Annoying things in planes/airports thread

OK here goes.

1) People stuffing the overhead bins full of ludicrously large luggage meaning everyone else has to struggle.
2) Going through security - people that don't understand they need to remove any metal objects BEFORE going through.
3) Anyone that fully reclines their chair (in Y) - extremely selfish.
4) Kids/adults/anyone kicking your chair from behind.
5) On landing, as soon as the seatbelt sign goes out, everyone in Y standing up at once and then proceeding to still be standing there 20 minutes later - especially with the uncomfortable half-stood-up-half-sat-down position for those in seat C/equivalent.
6) The US landing cards - never obvious which row to actually write in.
7) 'Random' extra security for anyone sporting tattoos (they must be dodgy people, naturally)
8) People clogging up the space in front of the exit row seats in Y or standing too close than is pleasant.
9) Anyone with overly loud music/other blasting through headphones. Again, a lack of basic courtesy to others.

[preiffer]

Actually, Andy - I take issue with point 3.

Every economy/PE seat is provided with a recline button - therefore, it is reasonable to use this feature. While it is polite to check you're not causing any real issue by reclining your seat into the passenger behind, you're perfectly within your rights to do so.


Sorry - but the space that the seat in front of you reclines into is NOT your space, as long as airlines provide a button to do so.


(also - point 6: Do it enough times - not a problem )

Got agree with Preiffer with point 3, People pay for that space so I'm sure they are gong to use it.

God gave you an index finger to pick your nose with. It doesn't make it right to pick your nose though. IMHO, the recline should be removed from seats as it often cripples the person behind, and makes eating pretty much impossible. Of course there is an etiquet about checking if you are causing real discomfort first, and about putting your seat upright at meal times. However I have found that rarely are those manners honoured. To be frank, I fully understand and support the arguments for "knee defenders" and would use them myself if I didn't think it would cause a massive scene in the plane.

Originally posted by sailor99
God gave you an index finger to pick your nose with. It doesn't make it right to pick your nose though. IMHO, the recline should be removed from seats as it often cripples the person behind, and makes eating pretty much impossible. Of course there is an etiquet about checking if you are causing real discomfort first, and about putting your seat upright at meal times. However I have found that rarely are those manners honoured. To be frank, I fully understand and support the arguments for "knee defenders" and would use them myself if I didn't think it would cause a massive scene in the plane.

Points 3 and 4 of original post. To which I have to add:

Noisy and over-exuberant kids in departures (remember, not all of us can get into the lounge!)

Noisy and over exuberant adults in departures - mainly of the chav type (sorry, my snob is showing here [}:)])

Worrying about filling in US immigration forms - normally, would fill in forms with no worries, but the warnings of dire conequences involving rubber gloves reduces me to checking and double checking. Or I just get mr cat to do it!

People turning on their mobiles while waiting to clear immigration - despite being specifically asked not to - just to say 'I'm off the plane'!

Arriving on a scehduled flight and being one of the first off - only to reach immigration and find that a myflyer (or something) flight got there just before us.


Er.... sorry people, maybe I should put away my soapbox.....[:?]

And I agree with Jeremy! And I'll fight you all who disagree:D

On a serious note though, the seat deigners obviously did not bank on those seats being installed so close. Do you really think that reclining the seat in Y enhances comfort? I really don't.

As you know I'm 6'3" and my knees touch the seatback causes by feet not to be fully flat on the floor. This actually contrevenes H&S Law for workplaces. And this is before the seat in front in reclined.

Now as soon as someone reclines the seat in front it is jammed into my knees. Even if I recline it does not change the distance from my lower back to my knees.

So If I ever end up with someone who reclines immediately after take off and doesnt sit forward again until near landing this can be up to 12 hours of agony.

This is actually one of the main reasons why I do not fly Y by choice.

And Paul, It is my 'right' to ensure the person in front who has reclined to have by knee in the middle of their back hopefully causing spine curvature for the same time.

Rant over, this is a real beef of mine but I know others don't agree so keep the debate going.[8D]

Paul

I,m with Sailor and p17blo on the seat recline issue. Any flight under 4 hours does not either need or require recline. It would be very interesting to find the percentage of pax that agree with the use of recline on short haul flights.
Tony

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by Tony T
I,m with Sailor and p17blo on the seat recline issue. Any flight under 4 hours does not either need or require recline. It would be very interesting to find the percentage of pax that agree with the use of recline on short haul flights.
Tony

Ryanair no longer have recline on their newer aircraft and on shorthaul it really doesn't matter

[preiffer]

Originally posted by sailor99
God gave you an index finger to pick your nose with. It doesn't make it right to pick your nose though.

Yes it does.

I have a nose, I have an index finger - therefore, I can pick it.
Society may not LIKE me picking it, but it doesn't mean I can't.
You have two hands to make use of your knee defender with. It doesn't make it right to place it in the tray table though...



OK... So let's remove seat recline plane-wide, where it eats into the pax behind's personal space.

Anyone in PE have an issue with that? After all, the same applies there... [:p];)


(Just to be clear, I'm 6'2 - I don't like the idea of someone putting their seatback into my knees. BUT I can't really have a go at someone for making use of functionality the airlines clearly provide.)

Most annoying thing on a plane - when you go to the loo and find someone has missed the target and the seat and floor are wet - disgusting[:(!] Can understand how this might happen with a bit of turbulance but why can't people clean up after themselves?

[mcmbenjamin]

I agree with Mr. preiffer on this topic.
Now you happen to be on the view that reclincing the seat in front shoud not happen; maybe try the Knee Defender.
The Knee Defender is a device that helps you defend the space you need when confronted by a faceless, determined seat recliner who doesn't care how long your legs are or about anything else that might be "back there." Also says to help against DVT.

OT: Looks like VF hard the 80,000 post recently

During meal service a fully reclined economy seat is just rude... but for the rest of a long-haul flight I see no reason why people shouldn't recline.

I've had a chap try and dig the knees into my seat when I reclined. He hillariously pretended to be asleep. So I reclined the seat from standing up where I could watch what he was doing.

A very upset gentleman explained how he needed the room (he couldn't have been more than 5ft8, and on a carrier with at LEAST 32inch pitch) and I politely reminded him that he could purchase extra room easilly.

Whatever the philosophical arguments for space are for the industry as a whole, ultimately theres pretty good transparancy now with airlines and knowing just how much space you'll have when you buy your ticket.

Originally posted by preiffer

Originally posted by sailor99
God gave you an index finger to pick your nose with. It doesn't make it right to pick your nose though.

Yes it does.

I have a nose, I have an index finger - therefore, I can pick it.
Society may not LIKE me picking it, but it doesn't mean I can't.
You have two hands to make use of your knee defender with. It doesn't make it right to place it in the tray table though...



OK... So let's remove seat recline plane-wide, where it eats into the pax behind's personal space.

Anyone in PE have an issue with that? After all, the same applies there... [:p];)


(Just to be clear, I'm 6'2 - I don't like the idea of someone putting their seatback into my knees. BUT I can't really have a go at someone for making use of functionality the airlines clearly provide.)

I'm only 5' 2", but I don't like the seat reclining/rockign tray issue either, anymore than you folks who are less vertically challenged...

I have to say I'm in the non-recline camp. The seat reclines so little that I can't see that it can make things that much more comfortable for the recliner .... whereas it's a PITA for the person sitting behind. I'd vote for the button to be removed in Y.

As for the other things on Andy's list ...

1) This really annoys me, I find that this behaviour is particulary prevalent on internal US flights. I had a recent incident where the woman sitting next to me had such difficulty getting her rollaboard out of the overhead bin that when it eventually gave way, she went flying and her case landed on the back of my leg ... so I was sporting a rather fetching bruise for the start of my holiday. They get a decent baggage allowance, so just check it!

Related to 6) People who wait till they're standing in the queue to fill the cards in ... or even get to the immigration officer without filling one in. You're given these cards before you get on the flight, you're in the air for 6+ hours and you can't find the time to do that before you get to passport control [V]

Additionally one thing that puzzles me rather than annoys me - I mentioned it in my TR but as no-one answered I'll bring it up again here. My friend had bought one of those tacky stack of chips lighters as present and had originally packed in the case she was planning to check. When we get to check-in she sees the notice that says she can't put it in her checked luggage, so she puts it in her carry on. Then when we get to the queue for security she sees a note about not being able to put it in her carry on. She didn't have anywhere to dump it so figured better to go through and let security confiscate it. Which of course they did. She asked how she was supposed to transport it home if she couldn't put it either in her checked or carry on and was told she would have to post it to herself. Colour me confused, surely if she posts it, it will be shipped in the cargo hold of the plane .... which is the same place that her checked luggage will go. So what's the difference. [?]

I'm with Andy on No.3.[y]
I dream of the day that somebody invents a seat that in order to recline it leaves the seat back in place and slides the seat base forward, so if you want to recline you do it into your own space not mine.

But in the meantime I'll just have to suffer flying UC.

Just another one..
Why the scrum when boarding?
Everybody has a preassigned seat and the plane won't leave until all checked in Pax are boarded.

I think there's a scrum on boarding because people are fearful that some c*** will have nicked their seat, or they are so bored of hanging around the airport that they just go mad.

My pet hate of international travel is all the waiting around. [:(!]

TTFN

Paul

Originally posted by Tim
Just another one..
Why the scrum when boarding?
Everybody has a preassigned seat and the plane won't leave until all checked in Pax are boarded.

Very true, bit annoyed I missed that on my list actually. Excellent point

Originally posted by Tim
I'm with Andy on No.3.[y]
I dream of the day that somebody invents a seat that in order to recline it leaves the seat back in place and slides the seat base forward

They have, it was the J2000. Maybe they could fit those throughout economy:D

Paul

[preiffer]

Originally posted by karnsculpture
I think there's a scrum on boarding because people are fearful that some c*** will have nicked their seat, or they are so bored of hanging around the airport that they just go mad.

In the US, it's actually because everyone's scrambling for overhead bin space. All those roll-aboards have to go somewhere. If you're last on the plane, yours will be gate checked.

I can understand the scrum, in that light, but then why travel with so much cabin baggage in the first place? [?]

SEat recline is annoying BUT in my experience it is only normally used by those on night flights and you can always recline yours as well- in fact in Y the recline is so poor that it really doesnt make that much difference.

Boarding scrum still shocks me...why??? Its like all the people on the tube who are getting on but refuse to let the people who want to get off get off- why?? The tube will wait until its full- the plane will wiat till everyone has sat down.

Rude pax also annoy me greatly.

Apart from the kicking of the seat in which I am invariably sitting, my one big gripe is pax behind hauling on your chair so that they can get out and drag their shell-suited a*** down the aisle to converse very loudly and very boringly to their equally attired mates[:(!]

(OMG I've just re-read this and I am turning into my Dad[:0])

I have to say I agree with most of the comments raised, but I think the issues are usually with other's selfishness and general lack of good manners. A lot of people today seem to think the world owes them a favour and that by being loud, rude and ignorant then they will get their own way. Unfortunatley in a lot of cases they do, simply because it's easier to give in than to continue to listen to them. It winds me up, and I really try to stay cool and collected and quietly smile to myself, (how I wish I was that angelic), but the truth is it gets on my pip and then my stress levels are raised just because someone near doesn't know how to behave in the company of others!

On a recent flight from SNA to LAS a woman sat accross the aisle from me had 2 of the biggest pieces of carryon I have ever seen. Also she was one of the last on the plane so there was no room and she caused a real fuss! The cabin crew politely told her it would need to be checked and she kicked off, I would have hoofed her sorry backside straight off the plane. She was so rude and ignorant and what I don't really understand is why? What is the need? ok so you get straight out of the airport instead of waiting, what? 30 mins for your luggage? 30mins for the sake of making a complete show of yourself and proving that you act exactly liked you look, a prissy little miss who needs a damn good slap!

.....and relax......

Anyway, in Andyk's original list I agree with
1 see above
2 I've offered to take my pants off before because I know they make me beep
3 It's not so much the reclining of, it's the minute their tray has been taken, whack! straight back without even checking that you're not in the middle of eating or something.
4 I've even turned and politely asked for this to stop and it might stop for 5 minutes then off again. Once in J2000 seats in upper I had a famous celebrity kicking the back of my seat and he was really in the middle of losing the plot!
5 But then the fact that everyone else gets up makes you want to get up too?!! [ii]
7 Hmmm that'll be me and hubby then
8 Anyone encroaching on my personal space gets 'the look'
9 Speaks for itself

I kind of agree with 6 too but as someone said earlier, practice makes perfect

The other thing that annoys me are people who walk 3 wide with suitcases/carry-on at nought miles per hour!!!! GET OUT OF MY WAY!
[}:)]
S

Originally posted by shazam
I have to say I agree with most of the comments raised, but I think the issues are usually with other's selfishness and general lack of good manners. A lot of people today seem to think the world owes them a favour and that by being loud, rude and ignorant then they will get their own way. Unfortunatley in a lot of cases they do, simply because it's easier to give in than to continue to listen to them. It winds me up, and I really try to stay cool and collected and quietly smile to myself, (how I wish I was that angelic), but the truth is it gets on my pip and then my stress levels are raised just because someone near doesn't know how to behave in the company of others!

On a recent flight from SNA to LAS a woman sat accross the aisle from me had 2 of the biggest pieces of carryon I have ever seen. Also she was one of the last on the plane so there was no room and she caused a real fuss! The cabin crew politely told her it would need to be checked and she kicked off, I would have hoofed her sorry backside straight off the plane. She was so rude and ignorant and what I don't really understand is why? What is the need? ok so you get straight out of the airport instead of waiting, what? 30 mins for your luggage? 30mins for the sake of making a complete show of yourself and proving that you act exactly liked you look, a prissy little miss who needs a damn good slap!

.....and relax......

Anyway, in Andyk's original list I agree with
1 see above
2 I've offered to take my pants off before because I know they make me beep
3 It's not so much the reclining of, it's the minute their tray has been taken, whack! straight back without even checking that you're not in the middle of eating or something.
4 I've even turned and politely asked for this to stop and it might stop for 5 minutes then off again. Once in J2000 seats in upper I had a famous celebrity kicking the back of my seat and he was really in the middle of losing the plot!
5 But then the fact that everyone else gets up makes you want to get up too?!! [ii]
7 Hmmm that'll be me and hubby then
8 Anyone encroaching on my personal space gets 'the look'
9 Speaks for itself

I kind of agree with 6 too but as someone said earlier, practice makes perfect

The other thing that annoys me are people who walk 3 wide with suitcases/carry-on at nought miles per hour!!!! GET OUT OF MY WAY!
[}:)]
S

Oh god yes Shazam! Your last point - drives me totally mad! If they insist on walking at minus 2 miles a fortnight - well I guess it's their right. But it isn't their right to also walk right across the breadth of the walkway so nobody else can get by. Ohhhhh, makes me so mad![V]

OMG I am so with you on the amblers walking three abreast. Same thing happens in the supermarket and drives me mad too. And when the amblers walk towards you, expecting you to get our of their way[:(!]. Believe me, I am pretty good at letting people go first, holding doors, etc. I really love all that old fashioned manners stuff. However when a group of people just expect me to crush myself up against a wall, or step into the filthy gutter, well the red mist decends.

I usually find the best thing to do is suddenly to find something to inspect in the sky, and walk right into them. With a bit of planning you can catch them before they fall, so they don't end up hurt. But the look on their faces as you wrap your arms around them in a great bear hug, to "stop" them falling, is a pure delight[}:)] An alternative is just to stop stock still, and glare at them as they walk around you. Again, the looks on their faces are great!

(PS - OT but hey ho. I have been known when people stand in a group in the aisle blocking it with them, their trolleys etc, to pick one or two up and move them out the way. )