What are your travel pet peeves?

[Pumbaa_]

Aren't people fun?

Beverly Lynn, you made my day! I would have loved to have seen that child's face when you opened that door! What were those parents thinking? One time when we were there, and had a connecting door, the couple started fighting at 6am while packing for their flight. Happy trails folks!

I also have to hop onto that plane complaint. I think the crying, kicking my seat, whining kid thing is my least favorite. I love booking my own flights now and I book as close to the front as I can and i monitor the flight to see if I can move up. I find that alone makes it better. (The last flight, i was down at the luggage looking fo rmy TTC driver and he looked at his watch and said WOW!)

 

[Beanie]

I agree with the person who said "People who allow their children to kick the back of my seat in an airplane" I would never allow my kids to do this, so neither should they!

I also agree on the whole can of soda...what is up with that??

Those are my biggest pet peeves!!

 

[goofyme]

before i begin, let me inform you i'm a fairly frequent leisure flyer where the flight is no longer the adventure..

Peeves:
*travelers who sit in my assigned window seat before i get there and pretend to be asleep
*businessmen and women who look at me meanly just because i have my three kids with me (even though they act good most of the time)
*people who bring their computers on board, do 10 minutes of buisness, then play games or watch a DVD while i try to sleep with their bright screen in my face
*people in the aisle seat who get angry when you get up to go to the restroom
*loud obnoxious people doing business on their cellular phone who talk as loud as they can all the way until the door is closed so we can know how important they are
*

 

[disneydreamerinny]

**Bumpy flights

**My daughters soda spilling all over her lap and mine from the bumpy flights.

**Not being able to get up and go to the bathroom because of the bumpy flights.

**Having to wear your seatbelt the whole flight because of the bumpy flights.

**Having to sit and pray that we dont crash because of the bumpy flights.

**The bumpy landings!!

**The feeling that the whole plane is going to tip over because of the bumpy landing.

I have flown 3 times in my life and each and every flight was like this.. I had one flight that the landing was so smooth you didnt even know you had touched down. As we were exiting the plane we noticed that it was a FEMALE PILOT!! Ha! I loved it!

 

[Beverly Lynn]

I just flew in yesterday from MCO and both of my flights were uneventful. except for the germans who spoke no english and were standing in the aisle screaming at each other about who was going to sit where. they held us up from departing on time. the flt attnds had a hard time getting them to take their seats. there were 10 of them.


one of my pet peeves is people carrying their carry ons thru the aisle hitting everyone as they go down the dang aisle. hello if you're hitting people and they are saying something to you then either turn your bag so it doesn't do that or pick it up and carry it in the air! DUH!

 

[Dee & Greg]

People who grab the top of your plane seat from behind to ease themselves into their seat. Or use your seat to heft themselves out of their seat. I've had people yank my hair when they do this. Ouch!

Entire families that line up at the baggage carousel; then keep all of their luggage right around them as it comes off the belt... making their own "mountain" so you can't get close to the carousel.

 

[friskykitten]

Well, I can tell that I am going to upset some travelers on my next plane trip. I am extemely short, less than 5' tall, so I will have to kindly ask someone to help me put my bag in the overhead bin. Along with my daughters. I didn't realize that bothered so many people. I am usually so independent. (sigh) Oh well, I can't get any taller so I will just have to live with knowing I am ruining someones day!!

Still I can't help but be excited about flying!!!! Love the thread Beverly Lynn!!

 

[VickiVM]

Friskykitten,
Oh, honey, don't be surprised if you get the "if-you-can't-stowe-it-then-don't-bring-it" response. Apparently, patience and kindness is not required to travel.

 

[friskykitten]

Thanks Vicki! It is very comforting knowing that I am not the only short annoying adult in this world! LOL!!!

A pet peeve of mine is definately sitting on the plane waiting forever to take-off or to get off. Wow! That can take forever!!! Or cashiers that completely overlook me and go straight to the next tall adult asking what they can get for them. And the tall adult who has been there for 30 seconds, knowing I was their first taking advantage of it and making me wait even longer. ( I don't speak up very often, as I am so short my voice only comes out as a small squeak.... ) It's like HELLO!! I am right here, I am a real person not some lost kid, and it is MY TURN!!!

Nope, no repressed negative feelings here!

 

[pnelson]

I'm surprised it bothers so many people when the person in front of them reclines their seat. I do this on long flights and have never given it a thought. What's so bad about reclining a seat that is supposed to recline?

 

[ducklite]

Frisky--

I'm not trying to be rude, but I am wondering why you don't just put your carryon under the seat in front of you? Again, not trying to be rude, but you don't need the leg room. It would certainly help to save the overhead space for pax who do need the leg room.

Anne

 

[friskykitten]

Hey ducklite!

I guess it is my obssesive compulsiveness. I don't want my nice clean suitcase on that dirty airplane floor!

But you are right that would be a good remedy. (I have only flown once......another pet peeve of someone else's......rookies!!)

On the other hand, believe it or not........I also find the need for more leg room on those flights!! I don't know how those larger than me can stand it! I get so cramped sitting there in that tiny space. (Flew Northwest)

Hey ducklite! Will you put my bag up there for me??? LOL!!! Just kidding!

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by pnelson
I'm surprised it bothers so many people when the person in front of them reclines their seat. I do this on long flights and have never given it a thought. What's so bad about reclining a seat that is supposed to recline?

It depends on the time of day and the degree of the recline. I have no issue with a seat being reclined slightly just so the person isn't sitting straight up. I also don't mind if it is a long flight or especially at night. However when there is a meal service or a drink service, reclining your seat fully is pretty rude as far as I am concerned. When the seat in front of you is reclined and you don't recline your seat fully, you have a seat back right in your face. This makes it hard to eat or drink and even read sometimes. This wouldn't be an issue if the airlines didn't have such incredibly small seat pitches, but in this day and age when space is at a premium, it makes it really inconvenient to have a seat right in your face. I guess it is just a consideration for the person behind you. Much like it is equally rude to be bumping, kicking, nudging the seat in front of you.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Hi friskykitten!

Greetings from one shorty to another! 5'1" here - so too short to even put a coat up there!

I never carry anything heavy or big anyway - just a small duffle or backpack. It's usually those bulky winter jackets that really need to go up in the overhead. And like I said - I can't reach!

Here's what I do - I scoot into my row out of the way of the people behind me , dump my stuff on the seat, slip out of one shoe, step up on the seat so I'm taller, and throw my stuff up there! Since, it's usually coats or small bags, I usually can find space.

Of course, someone will probably object to me standing on the seat WITHOUT shoes, but the bottom of shoes are filthy, I refuse to put it on the seat!

If I bring anything bulkier or heavier onto the plane, I bring my very own luggage handler - my much taller dh!




another pet peeve:

People behind me trying to get luggage OUT of the overhead directly over my head when I'm lining up in the aisle to disembark - it's easy to reach over my head 'cause of my height, I guess. Due to the laws of gravity & physics and because the person is usually stretching, over-reaching and off balance, if I don't quickly poke the person in front of me forward or squeeze in with the person seated in the row next to me, I usually get a large bag fall on top of me or at least get my head or shoulder wacked by a suitcase!

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Here's what I do - I scoot into my row out of the way of the people behind me , dump my stuff on the seat, slip out of one shoe, step up on the seat so I'm taller, and throw my stuff up there! Since, it's usually coats or small bags, I usually can find space.

No complaint from me -- I think this is a great strategy! Especially the "scooting into your row" part. That's hits my peeve on the head. I don't care how long it takes people to stow their stuff in the overhead bin -- I think they should take as much time as they need. But if they can't do it quickly then I would appreciate it if they got out of the way of those still trying to board the plane, then took care of that when there was a break in the crowd.

 

[ducklite]

Grace has a great solution! I've seen lots of people do this. It gets you out of the aisleway quickly, and you manage your own lugage. My mom is on the vertically challenged side, and that's exactly what she does when she flies alone.

Frisky--I'm tall (for a woman--5'8") and I STILL have people reaching over my head to get things in and out of bins. I can't tell you how many times I've been whacked on the head by Joe "I'm more important than anyboby on this plane" Smith who has a seat in the back of the plane, but is up at landing before the seatbelt sign is off, has stowed his oversized, heavy bag over my seat towards the front rather than put it over his own over inflated head, run up the aisle and grabbed the bag, as I was standing up to get off the plane in an orderly fashion, then blocked forward rows from deplaning because he has to fish for his cell phone. ARGH!

BTW- I'm not talking aout a late flight with people who have tight connections getting off first. By all means. I'm talking about inconsiderate people.

Anne

 

[Beverly Lynn]

what about mr Joe traveler who insists on coming intot he aisle to get his carry on in the overhead bin even tho there is no room for him to get out? they just push until they get in there pushing anyone in the aisle out of their way and into everyone else or the seats.

personally if you are short then I would either step on the seat to get into the overhead for my bags or ask the flt attnd. that is part of their job.

we flew in on an airbus119 and it was actually pretty roomy. much nicer than a 737. even with the seat in front of me reclined all the way back using my tray table for our drinks was ok. I really like the airbuses. wish they had more of them.

 

[ducklite]

Beverly Lynn-

I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure that at least one of the FA Unions got it written into their contract that FA's do NOT have to assist pax with bags into overhead space. There were too many back injuries happening. If I'm wrong, I see it coming at any rate.

I agree on the Mr. Joe Traveller thing--that's exactly who I was trying to describe in my earlier post.

Anne

(Edited to correct a typo)

 

[The Hunt]

I have absolutely no problem helping a short, elderly, or even weak person out by putting a bag in the overhead for them--as long as it is a reasonable carry-on bag, and not a giant bulging bag, an oddshaped object that takes up all the room, etc. Those overhead bins are for everyone, and I don't think you should be excluded from using it just because you can't lift a reasonable bag up there.

My pet peeve is people who can't wait their turn, either getting on or off the plane.

 

[NancyIL]

Some of you are a bit impatient about having to wait an extra 10 seconds for someone to retrieve their overhead luggage! I usually sit by the window, so there's at least one person (sometimes 2) closer to the aisle than I am. When the plane pulls up to the gate, I can't even attempt to get my belongings out of the overhead bin until the people next to have gotten out of MY way! If you're unlucky enough to be behind me, you're just gonna have to wait until I get my stuff out of the overhead bin!