A survey of 2,000 people who have been on a plane found that there are many things that can make us cross in the air – with crying kids, seat reclining and drunk people all in the top 20 list
Passengers’ top gripes include seat recliners, wailing kids, and boozy flyers, a survey of 2,000 air travellers has revealed. Other pet peeves highlighted in the poll are people using gadgets sans headphones, loud chatter, and those taking an eternity to stow their luggage overhead.
Yet, the biggest bugbear for 36% is enduring the incessant kicking of their seat by children. The list of air travel irritations also features sitting next to a gabby stranger, queuing for the loo, and those who monopolise both armrests.
This study was carried out by Staysure, whose spokesperson commented: “Bringing so many different people all together in one enclosed space for a long period of time can be quite an intense experience, sometimes, enabling minor irritations to bubble away.”
They added: “Crying children, seat reclining, and loud fellow passengers can often be frequently encountered on a journey, with the research showing many people can end up a little annoyed on this travel leg of the trip. But drunken and disorderly travellers are also unwelcome, not only by fellow flyers but the airline crew as well.”
The study also found that 14% of passengers get miffed when others prematurely retrieve their bags from the overhead lockers before the flight has officially concluded. However, 15% owned up to being guilty of some of these annoyances themselves, with over half confessing to armrest hogging.
Nearly half of air travellers, at 47%, find themselves often wound up by others’ antics on flights, with 8% feeling annoyed every single time they board, new research has revealed.
According to findings from a OnePoll survey, 44% cannot hide their irritation and express it with a sigh or huff, while 19% admit to getting drawn into heated discussions while in the air.
There are varying attitudes towards being neighbourly too; 37% happily greet and chit-chat with the person sitting next to them, open to a conversation, provided their fellow passenger is also keen for a natter.
Yet, 32% of those who engage in small talk reportedly end up regretting it when they find themselves trapped in ongoing banter for the duration of the flight.
On the flip side, 17% shun any form of acknowledgment or chit-chat with their seatmates – some going as far as feigning sleep, with a quarter of passengers admitting to this tactic to avoid interaction.
An overwhelming 76% are in favour of creating special sections on planes for parents with children, especially since a whopping 18% find that a crying child disrupts their peace more than an unruly adult.
However, a louder 37% say a boisterous grown-up aggravates them much more during a flight, and an astonishing 88% sense a link between the attitudes of passengers and their travel destinations.
And if you thought booze was to blame, you’re not alone – 44% support the idea of alcohol limitations onboard to minimise disturbances.
Representatives from Staysure chimed in: “This research has given us a look at a topic everyone seemingly has a strong opinion on.” They added: “However, once the flight is out of the way, you feel like you can really get on and enjoy your holiday.
“As the survey has shown, there’s a long list of things that might irritate us on the plane and you never know what you might encounter.
“We can’t insure people against annoying passengers but it’s always wise to have tailored travel insurance in place to keep yourself protected should anything more serious happen before or during your trip.”
TOP 20 BIGGEST FLYING IRRITATIONS:
- Children kicking the back of your chair
- Crying or disruptive children
- Seat reclining
- Drunk passengers
- Using a device without headphones on
- People talking too loudly
- People taking ages putting their bags in the overhead locker when first boarding
- People standing up to get their bags out of the overhead lockers before the flight has officially ended
- People getting louder the more alcohol they drink
- People pulling the back of your seat to stand up
- Sitting next to a chatty stranger
- Children running up and down the aisle
- Queuing for the toilet
- People who keep getting up to put something in and out of their bag in the overhead locker
- Passengers constantly coughing
- The person next to you falling asleep so you can’t get out to use the toilet
- Double armrest hoggers
- Poor quality flight food
- People who sit in the wrong seat when first boarding
- Snoring passengers