Top 6 Worst Airplane Passengers

The seat recliner debate is a big one : “To recline or not to recline that is the question”. Some people will argue that if it does recline you are entitled to do so. Others will argue that it’s inconsiderate. I’m definitely part of the latter.

Whichever team you’re on, we can all agree that reclining suddenly and without considering the comfort of the person behind you is extremely selfish and can result in reduced legroom, spillage of drinks, or difficulties in using a tray table. So please, if you do wish to recline, consider reclining slowly and modestly, and avoid reclining during meal times.

A seat in economy isn’t much to work with comfort-wise, add in someone kicking in your back for the next 12 hours and you’re in hell. More often than not, it’s children who will be kicking or pushing against the seat in front.

It happened to me once, on a 10 hour flight. I asked the child to stop and it did nothing. I then asked the mom to ask her child to stop, but it did nothing. In the end, I had to ask for help from the flight attendant (which honestly was a shame and would have been totally unnecessary if the parent was reasonable).

On some occasions, I’ve seen people trying to get out of their seats who found nothing better than pulling the front seat towards them to help themselves get up (which is just as bad as kicking the front seat in my opinion).

Airlines fair for checked baggage can be expensive we all get it.

Some passengers, bring excessively large or numerous carry-on bags to avoid those extra fees.

As a result, the overhead bins are jam-packed, and other passengers won’t have enough space for their items. Being mindful of the space available and following airline guidelines can help alleviate these issues.

There is an unspoken rule, which is standard on all flights. If you’re in the middle seat, those two armrests are yours.

That being said, some passengers will try to assert their dominance over the shared armrest, which will ultimately lead to discomfort and tension.

Poor personal hygiene or strong odors will result in discomfort for other passengers.

I’ve even read articles indicating that some flights had denied passengers on flights because they had excessive use of perfume or cologne (by excessive, I mean A LOT of perfume).

Smelly food is also a big no no, please don’t bring a tuna sandwich onboard. Some smelly foods are even forbidden if not wrapped in a special container such as Durian (make sur to check your airline regulations before taking such items).

You’d think that after COVID, most people would have basic hygiene practices.

Argh think again, unfortunately, some passengers still fail to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing, neglect to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands properly, or appear visibly unwell, which can increase the risk of spreading illnesses to others on board.