Airports are rarely a traveller’s favourite part of their journey, bringing out plenty of bad and baffling habits, seemingly exclusive to the hubs.
Now, a new survey has revealed what kinds of behaviour annoy people the most, from queue-jumping and seat-hogging to a general lack of airport etiquette.
Online travel agent Opodo asked 9,000 respondents around the world about their airport routines and also found out what irritates them the most.
Here’s what the findings show…
Check-in behaviours
Opodo asked poll-takers whether they tend to arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare, or push it to the last minute.
The survey found that 59% of respondents said they felt much more comfortable arriving earlier than necessary, even if it meant they’d be waiting around.
Some 36% said they usually arrive exactly when the airline suggests, usually between two and three hours ahead of a flight, depending on the distance of the journey.
A brave 4% prefer to cut it fine, arriving just before take-off, rather than wasting time in often overpriced and uninspiring airports.
Interestingly, in the UK, 6% of men prefer to wait until the last minute compared to just 3% of women.
Pre-boarding rituals
The poll also asked respondents how they feel about the pre-boarding process and whether they prefer to go to the gate as soon as it opens, or wait until their group is called.
It then divided these types of people into four categories: ‘the sitter’, ‘the hoverer’, ‘the pre-queuer’ and the ‘anti-queuer’.
The research discovered that ‘the sitter’ is the most typical group, with 48% of global respondents saying they stay seated until their group is explicitly called, and watch the crowds forming and judge others silently.
This group varies between countries, though, with 66% of Portuguese, 51% of Britons and 36% of Italians staying seated until their assigned time.
When it comes to ‘the hoverer’ group, 23% admitted to standing close by the existing queue, ready to join it when the time is right.
A further 12% of ‘pre-queuer’ survey participants said they usually join an unofficial queue for their group to secure a good spot. Again, this varied between nations, with 15% of Germans and Italians in this subcategory, compared to just 9% of Britons.
Lastly, ‘the anti-queuer’ made up 11% of respondents, who say they prefer to board the plane last as they know their seat will be waiting for them when they eventually get onboard.
The data revealed that the Italians (18%) and the French (17%) are the most laissez-faire about boarding early, while 14% of Spanish travellers and just 12% of Britons were prepared to board at the last possible minute.
What irritates travellers the most?
Opodo also asked what drives travellers the craziest in airports, and the results were various – and many.
In pole position, as the most annoying airport trait, was people cutting in line at security or boarding. Of the global respondents, 48% cited this as their biggest irritant, and 51% of British and French of those surveyed agreed.
In second place was a distaste for people who block a seat at the airport with their belongings while the seat is empty. Globally, 45% of participants hate this trait, while 52% of Britons, 50% of Portuguese and, interestingly, just 35% of Italians find it annoying.
Next up is people leaving rubbish behind at gates or on plane seats. The French find it particularly appalling, with 49% saying they despise it, compared to 47% of Germans, 46% of Spaniards and 42% globally. Surprisingly, just 35% of Britons agreed that this is bad behaviour.
Britons are also less likely than the global average to be wound up by someone speaking loudly on the phone or on loudspeaker, with 37% of them, compared to 40% globally finding it vexing.
When it comes to people who “stand so close to the baggage claim they could kiss it”, Opodo found that 25% of Britons and Germans found it particularly annoying, compared to just 12% of French and 19% globally.
Finally, the fewest number of people found rolling luggage that squeaks or crashes into others to be a nuisance, with 13% of Britons and 10% of Spanish admitting it aggravated them, compared to 9% of all global respondents.
Next time you’re at the gate, it’s worth figuring out which camp you fall into – just don’t be surprised if you recognise a few of your own habits on the list!