Most Annoying Travelers

Rear-seat kickers have displaced inattentive parents as the most annoying fellow travelers on airlines, according to the latest “Expedia Study of In-Flight Etiquette.”

The study, which asked 1,000 Americans to rank the most annoying on-board behaviors of other passengers, also noted smelly passengers, the “audio insensitive,” heavy drinkers and loud, ceaseless talkers.

More than three in four (78%) Americans surveyed agree that “a little small talk is fine, but I prefer to keep to myself during the flight.” Relatively few (16%) use flights as an opportunity to talk with and meet new people, and 65% “dread” the experience of sitting next to a Chatty Cathy.

Only 12% report that they drink more than two alcoholic beverages during air travel, while on board or in the airport. About one in seven (15%) “always or sometimes” use medication or alcohol to help them sleep on a plane. Four out of five also report that they generally cannot sleep on planes.

In the wake of this year’s headline examples of in-flight fights spurred by perceived legroom violations, the survey reveals that 32% of men do not recline their seat, compared with 38% of women. Almost a third (31%) of passengers recline their seats to sleep, with 26% saying they do so when the flight lasts longer than three hours. More than one in 10 (12%) recline immediately after take-off; the same percentage of fliers do so if the person in front of them does.

A full 10% reported that they would recline their seat even if the passenger behind them was noticeably pregnant. More than half (55%) of U.S. flyers do not ask permission of the passenger behind them. More than a third (38%) believe reclining should be banned. – Jill Cornfield

The research also covered the most annoying co-passengers:

1. Rear-seat kickers
2. Inattentive parents
3. The “aromatic passenger”
4. The “audio insensitive,” including either talking or music
5. The boozer
6. “Chatty Cathy”
7. Carry-on baggage offenders
8. The armrest hog
9. The seat recliner
10. The “queue jumper” who rushes to deplane
11. The “overhead bin inconsiderate” who stows a bag in the first available spot rather than in one nearest to his or her seat
12. “Pungent foodies”
13. Grabbers of your seat back
14. The “playboy” who reads or watches adult content
15. Showers of inappropriate levels of affection