Which Of These Have You Encountered?
Flying is the most convenient way to get to faraway destinations, but beyond that, it's an inescapable social experiment. After people are thoroughly stressed out by their time in airports, often underslept, either depressed because they're going back home or overexcited because they're going on vacation, they get crammed next to strangers in uncomfortably tight quarters 30,000 feet in the air. It brings out the best, worst, and weirdest in people. Here are 20 types of characters you're bound to meet on every flight.
1. The Chatty Neighbor
Love it or hate it, there's at least one chatterbox on every flight looking to make friends with their neighbor. If you happen to be seated next to them, get ready to hear their entire life story, regardless of how much you pretend to be interested in your book.
Gerrie van der Walt on Unsplash
2. The Armrest Hog
Some people don't seem to realize there's only one armrest for the two of you. They'll lean on it the whole flight, not letting you get an arm in edge-wise!
3. The Seat Kicker
Have you ever had a 10-year-old kid seated behind you in a plane? Then you know the aggravation of having the back of your seat pummeled. What is that all about?
4. The Wailing Baby
Have you ever been on a flight that doesn't include a baby wailing their heart out in distress? Us neither. And of course, they're always seated near you.
5. The Shoes-Off Passenger
There's hardly a more contentious question than whether it's acceptable to take your shoes off on a flight. There's always that one guy who does it as soon as he's seated.
6. The Snack Attack
There's always someone who has clanned and brought a plethora of tasty snacks that they happily munch on while enjoying the in-flight entertainment. We wish we had that level of organization and foresight.
7. The Professional Sleeper
There's always someone who is sleeping the second they sit down and don't wake up until the plane has landed. We're jealous of this superpower.
8. The Frequent Flyer
There's always someone who is clearly an extremely seasoned traveler. You can tell not just from the assortment of airline swag they already have with them, but from their easy confidence, outfit that says "this is my airplane ensemble," and the fact that they seem to have thought of everything they could possibly need and where exactly to find it.
9. The Aisle Walker
There's always someone who appears to suffer from restless leg syndrome. Unable to sit still, they pace the airplane corridors like a mall walker.
10. The In-Flight Worker
This person clearly didn't book the day off work. They have their whole office set up on their tray table. They're even taking meetings up here.
11. The Instant Jumper
There's always someone who thinks they're so important that they get to get off the plane before everyone. They jump out of their seat the second the plane touches the ground, even though it takes a good 10 minutes for everyone ahead of them to clear out anyway.
12. The Oblivious
There's always someone who's in their own little bubble, acting like they're alone in their own house when there are humans on every side of them. This person always needs to be told twice to put their tray table up, take their headphones off, and clip in.
13. The Jammer
There's always someone who is really enjoying the music they have on their headphones. They're lip-syncing, air-guitaring, shaking their shoulders, and having their own one-person party.
14. The Flirtatious Flyer
There's always a romantic who believes their one true love is on this plane. This person will be hardcore chatting up the person next to them, disregarding the fact that there are so many other people within earshot.
15. The Band of Bros
Whether a bachelor party or a group of dads having a guys' weekend, there's always a pack of men who are clearly ready to let off some steam together. You can almost smell their testosterone if you're seated near them.
Ben Bouvier-Farrell on Unsplash
16. The Nervous Flyer
There's always someone who gasps when there's a little bit of turbulence and whose knuckles go white gripping the armrests when it's time to land. It makes you wonder why they fly if the experience is so nerve-wracking.
17. The Loud Talker
There's always someone who doesn't understand the concept of an inside voice. No matter where you're seated, you can't escape their booming oration.
18. The Insta-Flyer
There's always someone documenting everything for Instagram. If they're not seated in the window seat, they'll reach over two different people to get that "soaring over the clouds" shot, because anything for the Gram.
19. The Entertainment Junkie
There's always someone who seems like they could enjoy the in-flight entertainment forever. Even on a 13-hour flight, they don't take their eyes off it.
20. The Food Snob
Most of us have pretty low expectations when it comes to airline food, but we scarf it down anyway. However, there's always someone who seems to be analyzing every mouthful as if they're a food critic dining at a Michelin-star restaurant.
