What's the Biggest Pet Peeve Among Air Travelers?

Hindustan Times ^ | March 01, 2013

[nickcarraway]

Uncomfortable seats and sky-high airline fees are among the top complaints among air travel passengers, according to the results of a consumer survey.

In TripAdvisor’s annual air travel poll, in addition to limited legroom and exorbitant ticket prices, 2,000 respondents in the US also named unpredictable flight delays, long security lines and “other passengers” -- notably loud, crying children -- the top five pet peeves about air travel. The survey also found that more US passengers will be flying the global skies this year, with 67 percent of respondents indicating they plan to take an international flight this year, compared to 56 percent in 2012.

The same is true of domestic fights, with 91 percent of respondents saying they plan to board a flight within the US -- up from 86 percent last year.

[MamaDearest]

1. Baggage Fees
2. Tarmac Time (waiting for plane authorization to fly causing missed connections)
3. Dirty planes
4. Not knowing if after you've bought your tickets, prices will decrease
5. Sitting in front of a child that either cries or kicks your seat the entire trip
6. Connections between flights too tight to get food
7. Fellow passengers obviously sick or sneezing nearby
8. Picking the slowest TSA line
9. Missing the old days when people dressed up to take a plane

[Ditter]

You and I are close to the same size and I have been crammed between fatties too often. People who are really fat should be required to buy 2 seats instead of hanging over the arm rest into my space. The tall long legged guys don’t crowd me but I know they are uncomfortable. The rest rooms on Southwest are so narrow that fatties have to back in. How embarrassing is that!

The other thing I dread is sitting next to sick people, coughing and sneezing all over. ugh!

[RummyChick]

If you fly and are flexible you can use this site to help search for airfares.
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/

However, I have learned that the trick to getting low airfares sometimes takes hours to find it and make it happen. My ridiculously low air fair to the UK took quite some time to put it all together.

Flyertalk is great for trying to find low fares because there are so many people who do those crazy mileage runs.

[ladyjane]

OMG - you’re on flyertalk?

[SamAdams76]

I’m dating myself but flying used to be a special occasion. People would actually get dressed up in suits and dresses to fly an airplane. They actually served you hot meals with real silverware and china. If you were nice to the stewardesses - and yes, they were all single women under 30 - they would pay special attention to you and slip you an extra mini-bottle of liquor or a pillow, maybe even make a date with you if they were coming off-shift. Pan Am and TWA were the biggest airlines and they were making oodles of money. What the heck happened over the past 40 years?

[Flick Lives]

So true!

[Alaska Wolf]

What's the Biggest Pet Peeve Among Air Travelers?

The other air travelers/passengers.

[stormer]

I'm at about 1.5 million miles. My pet peeves? People that want to tell me how good it was “in the good old days” - yeah, I remember too - fewer people, better food, etc. The idea that “women in dresses and men in suits” made for a nicer flight is beyond me, but then again I remember gas station attendants with bow ties... Second pet peeve: fellow travelers who are assholes. Airlines can't do much about that without ending up in a law suit, but there are certain people that just shouldn't be allowed anywhere near public transportation, and it's not the people with kids or folks wearing gym shorts or girls with flip-flops, it's the people that are offended by them and want everyone to know what it was like “in the good old days”...

[stormer]

You sound like a pretty right on guy. Traveling sometimes isn't fun, but I think people have taken for granted the ease of modern travel. My father was born in 1922; when he was a boy, the idea of him getting coast-to-coast in something under than a couple of days was incredible - when his parents were born it was almost quicker to sail around the horn than to go overland. Today, I can leave my home on the US West Coast at the same time my wife leaves for work, and be in Tokyo or Paris by the time she gets home. Pretty cool.

[MamaB]

I got an email about flying. It said a Muslim came to get in his seat when he notice the lady already seated next to him was reading her Bible. He complained that he could not be seated by an infidel and demanded another seat. The stewardess checked and said the only seat left was in first class. The guy was still standing and was very surprised when she turned to the lady and said since the policy was that people did not have to sit by undesirable people, for her to get her personal items together and follow her to her new seat in first class. Poor guy. : )

[PAR35]

“I’ll share the arm rest. “

I don’t even share the armrest - I’ll keep my elbows inside the armrest. But I don’t like it when someone’s elbows come across the armrest into my ribs. In fact, the only time I’ll put my elbow on the armrest is when a fatty starts to pull it up so he or she can spread into my seat.

[razorback-bert]

TSA, nothing else comes close.

[pbmaltzman]

I am a 6'1" woman who is not skinny either. I don't like the lack of breathing room.

Nor do I appreciate the TSA's antics.

But my #1 pet peeve is GUM CHEWING. I wish they'd tape their fricking mouths shut. I wish there were no-gum zones on planes. I hate the look, the sound, and the stench of gum chewing. And all too frequently, when I ask one of them to tone it down, they redouble their efforts to be obnoxious.

Between the gum=chewing lower slobbovians and the TSA, I'm never flying again if I can help it. I'm having car repairs done soon, and my car will be roadworthy for more than local trips.

I really, really, really hate gum-chewing and gum-chewers. Yecch!

[DaveA37]

While I do have the option, I will drive rather than fly for numerous reasons. At one time in my life, my working career made it necessary to fly. I am truely happy I have since retired from that rat race.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

As a past time, revenge can be fun. I’m over 6 feet. When I sit down, my knees are against the seat pocket of the sear in front of me. Usually, when the person In front starts putting the seat back, I resist strongly, they push, I push. And if they get it back, I continually bump the seat with gusto so they cannot rest. I never put my seat back, NEVER , a courtesy to those behind me. But if you are in front of me and put yours back, I WILL enjoy the revenge of making your flight as uncomfortable as mine....and it keeps me smiling. Revenge IS sweet.

[stormer]

Cute story, but probably bullshit - I've heard them same tale about other “types” before. I came back from Hong Kong one time and was seated next to a guy from Pakistan. He was the spit and image of Osama bin Laden - big long beard, white robe, really spooky - anyway, he was struggling to fill out the customs form they give you when you enter the US, so I offered to help. He was a widower whose daughter was a nurse in LA and he was going to visit her and then stay with his brother who had a turkey farm in the San Joachim Valley. He was thoughtful, funny, and very warm fellow, and an excellent seatmate.

[onyx]

I’ve never had to sit next to an obviously sick person! I’m not sure what I would do, save for telling the flight attendant to move that person to the back of the plane, although I suspect I would be the one forced to move. I’d sure raise he// about moving and try to get a coupon for my next flight.