'Should be banned': The most annoying thing at airports, according to Aussie travellers
For the most part airports should be a place of excitement and happy moments.
Whether you're going on a holiday, heading overseas to visit family, or welcoming friends to Australia, there are plenty of opportunities to create great memories.
However, it seems that airports have also become the source of great frustration for many, according to a recent survey of our readers.
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Airports are becoming a source of frustration for Aussie travellers. Getty
In the exclusive Nine reader poll* we asked Aussies "what is the most annoying thing at airports" and the responses were clear.
Everything. Well, at least, a lot of things, according to 43 per cent of respondents. And we're not talking flight delays or cancellation, which unfortunately are something you may have to face.
"What isn't annoying about airports," one person put it bluntly.
More specifically, nearly a third of respondents (28 per cent) said "people with too much carry on" were their biggest airport gripe.
"People arguing on baggage sizes and weight are just ignorant and arrogant towards staff and should be banned from flying," one person commented.
Of course, having too much in your hand luggage will also slow people down when going through security screening, which was something 11 per cent of those surveyed also flagged as a common frustration.
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Travellers have multiple gripes with airports it seems. Nine/Graphic/Polly Hanning
Another thing plenty of travellers (26 per cent) took issue with was the price of food and drinks at airports, which sometimes, like if you're stuck due to a delay, are unavoidable.
Check in queues (17 per cent) and crowding the baggage claim belt (17 per cent) were the next two occurrences that had our respondents seeing red.
"Australian Airports are so slow in baggage handling compared to international airports," one person wrote.
Earlier this year, a photo taken at Melbourne Airport sparked outrage over the need to crowd around the baggage claim when waiting for your luggage.
"Despite the clear signs instructing passengers to stay behind the yellow line at baggage collection, many ignored them, standing right in front of it," a frustrated traveller shared.
"The lack of self-awareness from some people was astounding."
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Crowding around the baggage claim is another common source of annoyance. Getty
Another 12 per cent of our readers called out "gate lice" for lining up at the boarding gate too early.
For those playing along at home, Urban Dictionary provides a relatively in-depth definition of the term 'gate lice'.
They are described as "passengers, often inexperienced flyers in [economy] class, who crowd around or line up at a gate at an airport completely blocking the boarding area and preventing First and Business Class passengers from being able to get on the plane when they're allowed to.
"They can also cause delays and confusion if a passenger in a wheelchair needs to board as the chair has to plough through the mass of gate lice hovering around the gate.
"When it's time to board, they have to be shooed from the front boarding area to the back of the line, delaying the flight for everyone."
Lining up at the boarding gate too soon is a hotly contested topic. Getty
Even airlines are cracking down on the behaviour.
American Airlines piloted a system earlier this year to flag when people attempt to board before their group has been called. Qantas uses similar boarding technology.
One person however defended their choice to line up early.
"I am one of them because I just want to walk straight to my seat to get settled without being delayed by others because I do not take carry on luggage," they pointed out.
Sadly, it seems our worries don't alleviate when we finally step on board either, with some of our readers lamenting over more issues.
"You left out people standing in the aisle as soon as the plane has landed," one person said.
Yes we did. As unfortunately that would be a whole other survey about what annoys us most on planes...
*The nine.com.au poll, which runs once a fortnight, canvases the views of the nine audience on 9Nation, which is an online community of our readers and Nine viewers.
