We’ve all been there, stuck on a plane, sitting in front of a chair-kicker or next to a loud-talker or behind a seat-recliner. And if you’ve never had the pleasure of being seated near any of the above, chances are you are the passenger who’s annoying everyone around you (sorry to break it to you).
Whether you’re a model flyer or a disruptive one, a new book – ‘How to Avoid Strangers on Airplanes: Survival Guide for the Frequent Business Traveler’ by Brandon Blewett – has identified six types of annoying air travellers that can help keep in-flight behaviours in check. As a frequent business traveller himself, Blewett writes from experience, infusing humour and travel anecdotes in this on-the-nose memoir-slash-self-help book that most travellers can easily relate to.
So what are the six types, according to Blewett?
- Gate Lice. These passengers are the eager-beavers who crowd the boarding gate before their row is announced, blocking those who have rightfully been called to board. Even “excuse me’s” and not-so-subtle eye glares aren’t enough to move them – like redwoods in a forest, they stand.
- The Backpack Wrecking Crew. It’s common courtesy to wear your backpack on your front while maneuvering down the aisle of a plane, so as not to bump anyone from behind. But there’s always that one passenger, clamouring down the aisle like a Sherpa with a massive pack on their back, body-checking unsuspecting passengers and leaving a trail of bumps and bruises in their wake.
- The Conference Call Bully. Having a Zoom call in the comfort of your own home is one thing but conducting conference calls on a plane while sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers is quite another. These passengers are also guilty of using outdoor voices while speaking on the phone, and will often refuse to end their call until the very last possible second before take-off.
- The Overhead Tetris Flunkee. The overhead bin has become highly valued real estate, especially with airlines enforcing strict size restrictions for carry-on luggage. But these passengers aren’t big on sharing, jamming in bags that don’t fit and bullying their way into nooks and crannies. Even more? They often leave it to the flight crew to figure out how to close the door.
- Bad Behavers. Considered the most disruptive kind of air traveller, Bad Behavers is a blanket term for passengers who simply annoy others, whether they’re hogging the arm rest or grabbing the back of the seat in front of them or having one too many cocktails mid-flight. If you find yourself seated next to one, good luck to you.
- The Eager Exiter. It’s a tale as old as time, starring passengers who get up the second the seatbelt sign turns off after landing. Where do they plan on going with the doors still closed? Who knows, it will forever be a mystery.
Do you identify as any of the six types? Now’s your chance to course-correct and be on your best behaviour during your next flight!
