There are countless reasons why flying can be annoying, and sometimes it’s the smallest of things that infuriate passengers.
At The Independent’s Travel Desk, we have all experienced all sorts of flying mishaps, from days-long delays to last-minute cancellations, but there are a few minor annoyances that can really get under our skin while on a plane.
From cabins with no back-of-the-seat pockets to inconsiderate passengers, we have listed the things that won’t exactly ruin the entire flight, will but bother us nonetheless.
The minor annoyances on planes that make the Travel Desk mad
1. When, immediately on landing, the cabin crew claim the flight is early
It may well be, but no one will know for sure until the plane actually reaches the stand and the engines are turned off. The arrival time is at the gate (or the remote stand), not when the wheels hit the ground.
If my flight to Heathrow has an official arrival time of 12 noon, and we touch down at 11.50am, it’s touch-and-go whether the aircraft will reach the stand and have the parking brake applied while it’s still morning. – Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent
Read more: Blame game – who is truly responsible when online travel agents and airlines point fingers at each other?
2. Being deprived of the top toasties in the middle rows
As trolleys sandwich their delivery of the in-flight menu from the back and front ends of the plane, it’s those middle rows that miss out on the classic cheese and ham combo and are lumped with the horrors of tuna in a confined space. – Natalie Wilson, Senior Travel Writer
3. That budget airlines have taken away back-of-seat pockets
Along with shrinking the amount of legroom to a knee-grazing degree, budget airlines have done away with built-in pockets on the seat in front of you, leaving nowhere to stash your essentials. Ergo everyone has their belongings swimming around on their seats and laps. – Hayley Spencer, Assistant Travel Editor
4. Inconsiderate passengers
It annoys me when I see my fellow passengers being impolite to the cabin crew. Some people become very entitled while in their plane seat, treating cabin crew like they are their personal butlers at a fine dining restaurant when, if you really boil it down, a flight is simply a means to transport you from one place to another.
While they try to ensure your comfort, they are also responsible for your safety and security while on the flight, carrying out very important tasks behind the scenes, way beyond pushing the snack cart. – Amelia Neath, Travel Writer
Read more: I trained with BA for a day to find out what it takes to be cabin crew – and this is what shocked me
5. When cabins stray from cold
I pick my airport outfit based on the inevitable FACT that it gets cold in the cabin at 30,000 feet. The horror of heat after anticipating shivering in my hoodie is an unwelcome curveball incompatible with layers and can make for a seriously restless flight. – Natalie Wilson, Senior Travel Writer
6. Complimentary headphones are (almost) always awful
Free earphones on planes have been around for decades, yet despite all the advances in audio technology, the bar for quality is generally set at “awful”. – Ted Thornhill, US Travel Editor
7. Piles of rubbish left on seats
I don’t understand why passengers use their empty seats as rubbish bins as they get up to leave the plane once it’s landed. As you exit the plane, there will more often than not be a sea of wrappers, discarded coffee cups or magazines that have been dumped on the seats.
There are usually ample opportunities to dispose of rubbish, with cabin crew coming down the aisle with rubbish bags or holding one at the door as you depart. If not, hold on to your rubbish for the nearest bin at the airport. If you have ever experienced a flight delay while the plane is undergoing a quick turnaround, you can usually blame this on excessive rubbish left by the passengers who have just landed – Amelia Neath, Travel Writer
Read more: British Airways trials removing individual water bottles from flights
8. Being woken up for food
In fact, being woken up for any reason on a plane is a major bugbear of mine. I find it nigh-on-impossible to nod off on most flights, so being nudged to check if I want water/a snack/my breakfast, or to show the attendant if belt is done up under my blanket are all aggravating. – Hayley Spencer, Assistant Travel Editor
9. Poor grammar
I object to this anywhere, but when it’s forced on you for three hours stuck on the back of a headrest – as I experienced on my most recent Ryanair flight – it’s almost unbearable. – Annabel Grossman, Global Travel Editor
