I'm sitting in the Reykjavik Airport in Iceland waiting for our flight to Paris, and can't help but think the travelling part of travelling is not so much fun.
Don't get me wrong, the buses, the lines, the hideous hauling around of broken bags is totally worth it for the chance to wander around the world. But I'm just saying, the person who coined the expression "It's about the journey, not the destination" was fully not waiting for a plane.
After getting up at 3.30am to catch a shuttle to ensure our safe arrival for the 6.10am bag check-in deadline, I'm not at my best. I am overtired, unreasonable and ready to be annoyed by everything.
This woman sitting next to me started singing and I had to fight an irrational urge to smash my camera bag over her head.
When our departure time clicked over and no one bothered to explain or even mention the delay, I was immediately drafting a letter of complaint to the airline.
It's a safe bet that most other passengers (well, those without the luxuries of first-class) suffer from similarly frayed nerves and are also more grumpy than usual. With that in mind, I propose the following airport etiquette:
- We know what is expected when we go thorugh security checks, so we should be prepared for them. Nothing is more frustrating than watching the person in front of you having to go through the scanner repeatedly, each time removing a new item from their pocket.
- Don't play music/video clips loudly on your laptop. Whereas you might have an overwhelming love for One Direction, others might not share it.
- If you're going to walk around, leave your shoes on. The airport is a public area, it's not your house.
- Be considerate with the seats. If the departure lounge is overcrowded it's probably not the best time to take a nap across four seats.
- Equally, if there's plenty of space, use it! No need to bust in on another passenger's bubble by sitting right on top of them.
- Don't get all hostile about parents not controlling their crying children, it's got to be worse for them than for you.
- Some people want to use the floor as a bed, I get that, but if you want to lie on the ground don't block the main thoroughfare and force people to step over you and your stuff.
- Empty drink containers, leftover food, gum and used sticking plasters belong in the rubbish bins, not on the seats.
- Don't wash your feet in the bathroom sink. Seriously.
- Being in a big group does not exempt you from these rules.
What have I missed? What are the worst things people do at airports?
A final point: I don't think there needs to be a rule for this, but I do think it's worth noting because it's entertaining. Isn't it funny how everyone jumps up immediately when they're told they can board the plane that they're going to be trapped on for several hours? Then there's this intense rush to line up so that they can get to their allocated seats. Allocated.
We humans are so entertaining.
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Yeah - the plane can't take off until everyone's on board, so there's no hurry, people!
I don't agree with you about the security checks; they're not entirely necessary, and all the fault of the USA's paranoia about "freedom", while they stick their noses in everyone else's business as the world's self-appointed policemen (which is largely the cause of the terrorism in the first place!). Travel was much less stressful a few years back.
There is a special place in Hell reserved for those who take their screaming infants on aircraft.
Well said mcfist. There's also an extra special place in hell for parents who have a go at you for very softly sighing at your rotten luck at being across the aisle from a screaming child.
Other things people do, but shouldn't - leaving your bags lying *everywhere* in areas of high foot traffic (and/or blocking access to seats)
I spend the entire flight praying for my life...The flying part of travelling is extremely un-fun.
My bugbear is more something that happens on the plane, not in the airport. When the voice comes over the tannoy and says "we are preparing for landing / take off, please ensure that your seat back is upright, your window shade is open and your tray table is folded away" and people DON'T do it until the flight attendant comes around and has to remind them individually. For f's sake people, it is highly likely you have flown before and know the drill!
@ viffer #2 - well done you for finding a soap box for your rant.
At what point did the author mention anything about the necessity of security checks? She merely said we know what is expected so get prepared.
Me thinks you are that bore that has to spread your view to anyone that ever mentions / hails from / is going to the USA.
Good for you.
Lol she was singing?! ok thats odd at anytime of the day. Have to say all those rules/common gestures of courtesy are so true. I'm about to go overseas and so NOT looking forward to the long haul flights but will be so worth it when I finally get to Europe!
Whingeing about air travel. Take a train, then. Boat?
People who stand waiting in line for a while for the security checks without preparing first. They wait until they're at the front of the line to go through the metal detectors before they decide to then remove their belts, watches, jewellery and remove coins, wallets etc from their pockets. Do it whilst waiting and save us all the time. I notice that people that do that tend to be of a certain demographic - middle aged!!!
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The rush is not to get to the seats per se, it's so they can be sure they get to take up all of the space in the overhead lockers with their oversized, over weight and multiple items cabin baggage.