Oblivious people in airports.

[Pollydonia]

....usually men.
I was in the UK for a family emergency, travelled back to Spain ( where I live) yesterday.
God almighty, the amount of men adults who are seemingly unaware that other people are around them was beyond a joke.
Person 1 stops in the revolving door to check something in his bag, stopping the door and trapping us with him. He took his sweet time, apparently unconcerned that he had stopped 12 plus people from going through the door.
Person 2 was travelling with his female partner and young kids. Going through security his partner read the signs, sorted the things that needed to be taken out of bags / pockets for herself and 3 kids. He ignored the signs and tried to walk through still carrying his bag. Was most affronted when stopped and told to put his belongings into the container to go through the Xray. Had to be told 3 times to take his shoes off.
Number 3 walked into me as I was ordering a coffee, on his phone, no apology or acknowledgment of my existence.
Number 4 ,well she ignored the flight staff who told her to board at the back and tried to walk the full lengh of the plane whilst other people were boarding correctly, then tried to get up to go to the toilet during takeoff.
I must also say that the many children and babies on the flight were no trouble at all 😀.
Is there something about airports that makes some people completely oblivious to what is happening around them ?

Huge queue at security. Man barged in front of me with his wife and kids. I said, "excuse me, this is a queue". To which he shouted "BUT I HAVE A FLIGHT TO CATCH!"

Wanker.

(Amazing security women built like a brick out house saw what he was trying to do and sent him to the back of the queue.)

I agree with this! On recent flights I've witnessed some ridiculous behaviour and it has to be said it's been from men!
As we were walking out to the plane one guy literally jogged past us to get up the steps ahead of us & we are experienced travellers & weren't exactly dawdling along. The hilarious thing is we were 2nd in the queue at priority boarding so its not as through he was worried there wouldn't he space in the overhead lockers etc as by rushing past us he was 2nd onto the plane!

Coming home as we got to the steps oh the plane dh bent to retract the handle of his bag to pick it up to carry it up thr steps & as he did so the guy behind him pushed past to get up the steps ahead of him! Dh clipped his ankles accidently on purpose putting his bag on the steps & didn't apologise ! Asshole pushing ahead !

And DON'T even start me with the total idiots leaping out of their seats the SECOND the seat belt sign pings off on landing & then if you're unfortunate to be in the aisle seat you have someone's sweaty arse in your face for 15 mins

Airlines should operate a row by row exit

If anyone here does the standing waiting to get off- can they explain WHY they think this is a good thing to do?

Thank you so much!

I am allowed to pre board because of a hidden disability, the number of snotty people in the priority boarding group that try and casually but on purpose block me from getting to the gate when they call for pre boarding is amazing. Its usually couples and one snotty lady even told me I couldnt go through as I didnt have small children or a wheelchair.
The other part I find annoying is the families/groups with grownup children that get to the trays to put their stuff on to be scanned and use it as a chance to have a chat about what bottles of what they have brought for their holidays while ferreting through their suitcases to find them. They then hold them up one by one to the security agent asking, can I take this through, its my favourite shampoo. No the agent isnt going to change the regulations because the half litre bottle of shampoo you arent allowed on the plane is your favourite. I now try and avoid the queues with large groups of teens and young adults. If they are travelling solo, they are surprisingly very efficient

If you don't want to walk on a moving walkway there are a few things to remember as good manners (ie consideration of others in public, shared spaces):

• Stand to the right (as on Tube escalators) to allow those who prefer to walk (or may be running late, or whatever) to get past you as easily as possible. It'll mean you won't be jostled as well. Win-win.

When you step off the moving walkway, keep going. Don't stop. Ditto at the top or bottom of escalators. If you don't know where you need to go next, step aside, so as not to impeded those who do know where they're going next.

• If you use a lift, walk through it as far as you can, away from the open doors. This allows others in more easily.

All simple common-sense matters of consideration for the use of space you share with others.

I'm flying for the first time with my boyfriend next month and neither of us have gone through an airport in 5+ years, back when we went with our parents. I'm going to make a right tit of myself i'm sure.

Airlines should operate a row by row exit

It was tried where I worked and some other places during Covid.

Worked OK for a while whilst people were still generally afraid of the disease but tolerance to it erroded.

You'd need to issue the Cabin Crew with cattle prods or shotguns to ensure much compliance now.

The only thing wrong with your post OP is that it is not just men who are like this. Some people act like they've never been out of the house before. Farts in a trance.

User I did also give the example of one woman, but I stand corrected, especially as you have introduced me to my new favourite phrase to describe such people 😁.
Example number 2 proper have me the rage because a pound to a penny his female partner had gotten those 3 kids up and ready to get to the airport. He looked like he couldn't find his arse with both hands and a map.

@ButteryNuts if you visit the website of the airport you are travelling through they should have the security rules up, but a few tips.

If you are taking any liquids or pastes through in your hand luggage make sure that each item is under 100ml and place in a clear plastic bag - you can google the allowable size of the bag and most airports in the uk also sell them in vending machines on the way to security. Have this bag somewhere you can get to it easily as It needs to go through on the tray outside your baggage.

If you are wearing a coat or cardigan take it off, same for scarves, ponchos ect, any loose clothing.

Shoes may need to be removed, trainers are usually fine but check with the security staff member , they will look and tell you.

If you have a tablet / iPad then it needs to be taken out of your bag and placed into the tray, without the cover.

You cannot take your bottle of water through with you, but once you are through security and air side you can buy another one.

Dont get upset or embarrassed if the scanner beeps as you go through- the staff deal with this many times per day and will give you clear instructions.

When you get your tray back move it to the unloading area rather than trying to unload it where it blocks any more from coming through.

Remember that this is for everyone's safety & that once you are through your holiday or trip can start.

All good advice from @Pollydonia, I'd add that you can take an empty water bottle through security and fill it up afterwards.

I came through an airport this morning and THREE ~arseholes~ men were sent back through the scanner as they had loose coins in their pockets. There was a video every 20m telling you to empty your pockets. We were in the queue next to these videos for 25 minutes. THE LAST ONE HUFFED ABOUT THE TWO GUYS IN FRONT OF HIM FOR HOLDING THE QUEUE UP. I was seething 😤

You cannot take your bottle of water through with you, but once you are through security and air side you can buy another one.

Or you can take an empty bottle through and refill it.
Some airports now have refill stations

I'm flying for the first time in ages tomorrow. I'm already nervous because so much about flying has changed since last time I did it and now I have to worry about other passengers fuming at me because I'm not as slick as them at getting through an airport too. Nice.

Nobody said you have to be as slick as the quickest passenger in the terminal.

People are complaining about those who simply choose to ignore all rules, decide they don’t apply to them, or behave like there are no other humans around and with no consideration. The kind of behaviour you also find at your local supermarket, it’s not just airports.

@Icecreamclassic take all the time you need once at the airport but please do prepare your liquids / electronics before you leave your house, and just don’t stand in the middle of a busy corridor or area as people are rushing for their flights. You’ll be absolutely fine otherwise.

Absolutely – I was on a flight recently where they clearly stated several times that they'd be telling us which rows could get up to leave in groups of 5. 80% of people leapt up as soon as the seatbelt sign turned off, and I felt awful for the poor cabin crew trying to ask people to sit down again.

It's one thing if it's a few idiots dancing around the aisles, but when it's so many people totally ignoring the instructions, what can they do? Such a tough job.

Flew to see friends abroad recently. My message to said friends prior to flight taking off was thus:

"Flight on time. I deeply despise humanity in all its forms."

Stupid people at airports grrr

happy to confirm that apart from some dawdlers through the duty free shop (cursing the design of pushing you through cheap perfume fumes before the departure lounge) tonight’s trip through the airport was very smooth - 10min from walking thru the front door, thru bag drop and security to airside. Winning!

I can get behind @notimagain plan of issuing staff with cattle prods. Considering it’s about the 1 bloody place in this country you can see police with guns I would expect people to act a bit sharp.

someone very dear to me flies at least 4 trips a year. Every time they get to the airport it’s like the very first fucking time. “Do I need my passport here” “can I take my bag through here” “is this where I sort my liquids”. Fucks actual sake there are pilots that spend less time in airports than you! But they are always kind about it and though they get lost frequently I often find them holding a crying child for a stressed mother or pushing a wheelchair.

during covid I had to fly for work and my golly gosh was it a treat (if you ignore the pandemic).

Nope, that is absolutely not what I said.

Its not just at airports. To me its everywhere, latest thing is young men riding these electric scooters on pavements like it was a race track.

Today on the tube there was only one down escalator available and that wasn't actually working so it was steps, there were hoards of people trying to get down this one flight and one idiot woman allowed her small child to stumble at a snail's pace down the steps completely oblivious to the massive queue of people behind her. PICK HIM UP AND GET DOWN THE STAIRS

Some people can manage it. I see it regularly on our local commuter flights. Someone recorded it: www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/u8bsd4/passengers_on_canadian_airline_calmly_waiting_for/

I hate the "rammy" to jump up get your stuff out the over head compartment and run to the door as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off after landing. Chill out folks! Then everyone is stuck for ages while they try and get the stairs or tubey thing attached.

Hear hear to this!

Crikey the number of people on the tube or in a shopping centre, never mind an airport, who stop right in front of everyone, blocking their way, as they disembark from an escalator or a tube station! The lack of awareness of others is astonishing!

Beardy bloke going through airport security last week had 3 of those plastic liquids bags, each one stuffed with grooming products. The security man told him he could only take 1 bag. Bloke was huffing and puffing and saying "oh for fucks sake" and worked himself up into a right state.

Sadly I got through before I could witness just how bad things got for him.