Am I alone in not being able to remain pleasant in an airport?

[aperolspritzbasicbitch]

Nothing raises my cortisol quite like being in an airport.
i hate it.
I become snappy, everything annoys me and the general public can do no right.
I was born to fly private, but unfortunately I am without the funds.

My mood is only really improved if I have hand luggage only, because at least then I don’t have to deal with people crowding around the luggage belt, making it impossible for the rest of us to see our bags. And don’t get me started on those who allow their children to stand right at the front!

Is anyone able to breeze through without becoming stressed? If so, please share your secrets to being calm!

I get annoyed by people who stand in a queue at the gate when they’ve clearly said they are only boarding passengers in certain categories. Then when yours is called, they are completely blocking the bit you need to get to and look at you as though you’re jumping a queue. I’ve seen people stand there for an hour before! Do they not realise we’re all going on the same plane? I just don’t get why they’d want to stand there for so long.

Once we were stuck behind people doing this and the ground staff let them through anyway. But all that happened was then got funnelled into another space for ages which was roasting hot and of course they couldn’t leave as they’d had all their tickets checked by then. Bet they regretted it then!

Yes OP people blocking the luggage belt with small kids who get injured is ridiculous too.

Or someone at security who decided to grab a tray, dump their stuff in and push past people infront who were waiting for a space to put theirs.

So many irritating people about.

DP had airport anger. But most of the tone he has a point. People not understanding signs or not listening to instructions at security holding people up. Blocking luggage collection. Queuing at the gate before it opens. Not filing out of seats in turns. He gets annoyed at clapping when landed.

I am the opposite and quite chilled which annoys him. We quite often go through security separately and meet in duty free as his annoyance annoys me.

Those people who put their poxy rucksacks in the overhead storage when they would fit perfectly and conveniently under their seats, so cabin crew have to spend half an hour repeatedly saying 'whose rucksack is this?' in order to free up space for cabin baggage that won't go under a seat. I mean WTAF is wrong with people? Just put your fucking rucksack under your fucking seat where noone gives a fucking fuck about it yes my flight home was delayed because of these morons

potential stress relievers are -

paying for priority security (if airport has this facility)
hand luggage only
not flying Ryanair or easyjet
access to a lounge after security

I did a 45 minute change at Frankfurt with a US passport. I really didn’t think I’d make it but it was fine.

Lisbon on the other hand…. 😡

I haven’t flown in many years because of my allergies, but just dropping off and picking up my minor daughter at the airport causes me serious stress. The people and the disorganized bureaucracy. Last time we had a ticketing issue and I had very quiet autistic meltdown. Im not sure anyone else around us realized, but I was as a mess. I had trouble staying standing i was so distressed. Thankfully my husband was also there and took over. By the time we got home I had to sleep for hours and I didn’t even get on a plane.

Manchester airport is its own Circle of Hell. The End.

To be honest I don’t really take much notice of anyone else.
I’m too excited for my holiday.
I did take umbrage with the passenger sat in front of me who insisted on reclining their seat so far back, she was virtually sat on my lap. Rude, rude, rude.

I did Qatar Airways first class a few weeks ago. Bliss, no check in or security or contact with the airport, arrive, hand over passport and bags and then lounge and private boarding. It was not so joyous coming back from Heathrow but an amazing experience

Airports annoy me as well tbh

The queue lines going back and forward and ending up in the same place

The feeling that someone in front of you is fucking about and thats why its so slow

Argh

Pay for lounge access and priority security lane?

Fly Business Class and wine.😁

People lose all common sense in airports and it’s every person for themselves. They won’t stand back from the baggage carousel, the way they use the overhead compartments on the plane, it’s an overlit, over stimulating environment.

Generally I am ok. I fly regularly to Spain from Stansted.
On Friday afternoon we landed at 15.30 and entered the hallway to collect the shuttle train..
About 70 trillion people were queuing for something.. the shuttle had broken down and buses replaced it. Airport staff didn't explain anything.
I was tired and hungry and in a really stroppy mood.
People were excusing themselves to get to the front.
I'm afraid to say, they weren't getting in front of me.
Finally cleared passport control at 18.45

Love airports. Pure happiness arriving at one every time!

Oh I’m with you about the luggage collection…why do people let their kids stand right by the belt? In everybody’s way and incapable of getting their own luggage so there’s no reason to be there.
My latest source of irritation is those children’s suitcases with a built in scooter. It’s a great idea for frazzled parents no doubt but at my last luggage pick up there were three of them weaving around people’s legs and doing laps of the luggage carousel. I felt like it was only a matter of time before there was a collision!!

What @HJBeans said. Just embrace the loss of control, go into a small mental space, don’t spend any time thinking about other people’s behaviour, just adjust round it like the weather. Step back.

Also, fly as little as possible.

I did an international job for 20 years, sometimes travelling with 20 pieces of baggage.

1. don't set yourself time-targets that you might miss. It adds to the stress.
2. It's a carousel, anything you miss will come round again
3. ensure your bags are perfectly designed to be as light & mobile as possible
4. 5* insure everything
5. arrive before the masses, check everything in and then have a leisurely breakfast at the airport
6. dress for comfort rather than style
7. avoid travelling with children if at all possible

I’m too anxious to get cranky. 😬

The difference between barely tolerable hell and absolute hell is often the staff. Went through fast track at Bristol last week and had the most obnoxious, rude, fat (irrelevant but there you go) slob shouting at the queue and slamming the trays around.

Pal, if you don't want a customer facing job fuck off and go and work somewhere else. Stop ruining people's day who have paid for this shit. Rant over... For now.

LOL

You’re not alone OP, my XH is also a bit of a princess* at the airport. Stress head about packing, stress head about traffic/being on time, stress head about how being in a queue makes him feel dirty/like shit, stress head when the kids were small at security. Always at hair trigger in case someone was in his space, rushing near him, or asked to go ahead in the queue. Everything was a fucking hassle to take out on someone else.
Between the constant tutting to the extent I called him King Tut, and thinking he was JP Sartre going on about the hell that is other people, it has been a delight not to have to deal with him since the divorce. Unfortunately my kids have to bear the brunt alone now.

princess* Edited in to not use the otherwise deletable word I chose originally.

And Ryanair, stop sending me messages telling me how bad the queues are going to be because of EES then not opening your bag drop until two hours before your wretched flight! Can't you understand you can help to de-stress this for people? No?

Don’t get stressed in airports … on the way out arrive 3hrs before so straight through security (all of them when aboard) and either have a guaranteed overhead cabin bag or underseat bag only. Always chose to sit in the aisle cos that makes it easier to go the loo so I’m happy to let everyone else board the plane - sit at the gate as long as possible while everyone else crowds and faffs on the plane.

On landing, I expect queues and have an AirTag in my luggage so I know when it’s approaching the carousel! I position myself away from the belt crowders!

Travelling on crowded commuter trains and tubes everyday for years gets you used to all the silly things people do, especially the tourists that don’t know the “rules” … standing at top of escalators, tickets not ready, not moving down carriages etc. But at touristy areas are touristy times of year you just anticipate this too - Oxford Circus in December should be avoided if at all possible! 😆

Airports are generally less crowded and more civilised than rush hour platforms and concourses when there are delays.

Tips: Airtag checked luggage and expect crowds, slowness and delays then any queue you breeze through is a pleasant win!

Do they not realise we’re all going on the same plane? I just don’t get why they’d want to stand there for so long.

overhead bin space. I fly very frequently for business, we are only allowed hand luggage and are often pressed for time to get to meetings or catch other transport. So it is really annoying if there is no space and I need to check my bag in, or put it over seat 23 when I'm in 5 so need to wait for the entire plane to get off first. Speedy boarding used to be the answer, but nowadays everyone has it, so bin still not guaranteed.

Hello from an airport.

My advice is to throw as much money at the entire thing as you can. Does mean business or first class every time, but even pay as you go add ons like priority bag drop and boarding, fast track security etc really help.

I’m currently sitting in a very nice lounge with breakfast, a mimosa, and decent WiFi, listening to some relaxing music and, while there are other people here, it’s pretty sedate and manageable.

Anything to keep me away from the slow walkers, escalator-top-stoppers, and those who seem to materialise on earth and decide to spend their first day in an airport security line.