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Annoying people in the airport/plane

154 replies

PolkaDotMankini · 08/04/2023 09:14

I bloody hate early flights. I don't have the patience to deal with people that early in the morning. This morning's experience included:

  • People walking really slowly in groups through the airport, so no one else could get round them, stopping dead every so often to consult with each other about where to get breakfast
  • The people sitting behind me on the plane talking the entire way, including through the safety briefing
  • The person playing crappy music on their phone speaker
  • The person whistling on the plane. Whistling FFS

Only an hour-long flight and I can get off now, thank goodness.

OP posts:
WickedSerious · 08/04/2023 12:46

Knullrufs · 08/04/2023 09:38

The only thing worse than early flights is flights later in the day. So I generally grit my teeth and do the 4am wake-up thing because going later is invariably worse.

I’m always fascinated by the airport-specific permissioning that goes on. No other time is it acceptable to get on the lagers at six in the morning. Except when you’re going on holiday.

My cousin does this,vodka and tonic at 4 o'clock in the morning.

I feel sick just thinking about it.

ArianahX · 08/04/2023 12:49

Regarding smelly fellow passengers, my sister recommends wearing a scarf to hold over your nose just in case!!

lljkk · 08/04/2023 13:01

May we all be blessed with irritations as small as OP's. Definite gratitude zone.

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dew141 · 08/04/2023 13:14

Pringleface · 08/04/2023 11:42

I’m going to add the bellend who thumped his seat into recline during food service so DH ended up wearing his dinner and a glass of wine. No apology, just ignored us when we asked what the hell he thought he was doing.

Myleene Klass did this to my husband which slightly amused me.

Mine is the people in front reclining their seat then flicking their hair over the seat-back so it's dangling over my table. Eugh.

And people behind who take off their shoes then put their legs up on the armrest so you're sat next to their manky socks.

On recent short haul flights, I've noticed multiple people walking through the business class section, putting their suitcases in the lockers above and walking to the back of the plane. At least you get to board first in business class but it's a bit cheeky.

That said, we were playing Yahtzee on our last flight, my teenager dropped the shaker (on take off to give maximum gradient) and we were the annoying family trying to retrieve five small dice from around the cabin. One man was asleep and the dice was stuck between his feet so I desperately hoped he didn't wake up during my delicate extraction manoeuvre.

Kissedbyfire1 · 08/04/2023 13:38

WickedSerious · 08/04/2023 12:46

My cousin does this,vodka and tonic at 4 o'clock in the morning.

I feel sick just thinking about it.

This. It’s kind of beyond permissioning though, it’s as if it’s compulsory. Saw a woman in the departure lounge at Geneva recently- 6am, big glass of red wine. Just why? Where are you going. Sat next to a (different) woman on that flight coming back to UK who ordered two of the half bottles of prosecco and drank both. It’s a 90 minute flight.

WickedSerious · 08/04/2023 13:46

Kissedbyfire1 · 08/04/2023 13:38

This. It’s kind of beyond permissioning though, it’s as if it’s compulsory. Saw a woman in the departure lounge at Geneva recently- 6am, big glass of red wine. Just why? Where are you going. Sat next to a (different) woman on that flight coming back to UK who ordered two of the half bottles of prosecco and drank both. It’s a 90 minute flight.

I don't think I've ever had an alcoholic drink at an airport,my DP is very fond of booking stupid o'clock flights and it's as much as I can do to choke down a milky coffee.

PhillySub · 08/04/2023 13:49

"People behind you who haul themselves out of their seat by grabbing your headrest and your hair when you are trying to sleep"
I find myself doing exactly that after the person in front reclines their seat while I'm still trying to eat my meal. Annoy me and I'll annoy you.

sunglassesonthetable · 08/04/2023 13:50

Sorry- an hours flight and I'm probably going to chat the entire time.

And have a bloody mary because I'm not that keen on flying. 🤷‍♀️

TortolaParadise · 08/04/2023 13:56

Everyone except the pilot and baggage handlers.🏝

user1471517095 · 08/04/2023 13:58

The woman the the other side of the aisle from me who combed her long hair then cleaned her combed and threw her hair on the floor.

SeaToSki · 08/04/2023 13:59

People who arrive at the security conveyor belt and are surprised that they have to separate anything out of their bag, and then spend half an hour rooting through their clothes to find all their liquids (to be told the bottles are too large) and ask again and again about what has to be pulled out. Then they have half a billion pieces of jewelry to take off, coins in their pockets and oh yes, let me go back and take off my belt. They still then trigger the metal detector. It just slows everything down so much. I wish they had a queue for the people who know what they are doing and one for people who have questions

Also (and this is very specific to just me 😊) if someone in the queue says they cant go through the metal detector, which the security personnel understand and have protocols for, dont start whining loudly about entitled people who think they can jump the queue. If you would like to live with a cardiac pacemaker and have to make massive changes in your life to accommodate it, be my guest

CordyLines · 08/04/2023 14:05

I am retired (early!) so always do the following, because now I can....

Get a Ryanair flight, seats don't recline. I have NEVER had a problem with them before you all start screaming blue murder and they go to the destinations I want.

Get a flight around 1-2pm. After the morning crush and before the evening one.

Never ever travel in school holidays, half terms or Easter/Christmas/New Year peaks.

I'm a smug git, but it works for me.

NannyGythaOgg · 08/04/2023 14:20

I had my seat being kicked by a woman of 59 (she told me). I'd looked round thinking it was a kid and to ask nicely (initially( not to - only to see this woman. I gave her the benefit of the doubt then it happened again and again. So I asked her to stop to which her reply was 'You are moving too much in your seat - I'm going to kick your seat, every time you move ... I'm nearly 60 you know and I will NOT put up with it'. WTF. At which point, I reclined my seat - she objected and I said I'll put it up on condition you stop kicking. - Silly Cow (Oh and, as a weird coincidence, I was 59 too.) She stopped kicking

SkiingIsHeaven · 08/04/2023 14:29

I sat on an airplane a couple of years ago when the family in front had given the kids an iPad with a car game on full blast. Screeching car tyres and revving engines. I politely asked them to turn the sound off or wear headphones which luckily they did.

On the return flight I sat down, heard the same sound and just tipped my head around the corner and looked at them but didn't say anything. They immediately turned the sound off before being asked.

I was very pleased that they did this but they obviously know they are wrong and do it anyway.

Luckily I am an old grouch and speak up when I'm not happy.

limitedperiodonly · 08/04/2023 14:47

PhillySub · 08/04/2023 13:49

"People behind you who haul themselves out of their seat by grabbing your headrest and your hair when you are trying to sleep"
I find myself doing exactly that after the person in front reclines their seat while I'm still trying to eat my meal. Annoy me and I'll annoy you.

@PhillySub why so aggressive? I didn't say I reclined my seat did I? So would you still haul your arse out by grabbing the headrest of my upright seat, or would you leave me in peace?

I fly mostly in Europe so my flights are under three hours. I am small, so if I want to catch up on sleep after an early start, I can do it easily sitting upright and leaning on the window or my husband. I do this out of consideration to the person behind. But I understand people taller than me might need to stretch their legs, so I put up with it if it happens to me and they are well-behaved in all other respects.

I did recline on the flight to LA I mentioned because I thought feigning sleep would stop the man next to me in his relentless pursuit of a bunk up in the loos. But that was only after the food had been cleared away, because I was considerate of the person sitting behind me who I knew wouldn't want his tray table in his face even though I was becoming desperate, like that little cat Pepe Le Pew mistakes for a skunk in the cartoons.

Looking back, I should have asked if he minded swapping seats on the grounds that the bloke next to me wasn't gay so wouldn't pester him in the same way. But he might have been bisexual, pansexual or casual sex on a flight might have been his hobby. Anyway, I didn't and the man was under no obligation to swap with me even if I had asked. You live and learn. Maybe next time.

Anyway, the man behind didn't haul his arse out of the seat using my headrest as a lever, so can only surmise that he was as polite and considerate as me. Or maybe he was just good at getting up and sitting down without having to grab hold of things.

I slept with one eye open btw. I didn't trust my fellow traveller not to think: "What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over."

So, to recap: I guess as I recline my seat on only the rarest and strictest of circumstances, you wouldn't disturb my sleep and would take out whatever issues you have on someone else. Or would you?

ArianahX · 08/04/2023 14:55

@limitedperiodonly why did you not say to the annoying man 'fucking leave me alone I want to sleep'? Or report him to the stewards? I would have done both but I have a short fuse.

Twike · 08/04/2023 14:56

Honestly have some sympathy. The people walking slowly could have mobility issues or be neurodivergent or God forbid not be used to the airport. I assume people that grab the seat either haven't flown much and don't realise how annoying it is or can't steady themselves. Do you really sit there judging everyone in the damn airport except for those who abide by all your etiquette rules!

Ylvamoon · 08/04/2023 15:06

I'll add a group of 3 people...
They were politely reminded that the plane will take off shortly and everyone should be in their seat!
... and they start to play "musical chairs"!
Apparently middle seat realised that he should be in window seat- so ALL had to get up to swap seats FFS!

limitedperiodonly · 08/04/2023 15:09

ArianahX · 08/04/2023 14:55

@limitedperiodonly why did you not say to the annoying man 'fucking leave me alone I want to sleep'? Or report him to the stewards? I would have done both but I have a short fuse.

@ArianahX I am sure you would have dealt with the encounter much better than me. Out of interest, are you the usually the sort of person who goes through life telling people where they are going wrong whether they ask your advice or not, or is it an occasional hobby? If only we could all be as nimble-minded and assertive as you.

usernother · 08/04/2023 15:12

Twike · 08/04/2023 14:56

Honestly have some sympathy. The people walking slowly could have mobility issues or be neurodivergent or God forbid not be used to the airport. I assume people that grab the seat either haven't flown much and don't realise how annoying it is or can't steady themselves. Do you really sit there judging everyone in the damn airport except for those who abide by all your etiquette rules!

It's fairly easy to spot people who have mobility issues. The rest of them are the kind of people who dawdle through life holding everyone else up.
I hate getting up early but prefer the v early flights because people are less drunk on the plane and therefore quieter.
Anyone who reclines a seat in front of me is being kneed in the back by my very long legs for the whole flight.
I've never had anyone sitting in my prebooked seat but if it happens I will not give up even it means me sitting on top of them.

notimagain · 08/04/2023 15:15

Do you really sit there judging everyone in the damn airport except for those who abide by all your etiquette rules!.

It’s certainly unfair to rush to judgment without knowing all the details.

With regards to drinking - At the major international hubs (Heathrow, Gatwick, Paris, Frankfurt, Geneva etc etc etc) at breakfast time, local, the terminals are busy with people who have come on the early long haul arrivals from places like the Far East/Aus etc and are waiting to connect onwards.

They might well decide to have a drink with what is for them a late lunch/early dinner.

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 08/04/2023 15:18

People with wheelie hand luggage suitcase things that are almost empty except for sandwiches for during the flight.

Yeah, I'm looking at you, DMum...

Twike · 08/04/2023 15:20

@usernother Is it now? Well we don't need blue badges then. We can all just eyeball them and decide if they're worthy or not. Of course you can't sodding always tell! Good grief! My dad had MS among various other ailments that made him slow and confused. There were a good few years when you "couldn't tell by looking." It didn't mean he wasn't struggling. But nice to know a bunch of people were sat there thinking how awful he was for being slow or steadying himself on a chair. People really are just awful.

FionnulaTheCooler · 08/04/2023 15:23

Drunk stag do hooligans who force everyone on the plane to listen to their inane bollocks by shouting at the top of their voices the entire time. I was unlucky enough to be stuck on a 2 hour flight recently with the above. The stewards did nothing to quieten them down despite multiple complaints. The little bastards were lucky they didn't end up getting decked by the way people were glaring at them by the time we got to baggage claim.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 08/04/2023 15:24

People who arrive at the security conveyor belt and are surprised that they have to separate anything out of their bag, and then spend half an hour rooting through their clothes to find all their liquids (to be told the bottles are too large) and ask again and again about what has to be pulled out. Then they have half a billion pieces of jewelry to take off, coins in their pockets and oh yes, let me go back and take off my belt. They still then trigger the metal detector. It just slows everything down so much. I wish they had a queue for the people who know what they are doing and one for people who have questions

This is what annoys me too. Last time we flew we paid to fast track security and it was definitely worth it .

I wouldn't choose to drink alcohol at breakfast time but I do take medication to help me relax on the flight so I could understand people who drink for this reason .

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