To Not understand why people get so selfish at the airport?

[virilityisbad]

I just don’t get why brits on their family
holidays get so stressy. I walk through the airport seeing them flapping about and highly strung. People are hugely territorial of their personal space. The sheer hostility towards fellow human beings in the queue for boarding.

Then on the plane, people up and down, up and down checking/fetching stuff from their baggage in the overhead lockers.

Then when landed, people in the middle
of the plane deciding they deserve to disembark first and so blocking the aisle for everyone else to get their bags.

What is it about airports that make people so selfish/stressed out

It's not just Brits. I've flown a lot to/from Northern Europe over the past 2 or 3 years and other airports are just as bad. Flying has become a stressful nightmare and that manifests in normally sane people doing stupid things. We used to love flying 30 years ago, but now we actively try to avoid it - not because of other travellers, but usually because of bad experiences with incompetent/arrogant/unhelpful staff, and that particular hell of Manchester security where they seem to employ the most obnoxious and ignorant staff possible.

I do think the airport has a lot to do with it. I’ve flown to and from London City a few times and it is a very relaxed, calm experience. As opposed to somewhere like Stanstead which is literally hell on earth!

Agree Stansted is awful - mainly because there's not enough seating. Also there aren't lifts down to the tarmac.. I fly a fair amount on my own with my DD (now 3) to visit family. I have to arrange all my baggage/ buggy decisions around the fact that I need to be able to manage everything getting down the stairs at the gate! To be fair, someone almost always offers to help me but I wouldn't want to have to rely on that.

I used to find it really stressful but now I just try to have really low expectations, and plan in advance as much as possible (and ignore twats!).

I think it’s a combination of:

• being out of routine (getting up at stupid o’clock and being tired, having spent the evening before doing last-minute ironing/packing etc),
• nervousness about being late/flying, and
• a sense of entitlement (this is MY holiday that I deserve and sod everyone else).

I think the last one is evident when people have their “small” suitcase they expect to put in the overhead locker AND handbag AND large jacket AND memory foam neck pillow AND ton of duty free AND a large hot costa coffee in their hand and then get annoyed when there’s no space left because half of the plane have already done the same

Baffles me that everyone is always so keen to get to duty free, and even though they’ve flown dozens of times before they somehow expect that this is the time that price of toblerones will suddenly and inexplicably drop below extortionate. And that this is the time the recently-launched designer perfume you fancy is magically priced the same way as Britney Spears’ range in B&M...

• When I travel for work, I hardly ever notice this. It’s only when I go on a summer holiday with someone like TUI etc. I think it’s probably infrequent flyers.*

100% this. Infrequent and nervous flyers.

Yeah people who don’t fly often cause the most issues. I travel a lot and you watch people who fret don’t do things logically to make the process smooth. Birmingham is a pain in the arse they faff about. Planes should be boarded from the back would make it so much easier, cabin luggage I always just take a small rucksack to go under seat in front of me can’t be dealing with overhead lockers.

I was slightly annoyed at my elderly DPs who have loads of money insisting on taking carry on bags to save £40, when I'd told them it was so much easier to check it in. Then they complained about how tricky it was to walk up the narrow steps to get to the plane with their heavy bag and that the air stewardess wouldn't help them to stow it.

I have to say I'm quite glad that Ryanair have now cut the free cabin bag allowance so you're only allowed to bring on an actual handbag sized bag as opposed to ridiculous wheel ons.

Sounds like you are the stressed one OP! Seems all those things you mention have stressed you out. There is your answer!!!

(For what it's worth, we love the airport!! We always have the same routine - check bags, go through security, have a family meal (often with our first glass of wine of the holiday :), then go to the gate. We all enjoy our pre boarding meal and the kids get very excited as they watch all the holiday makers and hustle and bustle.of the airport, and see the planes out the window :), but it can be a bit stressful when the restaurant is busy and food is late coming etc.. as don't really want to miss the plane!! And when the kids were little it took ages to walk them to the gate after gate was called and they suddenly need a poo, need a nappy change etc...)

I recently did a couple of long haul flights, and I can't say that I noticed any of that. People were courteous and helpful of one another.

I do understand why getting stuff from overheard compartments can be an issue. I was sleeping in an aisle seat when a poor lad opened the overhead compartment, and a heavy bag fell out on my face!

I was once hurrying off a flight to make a connection and came across a large family group who had managed to spread across the entire width of the walkway, and were going as fast as their slowest toddler.

I tried to slip past but couldn't so politely said "excuse me please" with a big smile.

The father (I assume) of the group called me a "rude fat cunt who should run more anyway"

All for wanting to get past

Can I ask - I have always wondered - exactly (in minutes) people who stand for hours to be first on and then try to overtake others on the way to board - and those who stand up and crowd the aisle before the plane has stopped (last flight I saw 4 people elbowing and leaning into one small space) and who then run and barge past others to passport control and shove others out of the way at the carousel - to get to the ‘best’ place think they are saving? And why (with the possible exception of wanting to catch the last bus) they feel it necessary to behave like this?
I fly a lot and spend a lot of time bemused. On one flight, a woman was actually saying ‘excuse me’ to a load of other people standing and pushing in the aisle. Where did she think she was going and how much time did she think she was going to ‘
I have never understood any of this behaviour and have flown regularly for 40 years - with and without children of all ages - short and long haul.
Outside of being late to the airport and having to run to the gate or wanting to make the last bus or train, what the fuck difference is 5 minutes going to make? And if you have a seat allocated, why stand for 45 mins so you can be first - if you want your bag in the overhead locker that badly, pay!

As for security, I get concerned when the idiot person in front of me holds up the entire line by not reading the info/listening to the agents and keeps getting stopped for various infractions - while my laptop, phone, passport, purse etc are all just sat unattended in the tray at the far end.

So I always try and queue behind other business travellers as they generally know what they're doing.

I think it's a problem on all flights of all nationalities but I don't really mind it. You come to expect it.

I only get annoyed when people give you reasons why they need special treatment on a plane for things they could have just paid for but didn't. For example, they didn't book a seat and now desperately need the one at the front because they get travel sick or (back in the days where they didn't allocate seats at all) they need to be first on because they have anxiety or a limp or a headache or whatever they could come up with...but didn't want to pay for the speedy boarding.

Worse if they don't think their medical excuses through...I stood up once in the aisle waiting to get off because I had my almost two year old on my lap and he was very unwell and overheating so I stood up so he could sit/stand on the seat on his own. The woman across the aisle said "she needed to stand up because she felt dizzy". As she did she pushed right into me so ended up knocking my two year old down. Luckily there was no nonsense flight attendant on board who had taken a shine to my son and went mental at her for acting so aggressively. She also pointed out the obvious...if you're dizzy surely you need to sit down not stand up!

Because they have seen this scenario many times of shows such as ‘come fly with me’
I think psychologists refer to it as a ‘schema’
Their schema for an airport situation is one they’ve learned by watching other human beings. So they think they are supposed to get flappy and worked up.

Yours,

An armchair psychologist

Most people are infrequent travellers and so are often out of their comfort zone. They are also on holiday so have a range of expectations and may also have been drinking. Not a great combination.

I do think the airport has a lot to do with it. I’ve flown to and from London City a few times and it is a very relaxed, calm experience

I love City (well, other then when all flights are cancelled due to fog and just x2 ground staff are left to deal with it)

Being a bit dense here - but why would boarding from the back be any soffits boarding from the front?

@Aridane you are right.

This is the best way to board a plane!

I was just discussing London City with a friend last night. I think a lot of the calm relaxed atmosphere is to do with the fact that it's primarily business travellers who know the drill, rather than holiday makers who may not. Also less DCs , people getting drunk and the elderly so much less opportunity for stressful experience- apart from if your flight gets delayed and you have to purchase food from their ludicrously overpriced eateries.

It’s very apparent when you go abroad. We’ve noticed how politer and nicer other nationalities are in other countries. In airports it really smacks you in the face as you’re muddled up with several nations.And can the British not talk quietly?

This is unmitigated bollocks. I find it hard to believe you’ve travelled much - you’ve definitely never been to an airport in the Middle East.

It’s very apparent when you go abroad. We’ve noticed how politer and nicer other nationalities are in other countries. In airports it really smacks you in the face as you’re muddled up with several nations.And can the British not talk quietly?

What crap. I've found other nationalities to be just as bad, if not worse. Italians in particular are incredibly noisy and aggressive with a quite unique sense of self importance and arrogance.

And with City we all travel with wheelie bags in cabins - some posters would have apoplexy!

There are a lot of very selfish people about.
I do always get stressed going through security though as I hate having to leave my valuables on a conveyer belt and trusting they will still be there when I get to them

As for security, I get concerned when the idiot person in front of me holds up the entire line by not reading the info/listening to the agents and keeps getting stopped for various infractions - while my laptop, phone, passport, purse etc are all just sat unattended in the tray at the far end.

Oh that always panics me too! Has anyone ever had their belongings stolen though? I've never heard of it happening to anyone I know, so maybe I'm fretting for no reason.

I got stressed flying in / out if Luton.

Unless it's only option I will not choose to fly from that airport again.

Other airports seem to operate a lot better.