The worst traveller habits and how to combat them

Travelling is exciting! Until you’re sitting next to someone who smells like crusty feet.

Or someone who won’t let you have any of the armrest space. Or worse – behind someone who’s trying to sleep by reclining their economy seat as far back as it will go.

Sound familiar? You bet – because everyone encounters these walking travel faux pas, while most of us try not to become one.

Skyscanner recently conducted a poll in a bid to find out which kind of travel pest Aussies hate the post – and the results aren’t exactly surprising:

Skyscanner_PetPeeves_Infographic

So which is your least favourite type of traveller? Whether it’s the stinky ones or the children kicking your seat, Skyscanner has put together a bunch of tips on how to deal with the worst travellers (and get through your flight without committing murder).

Here are the top three:

How to deal with: The human trash can

This could be someone with rancid feet, rotten teeth, bad BO, or a pungent egg sandwich (who’s smell will hang around for hours). The worst part? Usually, these travellers tend to look cleaner (and fresher smelling) than they actually are, resulting in a nasty surprise.

And with 30 per cent of Aussies ranking a stinky fellow passenger as their number one pet peeve while travelling, measures must be taken.

Rather than aggressively spraying deodorant or perfume around you (and them) try offering a breath mint, or asking the offender to put on their shoes – but try and be polite, no matter how much secret gagging you’ve done.

If that doesn’t work, some airlines will remove the passenger if their smell is making other passengers feel ill or uncomfortable. You can also ask to be moved if there are spare seats. Problem solved!

How to deal with: Seat earthquakes

You’re relaxing on your flight, then suddenly something is bashing at your seat from behind, or tugging at your head rest – jolting you into an immediate state of annoyance. 27 per cent of Aussies feel the same way: your seat on an airplane is supposed to be a safe bubble of space, after all.

Whilst sometimes the earthquake is temporary – someone walking up the isle holding headrests for support or someone knocking your seat from the row behind accidentally – the usual suspects are children: using your seat as a vertical jumping castle.

In the latter’s case, try and ask them (or their parents) to stop kicking or bumping your seat or moving around so much – Skyscanner suggests something like this: “Excuse me, your child has been kicking my seat while I am trying to rest.”

If that doesn’t solve your problem, ask a flight attendant if you can move, or ask the parent to switch seats with you so they deal with the worst of it.

How to deal with: The serial recliner

There is almost nothing worse than feeling like the walls (and selfish people’s chairs) are closing in on you for 26 hours straight. Okay, a little bit is fine – but it’s when people try and turn their economy seats into business class beds that we have a problem.

17 per cent of Aussie travellers feel the same way – but there’s not a whole lot you can do about it besides politely asking the person to recline a ~little~ less so you don’t feel as squished.

Otherwise, you can splurge for extra leg room or a premium economy seat – both with less chances of being as squishy as regular ol’ economy. If there are exit seat rows available you can also asked to be seated there – you get more room AND you get to assist in an emergency. Perfect.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

annoying flights annoying passengers skyscanner skyscanner.com.au