What are your travel pet peeves?

[ducklite]

I thought of another one...

People who don't buy a ticket for their under two year old and hold them as a lap baby instead. I cringe every time I see this. If you don't have the money to buy the extra ticket (and Delta offers 1/2 priced tickets for babies in car seats...) stay home. I truly do not believe that anyone who has the money to go to WDW does not have the money to buy an additional plane seat. Not only are you putting your precious childs life at risk, you are also risking the life of your fellow passengers. Want to know what happens to lap babies during turbulence? Read on...

***************************

From the AFA testimony to Congress:

Listen to the words of a young mother, Tywonda Brown, who flew on USAir Flight
1016. It was a routine flight on approach to the Charlotte airport on July 2nd, 1994.
Ms. Brown said, "Suddenly, there was a jolt and my baby flew out of my hands. I
tried to hold on to her and I couldn't ...They told me I could hold her on my lap. I
would have paid for her to sit in a seat."

The plane crashed at 160 miles per hour and try as she might to hold on to her baby,
she was unable to maintain her grasp. Tywonda's daughter, Danasia, was hurled
forward five or more rows within the plane -- and died of massive head injuries. As
she later stressed, had she known she could have put her daughter in a child restraint
seat in an unoccupied seat on the plane, she would have done so.

Want more?

"A child that breaks free during a crash or turbulence faces two serious hazards. First,
the child may be injured as she or he strikes the aircraft interior during the crash.
Second, the parents may not be able to find the infant after a crash and the child may
therefore be killed by the ensuing fire, as occurred in the Sioux City, Iowa crash.
The children who were not properly restrained soared about the aircraft. It was
difficult, and in one case impossible, to find the children after impact."

***************************

Anne

 

[Disneylvr]

1. The person in front of me on the airplane that reclines their seat all the way back so they are practically in my lap!

2. Resort guests that allow their room doors to slam either late at night or early in the morning.

3. Airline passengers that insist on bringing carryon bags that barely fit into overhead bins and end up squashing my smaller bags.

4. In the waiting areas of many attractions at WDW the recorded voice always says something like "In just a few moments the doors will open....." How long is a moment?? It feels like 20 minutes sometimes.

5. My "snack" on the airplane is always a bag of tasteless pretzels.

6. Cell phones ringing while we are in the middle of an attraction/ride.

I could keep going but I had better stop here.

 

[cindala]

Oh Boy!

Stolen luggage and airlines that claim no liability!!

The size of the seats in coach class.

Idiots that recline the seats making the small seat even tinier!!!

 

[FergieTCat]

I don't have any original pet peeves, because you guys have covered them all.

But, I think my biggest pet peeve is people who think the overhead bin is their own personal closet. I constantly fly back and forth to West Palm Beach (my parents live there) and it's always a struggle to find room in the overhead bin. Additionally, I think that if you have 2 carry-on pieces, you should be required to put one under the seat in front of you. I guess this is impossible to enforce, but then again, so is common courtesy.

Also, a can of soda costs maybe 30 cents. If U.S. Airways would like to raise my ticket price by 50 cents to cover a WHOLE can of soda, and make a 20 cent profit, so be it.

Donna

 

[Beverly Lynn]

anne there are a lot of people who do not want to spend the extra money for that seat for their "lap" child. even the half price portion of it. they all hope that there will be an open seat next to them that they might put that child in for free. When my child was 9 mths old she flew for the first time on DL to melbourne fl. and after that cramped plane all squashed in like sardines and having to hold her and having no room to even put my drink...I learned my lesson. after that I bought her the half priced tkt and now she is getting ready to have her first ftp tkt. (thats frequnet traveler tkt) if it wasn't for the first 2 flts being on DL she would have had her first tkt on usair a long time ago.

I hate when parent don't control their kids during the flight adn they kick the back of your seat or pull the hair on the top of your head etc. but then again I have no problem letting the parents know how annoying their child is.

 

[TSI_Fan]

Just a couple here:

<b>In the air..</b>
*Strangers who insist on talking to you during the entire plane flight. I don't mind some small-talk, but when I buy a magazine that I look forward to reading during the flight..I want to actually be able to read it and enjoy it.

*Seeing overly-happy flight attendants on a 7am flight. Ok, I'm not a morning person and I haven't had a good chance to wake up, but do you have to be so darn happy? ugh.

*People who stop incoming passenger boarding traffic so they can get their carry-on into an overhead bin. Maybe just get into your row and do it from there please? (I can)

*Airline passengers who won't let you out of your row so you can exit the plane. Ugh!

*That traffic jam at the gate that you have to maneuver around to find the rest of your party.

<b>On the ground...</b>
* People who will not pass semis, thus creating a traffic jam behind them.

*People who swerve across 2 lanes in order to not miss an exit.

*People who swerve into another lane because they didn't believe it was "Exit only"

*Nosy drivers that insist on slowing down at the scene of an accident, when the incident has been moved safely off the highway, or happened in the median, a safe distance from the highway. Once you get past that it's clear sailing, but there's always those people that *must* see what is going on.

 

[Kermit]

The people who, when your flight was delayed, tell you that you better move fast when the plane stops because they have a connection to catch. We all had the same delay and are just as late to where we're going! And have you ever been able to move fast when the plane starts unloading? I don't think so. It just takes a while to get all of those people out one door. Deal with it.

 

[ParkFreak]

I know this is a totally personal pet peeve, but I cannot stand the time between landing and disembarking the plane! I only use travelocity now because I can pick the seats available that are closest to the exit. I consider myself an extremely easy going person, but trying to get off the plane (and I am a very good flyer) and seeing people take their time getting their carry ons, children, etc. off the plane makes me crazy!

This is the only personality trait that I have that I will admit is borderline manic, phobic, what have you! I guess it could be worse!

 

[AllanJ]

Note: 100% of absolutely everything about automobile traffic is a pet peeve so no need to say any of them here.

A big big problem with baggage people try to carry on board is that a lot of it is not suitable packed to be checked. WIth so much stuff bought at Disney World to take home, Orlando airport has to deal with that a lot. It is about time that airlines issued reservations for overhead bin space. Like Fastpass except we are dealing with space on a scale of front to rear of the plane as opposed to time on a scale of opening hour to closing hour of the park. Like Fastpass, only so many of them will be issued per airplane flight, whatever intervening space that remains is up for grabs.

More Disney tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

9/65 Disneyland
3/75 (World Inn* off I4 near DD)
4/85 (Kon-Tiki* on 192)
'80s Disneyland once or twice
7/94 PORiv
9/97 ASMu
11/98 ASMu
12/98 (Knights Inn on 192)
9/99 ASMo
12/00 ASSp
11/01 ASSp planned
*no longer exists

"We can reserve an airplane seat or a hotel room but why can't we reserve a parking space at the airport?"

 

[ducklite]

Ooohhh--

I have another one!!!

The plane is at the gate, the jetway has been pulled forward, and it's time to get off. Yet one idiot in a forward row always holds up traffic trying to get their heavy bag out of the overhead, yadda yadda and get themselves together. ACK! GET OUTTADAWAY!!! When my son was young and it took us a while to get off the plane, we waited until everyone was off, then got up, got ourselves together and disembarked. I HATE people who block aisles trying to get all their carryons together to get off the plane. Recently I've become very vocal and yelled up to ask them to step back into their row and let the other pax off while they get organized. I'm simply sick and tired of inconsiderate boors on airplanes. They should have special "I don't fly often and have no idea what I'm doing" sections in the back of the planes so taht people who can get their belongings out of the over head and down the aisle in under 3 seconds can get out before the bumbling and fumbling begins...

Anne

 

[AllanJ]

One I read about the police pulling over the first and second cars to let those behind pass. The first was pulled over for going too slow, the second was pulled over for not being brave enough to overtake and making the two together much more difficult for anyone else to overtake.

So why doesn't the third person waiting to get off the plane tell the second person to move back into the row and then the third person pushes past the first person fumbling with luggage?

(Or the fourth person telling the third and second to move back into rows and then advance up to the first perssoon...)

 

[VickiVM]

I can see how inpatient some of you are while traveling what with those people who board/deplane too slowly, have trouble lifting their carryons into the bins, encounter chirpy flight attendants, etc. I consider myself pretty tolerable while traveling. I have 3 small children and I'm sure I have pissed off someone out there because they are not on their best behavior 24/7. I try not to look like an idiot or injure anybody while trying to lift my carryon into the bins...but when you're a short female lacking in upper body strength and have to lift even a small bag way above your head...well, I'm not that snappy about it. But unless someone is outright rude or hateful I don't let the behavior/actions of others "peeve" me...until this past flight from Chicago. Now, as I mentioned, my children need constant supervision and correction in order to be fit to take into public so I don't kid myself for a moment that I can take a vacation from that duty - ever. But on my 2 1/2 hr flight back from Chicago a group of people (I'm presuming co-workers or associates) were traveling with their families of small children, from toddler age to around 6. There were about 6 children or so all seated together...right in front on me and my husband (we were without children this time). I had settled in to finish my book. When the fasten seat belt sign went off, the kids started roaming the aisles. Then the moms did. There was jumping on the seat, swinging from mom on the aisle and lots of back and forth from one row to another. Now, the children weren't rude or fussy...just rambunctious. Our back section of the plane was a regular Mommy and Me class. A few times I had to move to the middle seat because I had someone's mommy's back side in my face as she bent over to swing her small one with her arms. The poor attendants (who said nothing, just smiled) had the hardest time serving the drinks and getting by this group of young/hip soccer moms. Needless to say, the noise level was like that of grade school cafeteria (and smelled like a daycare nursery at diaper change time) and I got maybe 4 pages read of my book. Now although no one was blatantly rude or hateful, I consider that to be EXTREMELY inconsiderate and selfish. So that is now my new travel pet peeve - parents who think their affluency and gorgeous children gives them the right to behave as though everyone else exists simply for their benefit.

 

[AllanJ]

Those children need to have their heads

 

[AllanJ]

patted. And for the lady who put her rear in your face, perhaps a playful pinch would not be inappropriate even if the face and fingers were a man's.

And men are also to blame, although what they put in people's faces is usually a tote bag as opposed to a rump.

If you can't lift your bag into the overhead, either pack less in it or put it under the seat.

I'm still looking for that clipping with a picture of a child sailing through the air from one adult's outstretched arms to another's. This was some advertisement I tore out of an airline's magazine taken from a seat back some years ago. I was planning to put it on a web page captioned "A sight we should never see". (How come all football passes are not complete?) But if the plane hit turbulence youwould have seen that with no outstretched arms to catch the child.

Bumper sticker: "Have you hugged a kid today?"

 

[ducklite]

Vicki-

I am not nearly as nice as you. I would have told them in no uncertain terms to shut their gobs and get their butts out of my face.

And then I would have gave them some really enlightening info about how turbulence can be unexpected, and that the chances of not being injured in turbulence when not belted in a low. In fact I would have scared the daylights out of them.

And Vicki-- not to be rude, but if you can't lift it, don't carry it on.

Anne

 

[Trekker]

I have 2 that I've been reminded of here:

1. The folks in the back of the plane who use the OH bins in the front - where is thier common sense / common courtesy?

2. The drivers who slow to a snails pace to see the accident on the side of the road. They will cause the next accident!

 

[Tina]

People who do not understand the phrase "No flash photography" in attractions. No one enjoys seeing spots for 10 minutes after having a flash go off beside your face.

People who stop suddenly in the flow of traffic, like a deer caught in the headlights. Never mind the 15,000 people charging behind you! Move to the side, then stop!

People who cannot control their children in public places, such as restaurants. Yes, they are on vacation, but so am I! I do not like paying top $ at a restaurant, only to spend it listening to your child scream and throw food. I also don't think its cute when you child hangs over the back of the booth into MY space.

Parents who push their children beyond their limits and then scream at them for being tired, crabby, or unruly. Take them back to the room for a break!

Children running loose on airplanes. I once had a child poke his head out between my feet under my seat!!! Ditto for those kids who constantly kick the back of my seat throughout the flight.

I could probably go on and on, but I'll stop for now.

 

[Ityldu]

Well, I though mine was original, but someone finally took it. I hate to see exhausted children crying at parks or carnivals or whatever because their parents were too selfish to leave earlier.

My other is kids without their own seat on a plane and especially not buckled up in cars and planes. I just don't get it. My 3 sisters just bought million dollar homes and they refuse to spend the extra money for an extra seat. One just flew to Australia for a month without a seat for her 1YO. Can someone please explain how you can justify this? I tell the story over and over of our last flight when our 2YO was just potty trained. He had his own seat w/car seat and had to go to bathroom desperately. There was a little turbulence, but we decided not to risk it. Lucky for us. Within seconds the turbulence was so bad, even those buckled in had trouble staying in their seats. It was horrible and the whole time my son kept screaming he had to go. When we told him it was okay to go in his pants he broke our heart when he yelled that he couldn't because he didn't want to get in trouble and upset us. My motto is I'd rather my kid be uncomfortable for a couple hours then dead forever.

Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[VickiVM]

I knew in some form or fashion I would get blasted. Let me clarify. I didn't say I couldn't lift my carryon into the bin...I just am not snappy about it. I can't just pick it up one handed and toss it in as I take my seat. I am EXTREMELY conscientious of the others behind me and take an extra moment so as NOT to whack anyone or lose my balance. But I'm sure the 10 seconds or so it takes to stowe it is annoying to someone out there...

 

[AllanJ]

>>> ok to go in his pants...
Did he ever get in trouble for wetting his pants? How come? Did you ever get upset for that? Why???
Tell him to "it is ok but also see if he can catch some (DON'T SAY 'ALL') of it in the air sickness bag". Practice at home sitting in the bathtub. A small girl can loosen the seat belt, rise up a bit, and with the parent's help do the same.

>>> his head up between your legs from under the seat
>>> hanging over the [restaurant] booth
That definitely calls for some gentle tousling. Politicians do it all the time.

>>> push their children beyond their limits and then scream at them for being ...
How about bosses pushing their employees ... and then penalizing them for mishaps? Time for the "I Can't" newspeak philosophy. "I Can't" is not insubordination or disobedience. An employee may reject any activity that s/he feels may lead to something bad happening to him/her and the employer is certainly capable of modifying things and eliminating all chance of that something bad's happening and after that the employee will do the task.