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

I don't understand the need to buy a beer at 7am and post it to Facebook.

As for getting off, I was once last off a flight at LAX and ended up at the back of a 2 hour security queue

Try San Francisco. Four hours. No aircon and but were fortunately half way in the queue that snaked almost back to the gate. They funnelled more and more people into the area.
That said Chicago was almost as bad so I think it's US immigration in general.

Shhh! Don't tell everyone about City Airport, they'll all start using it!

I have had to rush off at landing, making it through the work visa line in the USA after a delayed flight and having to get a connecting one is stressful.
I travel a lot so don’t normally get stressed but that one was awful.

Shhh! Don't tell everyone about City Airport, they'll all start using it!

Do they fly long haul to Asia/America/Africa

I was at an airport last week and an American got very confused as to why no one else had removed their shoes.

It doesn't help that airports around the world have different rules. Some US airports are take your shoes off and some aren't. So if you usually fly out of one particular airport you will get used to their rules but they aren't necessarily the same as the next airport you use.

Do they fly long haul to Asia/America/Africa

They do if you are doing a stopover. I've done London City to Tokyo a few times, with a brief stopover in Amsterdam. But don't tell anyone! We don't want everyone to start using it

I never understand the pushing and shoving to get off the plane.

Ever since DS was small (so would get squished if we tried the 'we must get off now' idea), we've always waited until nearly everyone is off. We then get our bags from under the seat in front - we've not put our bag 'up top' for years. Its so much easier to get what you need out! We learned that when DS was a baby and his nappy changing bag had been squashed at the back of the overhead locker. And as he got older I would have a bag of small toys/books/snacks on the floor under the seat in front of him - even if the seatbelt sign was on (where you don't have to tighten them but you can't get up) DH could reach down to get something out for him. Saves a whinny child and my sanity!

So we get off, usually last, we have a stroll down to the baggage reclaim - usually use the loos on the way. And I will guarantee you that 9 times out of 10 the bags have only just started coming off. And if it's one of those buses to take you to the airport we're usually one of the last on then first off.

The panic of the overhead cabin space would be eased if the airlines didn't sell more spaces than are available
Where you've paid extra for a piece of cabin luggage I dont think its unreasonable to expect to be able to bring it on the plane & sit nearish to it, particularly if you've packed your things for the flight in it, as you're not allowed another piece of luggage.

It's a bit rubbish that people who've paid for a service find they can't use it, just because they're last to get on the plane.

The two main things stressing me out at airports are low ceilings and jobsworths on security desperately tryign to make their miserable lives meaningful.

I'm sure there must be many great airport security workers...but there are more than enough self-important tits to make life stressful for NT passengers let alone anyone who has an ASD family member in tow.

I must admit I'm one of those that hates people being in my personal space.

I was on a flight on Friday and I was sat in the middle of three seats (travelling solo). I got to my seat and the women on the aisle had decided to spread out over my seat and huffed when I said I was sat there, she took ages to move her cr*p then for the whole of the flight was flicking her long manky hair (which touched my arm/face EVERYTIME), was yawning really loudly, spread her big legs over to my side of the chair and finally had the audacity to ask the guys behind to be quiet as she couldn't hear her music (they wasn't even loud!).

Oh god so many people saying China is worst! I’m going i. A few weeks and already anxious

My DH had the rage on our last flight home with a woman trying to move his (small) rucksack somewhere else so she could put her ridiculously large wheelie case in the overhead locker. Erm we were here first love, put your shit somewhere else! Other things that give me the rage:-

People who can't read the frickin seat number and sit their arses in the right seat
Space invaders (spiky elbows and manspreading)
Tinny and loud pling pling pling games on ipads etc
Continuous seat kicking
General stupidness and faffing around

Oh if I won the lottery I would be the first to travel first class everywhere - that's my dream!

YABVU what’s wrong with getting stuff from bags in overhead lockers? That’s why you’re allowed to take hand luggage on, to access things you might need?

Flying used to be really pleasant in the 70s as I remember it. My mom says it was even better in 50s.
It was also massively expensive and most people never flew at all.

Spare a thought for those of us with children with sensory problems! Our two teens look perfectly normal but both have Autism and get very stressed in queues etc. We got a lanyard for Manchester Airport this year but it was f all use when you come off a flight no one to meet you no priority area to go to only queues along corridors which are unbearable. Some airports accompany you to the aircraft and greet you at the aircraft steps.

Someone told me that when a plane lands in Germany everyone stays put until told to take their bags from overhead and leave row by row! I don't know what happens if someone doesn't know the routine but it sounds like a good idea to me. I think air travel does make people stressed though OP, however much we try and pretend it's just like a bus journey.

Does City airport still have the New York flight with about 30 seats where you pre-clear US immigration whilst the plane refuels in Shannon?! I’ve done it once and it was amazing.

Love this thread! I have to say, the thing that baffles me the most is the standing in the aisle but once plane landed. I always stay seated and it'll take quite a while before someone lets me out.

And those people who constantly feel the need to open the lockers mid flight even though everyone knows they are packed like Tetris as everyone brings too much hand luggage.

This year I am flying EasyJet and have paid £7 so I can check my hand luggage in. No faffing at security with tiny bottles and no worrying about cramming bag into locker. Wish every airline offered this.

It's the infrequent fliers: I fly several times a year and not only do I not engage in this ridiculous and totally unnecessary behaviour but I completely ignore those that do.

I disagree re: constant queuing etc. The fact is, these people are not used to what is required of them therefore they don't "get" it and they don't enjoy it and actually, unless you're on a long haul night flight, economy is NOT uncomfortable to travel in, even Easyjet is perfectly fine unless you're a size 20+.

As in life, it is the travelling not the destination that is important... slow down and enjoy the process, treat it like a day out. Get there in plenty of time, have a meal, browse the shops and if it's time appropriate, have a drink or 2... treat yourself.

The only exception to this is travelling with fractious children.. nothing to enjoy there.

Does City airport still have the New York flight with about 30 seats where you pre-clear US immigration whilst the plane refuels in Shannon?! I’ve done it once and it was amazing.

It does, I’ve never done it but I’d love to.

I reflect that there is no point the crew demonstrating the safety evacuation process.

Given people can’t be separated from their cunty little wheelie cases for more than 15 seconds after wheels down we’re all proper fucked in the event they need to leave without them.

Yup everyone at the airport and on a plane is British!! Travelling is stessful, expensive and tiring that's why. But humans could always be nicer to eachother probably including you.

It’s a stressful experience. You have to get to the airport on time coping with traffic jams, public transport delays etc. Then it’s crowded, you aren’t exactly sure where to go, what Ryanair’s policy of the day is on carrying your child’s car seat (I had 4 different instructions in 4 different flights), you’re queuing to get through security and you don’t know how long it will take, your child is frightened by the experience and the security guards shouting at you, and you’re trying to act all casual and upbeat whilst removing your shoes and half your clothing, the thing beeps anyway as you go through and you’re pulled aside to be patted down (mauled), while your child gets separated by the crowd from you and starts to cry. Then you try and buy a snack but it’s so busy you can’t sit down and spend 10 mins wandering around clutching a cup of tea and a sandwich along with your hand luggage, and child’s hand luggage. Then you have to negotiate the lavatory with a pile of luggage and queue again for boarding. Finally you are ready to buckle up, relax and ‘enjoy’ being hurtled into the air in a cramped, noisy, stuffy, slightly grubby metal tube. I think it’s a wonder that most people actually maintain reasonable behaviour throughout the process!!

Felicia I have seen plenty of very tall people struggle to fit into economy seats.

Pliudev "Someone told me that when a plane lands in Germany everyone stays put until told to take their bags from overhead and leave row by row!"

I think someone was pulling your leg. Are you imagining a whole plane load of obedient stony faced Germans all waiting their turn?

People behave exactly the same in German airspace as they do elsewhere.