The in-flight habit that Aussies hate more than rowdy children
Flying on a commercial airline means you’re getting a front-row seat to every type of human being – including those who maybe don’t have the whole ‘airplane etiquette’ thing nailed down.
There are a whole range of annoying behaviours that we’re often subjected to when crammed into economy class with hundreds of other people.
Flying exposes you to all sorts of behaviour. iStock
According to new research from iSelect, the number one most irritating thing on a plane is having your seat kicked from behind.
Forty-two per cent of those surveyed said it is their number one aeroplane etiquette bugbear, beating out the classic annoyances of noisy kids and people watching videos without headphones.
Yes, airplane cabins are notoriously cramped, and some tall passengers can find it hard to fit in. But that’s no excuse to repeatedly knee or push on the seat in front of you. Face it – it’s not going anywhere.
Other irritating behaviour mentioned in the study include people who rest their feet on the window/armrest next to you, and people who remove their shoes and socks on flights.
One quarter of respondents also cited “people who stand up the second the plane lands” as a major annoyance.
Airlines have repeatedly called out passengers who do this – just last month a US airline shared a social media post making fun of this habit.
Meanwhile, in Turkey, passengers who unbuckle their seatbelts and stand up before the plane has come to a complete stop could be hit with a $125 fine.
Passengers seated inside an airplane cabin with visible seat belts, legroom, and personal belongings during a commercial flight Getty
When we polled the nine.com.au office, a few people said that seat-reclining etiquette gets them up in arms while on a flight.
“People who lower their seats the moment they finish their meal, with no thought to if the person behind them is still eating,” is one person’s most hated in-flight behaviour.
Another agreed, saying she’d had wine spilled in her lap a couple of times because of this.
Don’t bring stinky food on a plane. iStock
Bringing your own food on board might be a common way to beat the mid-flight munchies, but just make sure it’s not overly pungent.
One person said that she can’t stand people who bring outside food on the plane that has a really strong smell. “Once had a guy eat a full Mad Mex burrito in the seat next to me on a 45-min flight to Canberra,” she chimed in.
