Your top three air travel pet peeves
A little while ago, sa move ran a poll asking our readers to tell us about their biggest air travel pet peeves.
And, while many people mentioned crowding the carousel, smelly food on the flight and fellow travellers listening to music without headphones, there were a few standout gripes.
Here are the three top air travel complaints from the poll, and a few ways we can make flying a happier experience for everyone on board.
1. Travellers using too much overhead storage
Plane passengers using too much overhead storage was the most common gripe recorded in the sa move poll.
If you’re a seasoned traveller, you’ve probably seen someone trying to jam bags that exceed the airline’s maximum limit into the overhead storage. While this might not seem like a problem, it can mean the remaining passengers boarding won’t have any room for their hand luggage.
Proper plane etiquette
Following proper plane etiquette begins before you’ve even packed your luggage. Make sure you choose a bag or suitcase that isn’t above the maximum size allowed by the airline. If it doesn’t fit in the overhead bin, it will need to be checked in.
When boarding, use the overhead compartment nearest you. Larger items should be placed with the wheels in the bin first so it’s easier for passengers to grab the bag when disembarking the plane.
If the bin above your seat is full, you can use one a few rows back, but never take another passenger’s bag out of the overhead storage to make room for your own.
2. Travellers reclining their seat
The plane takes off as you take a short flight from Adelaide to Melbourne and the seatbelt sign switches off. Suddenly the back of the seat in front is only centimetres from your face. The person in the row ahead hasn’t wasted time reclining their seat and getting comfy for the hour flight to Victoria. About half of respondents said they dislike passengers reclining their seat. So, what should you do?
Proper plane etiquette
There’s nothing saying you can’t recline your seat during a short domestic flight, but before you do, ask yourself if it’s necessary. If not, maybe it’s better to keep it upright.
When meals are being served, keep your seat upright so the passenger behind you doesn’t end up with food in their lap. And, of course, your seat should be upright when the plane is taking off or landing.
3. People jumping up from their seats as soon as the plane lands
When boarding, people can’t wait to get on the plane, rushing to line up as soon as it’s announced over the loud speaker. It’s the same when the plane lands. Some passengers jump from their seat and reach for the overhead bin as soon as the plane’s wheels hit the tarmac.
Proper plane etiquette
It can take about 10 to 15 minutes for the plane to taxi to the gate and for ground crew to prepare for passengers to disembark. So, instead of scrambling out of your seat, maybe it’s a good time to check you have completed all your entry documents and haven’t left anything in the seat pocket.
Once everyone ahead of you has started disembarking, grab your items from the overhead bins and walk down the aisle.
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