Karens in the Air
Flying doesn't have to be stressful, but it can be when you're bothered by annoying passengers. From being too loud to slowing down lines, some people just can’t contain themselves in a tight aeroplane for a single flight. With that in mind, here are 20 things most flyers can agree are undeniably annoying.
1. Holding up Security
When you don't sort your liquids before going through security, it's a major pet peeve. It unnecessarily holds up the line, and the other travelers behind you have to wait for someone else's mistake. Really, this should be done before you get in line.
2. Bare Feet
Whether you find the sight of other people’s feet ugly, annoying, or just plain weird, being in an enclosed space with other people’s bare feet is never a nice experience. Whether you consider it an invasion of privacy or simply a shock to the system, being forced to look at someone take their socks off in the tightest of spaces is usually off-putting.
3. Long Lines
Airport queues are one of those travel pains of the world we just have to accept and endure. Hours of queuing in security, check-in, or customs make us stressed, exhausted, and a real drag of a journey before we’ve even left the ground. But do they have to be this bad?
4. Clapping
Clapping when the plane lands is one of those travel pet peeves that make other passengers feel a little awkward or unjustified. Although some passengers see it as a small moment of gratitude or relief, it’s a bit much in 2025.
5. Cutting Lines
Queue-jumping is a particularly irritating travel pet peeve that annoys everyone waiting in line. Those who jump the queue are disrespectful to others and disrupt the line of travel. This rude behavior may lead to tension, arguments, and needless delays for fellow travelers.
6. Blocking Escalators
It's incredibly frustrating for people who are trying to get somewhere quickly and feel like they have nowhere to go. It's also a huge waste of space, as other people aren't able to pass those who are standing still.
7. Annoying Children
Traveling with children who scream incessantly, throw tantrums, and otherwise act up in public, such as on a plane or at a restaurant, is aggravating. It is an example of how patience is tried during travel and it is not enjoyable for those around them.
8. Drinking Too Much
Drinking too much while flying is one of the travel peeves that are hard to avoid, especially if your cabin mates are the ones who have indulged too much. It is frustrating to be near drunk and loud passengers who have become inconsiderate, ill-mannered, or downright rude.
9. Hogging Seats
Hogging more than one seat at the gate is another travel peeve that irks fellow travelers. Passengers that drape themselves and their belongings across several seats or gate areas block other passengers from sitting down. It's inconsiderate behavior that increases tension in already cramped waiting areas.
10. Arm Rests
Grabbing two armrests on a flight is a petty yet common travel annoyance that can make an already cramped journey even less comfortable. When a passenger hogs both sides, they force their neighbor into an awkward and restricted position. This minor act of inconsideration can sour an otherwise uneventful trip.
11. Draping Long Hair
Hair over the back of the seat is an unavoidable travel pet peeve that grinds on passengers. Long hair dragging on someone's shoulder or seatback is both an invasion of space and a hygiene issue in close proximity. This rude practice intrudes on personal boundaries and can make an ordinary commute quite bothersome.
12. Reclining
One of the most irritating travel pet peeves of all is leaning back in your seat while food and drink are being served. It's inconsiderate and makes it hard for people to access their trays and eat, which is frustrating for fellow passengers and flight attendants alike. As there is already limited space in a plane's cabin, it can cause awkward situations by eating into space.
13. The Wrong Luggage
Claiming the wrong suitcase from the carousel is an irritating travel fact that can lead to confusion and delay. Travelers who grab the wrong bag cause others to either wait or search for their own items, resulting in frustration. This mistake can turn an otherwise simple baggage claim into a stressful and chaotic ordeal.
American Green Travel on Unsplash
14. No Headphones
Listening to gadgets without headphones while traveling is a terribly irritating aspect of flying that many of us must sadly accept, and it’s also one that’s unfair on others. You have your own personal space, and an open environment on a flight or in a waiting lounge is just as much someone else’s.
15. Blocking the Carousel
Hovering over the luggage carousel area is an inconvenience for other passengers who can't easily access their luggage. Congesting the exit is an unpleasant travel experience caused by inconsiderate behavior. Passengers who crowd in the front create chaos and a traffic jam, which is the result of selfishness.
16. Bags on the Seat
Airport or train passengers are really obnoxious when they place their bags on the seat in front of them so they can sit down more comfortably. They are really taking a spot away from someone who actually wants to sit down, leaving other people to either try and squeeze past them to get to a seat or stand when they don't have to. Not to mention, it's a huge annoyance.
17. Queuing Too Early
Arriving at the boarding gate too early to queue is a tiresome fact of air travel that causes overcrowding. Folks who form an early boarding queue crowd the aisles and prevent people from passing each other.
18. Not Being Ready
You know the staff is going to ask you for your passport and travel documents shortly, so why not get it ready ahead of time? It’s pretty annoying to watch someone rummage through their bag at the front of the line when they had plenty of time to get ready.
Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
19. Standing Immediately
Jumping up from your seat the instant the plane lands is a vexing travel pet peeve that just makes the whole deplaning process drag on longer for everyone. Pushy people who charge off the plane tend to clog the aisle and just hold things up for everyone else. It's inconsiderate when people just can't wait until everyone is organized and ready to go.
Gerrie van der Walt on Unsplash
20. Overpacking
Another example of bad travel etiquette is when people over-pack and/or stop the line to organize their bags. This is maddening for those waiting in line behind you at check-in, security, or boarding! Over-sized or bulging bags often slow down the line.
