rule follower.
All good ones as far as passengers are concerned.
I have one about all the airlines who announce an upcoming landing as “we will be on the ground in 30 minutes“ I wonder if this is some kind of dark humor on their part. I would prefer “we will land “ or “We will be at the gate in 30 minutes “. Better Karma
I find it judgmental for you just to assume us ‘anti-maskers’ are liars. I respect (Not agree with) all mandates and follow them when out in public. I would never lie about being vaccinated because it is my personal choice to do so or not. Others may choose to lie, but putting us all in one category under one blanket assumption is part of the problem.
I detest “man spread” where a man in the next seat thinks he can just spread his legs as far apart as possible — and encroaches on my space.
Another one is a sleeper who snores, particularly when it is in my ear!
Just to name a few:
1. Remove shoes and put his/her foot on the arm rest in between both front row seats.
2. Open window shades in mid air with sunlight shining through the window while flying long haul, while others all are closed as passengers are trying to sleep to adjust to the time zone difference.
3. Passenger’ knees/legs at the row behind keep thumping the seat in front despite if the front seat is upright or reclined. I understand some passengers have longer legs, but I can also tell if someone who is considerate and try to limit such action.
4. Passenger at the row in front have his/her hands over his/her head, rests and blocks the screen at the back of the seat.
Pet peeve on Southwest flights is when people save seats for their friends and family. I call them seat weasels. One person in a group buys the early boarding pass and is allowed to put books, bags or clothing on the seats in the front rows of the plane.
I don’t blame you. Haven’t heard of that one before but I don’t fly SWA often
If I am vaccinated, why should I care if the other people are not wearing masks?
I still haven’t seen a straight answer about whether a vaccinated person can vary the virus to another person. My husband cannot get vaccinated and I don’t want to bring it home to him. Jeez, you wear a seatbelt….wear a simple mask!
*carry oops
Just now seeing this, so you probably already know that, indeed, vaccinated people can still spread the virus to others. All the vaccine does (and I don’t mean to diminish its value, btw) is lessen the effects if a vaxed person comes down with Covid. It does not keep one from getting Covid, nor does it keep one from spreading the virus via respiration, coughing, or sneezing. Safe travels!!
Right on! Oh my goodness
In the old days,
People who spend a long time in the aisle stowing their bag, on boarding, and don’t seem to realize there are other people trying to get past.
Gate Lice. Worse is when they are allowed to board before their time.
People who, as soon as the plane touches down, are out of their seats blocking the aisle.
People who recline without consideration for those behind.
People who kick the seat in front of them, or grab it when they get up.
I could go on…
You sound like the type of person that is my pet peeve! Arrogant and opionated on what everyone else is doing with their lives instead of worrying about your own.
@Kelly Loeffler You sound like the type of person who does all the things listed in the article Nice handle BTW lol
100% AGREE! Those are my pet peeves as well and may I add another, rather controversial one: reclining one’s seat. I feel it is perfectly OK to recline when no food is being served whereas some people would rather you never do it even on a 5+ hr flight. 20-30 years ago no one complained about people in front of them reclining their seats–it was what people did. And now all of a sudden it’s become an issue.
Bottom line; all this is connected to the prevailing lack of manners.
I agree with you, the seats are made to recline, if it’s such an issue, then the airline should make so that they don’t. Till then, that’s what they are for, I don’t care if the person in front of me does it.