Irritating Stuff People do on Planes
FLYING with others is inevitable, so why do people make the experience hell? Here are the absolute worst things our fellow passengers do on planes.
I FLY all the time.
Sometimes flights are turbulent, long, tiring, boring … you get the picture.
But that's how it works when travelling to faraway destinations. You prepare - bring decent earphones to drown out whoever/whatever, pack a pillow if you know the airline one won't do, and bring snacks if you're not a fan of airline food. Controllable problems always have solutions. One thing that gets me though is people - people who make the flying experience hell. Here my top 10 hates.
1. Body odour
Stinky body odour is so unpleasant. Deodorant was created for a reason and showers are a good thing. If you stink before the flight has even commenced everyone is in trouble. Air hostesses carry deodorant on board for this reason, but it's always a little awkward when they hand the deodorant to you when you didn't ask for it
2. Violating the baggage compartment
Big, massive bag + small overhead compartment = it won't work. Why so many people don't get this dumbfounds me each and every time. They will stand and stuff like there's no tomorrow, until an air hostess has to gently veer them away. There's always at least one culprit on each flight with a bag that's way to big to be carry-on trying to prove to everyone that's it's not.
3. Loud, uncontrollable kids
I'm not a mum, so I'm not going to say too much on this one, but obviously enough people agree that some carriers now have separate kid-free zones.
4. Greedy people that want everything
Nuts? Yes please. Another wine? I'll take it even though I don't drink wine. Why are people so greedy on flights? I once sat next to a guy who asked me if I'd finished my meal (while I was still eating). There was the woman who asked me to wake her whenever snacks came around. A friend who was an air hostess also told me a funny story. A guy on her flight demanded everything the woman next to him asked for. She asked for earphones, so did he. When she asked for more nuts, so did he .. you get the picture. Half way through the flight the woman asked quietly for something, and he demanded the same. The air hostess looked a little concerned and made sure the man really did want what the woman requested. A few hours later she walked past him and noticed he was asleep with sanitary pads over his eyes.
5. Special meals always come out first
Yeah, yeah. I get that people might be allergic to nuts, or sensitive to wheat, or they don't eat pork, or they might be vegan. That's all good, but I once flew with a carrier where almost everyone was 'special' except me. It felt like I was in a restaurant and being ignored just because I had no allergies. Meals came out one by one, then drink orders were taken, and then finally, at least an hour later my beef or chicken meal arrived … cold. Not special at all. I sometimes say I'm vegetarian now just to get served first and have met quite a few others who do the same.
6. Missing the toilet
I know some flights are turbulent, and it's evident people miss all the time, even on land. But, if you miss, I feel it's courteous to wipe the seat, the floor … just clean it up. Enough said.
7. Bare feet
Clean, washed feet with no fungus or weird discolouration are OK. Unfortunately that cuts out most of the flying population. The closer dirtier feet get to me the angrier I get. I recommend everyone keep their socks on … and their shoes. Don't even start me on people who use the loo barefoot.
8. The mile-high club
It might be fun for those involved, but it's no fun for anyone else. People joining the club on their own are even worse. And if you do join the club please wear socks … and shoes … and clean up afterwards.
9. Sneezing/coughing/spitting freely
This happens so regularly, not just on flights, but everywhere you go. Handkerchiefs are old school but tissues are not. The benefit of flying is that tissues and serviettes are plentiful - in the loo, in the kitchen, everywhere - just ask. Ironically this is probably the one thing 'greedy people' don't ask for .. oh that and deodorant.
10. Rushing once the flight lands
This one cracks me up. Once the plane lands there's always a few of them - people who rush to get their bag from the overhead baggage compartment first, they rush to gather all their stuff. And then … like everyone else they wait and wait until it's time to get off.
