While there are a lot of reasons to hate flying, lately it seems like fellow passengers are the biggest issue. These days we’re constantly hearing about drama in the skies caused by all sorts of unruly behavior, but it seems fellow travelers consider some behavior way worse than others.
YouGov polled a group of Americans to find out their opinions on 30 bad behaviors typically experienced on planes and some were universally hated, so if you’re doing them, know that you’re the problem.
The survey found four behaviors are so bad that over 80% of those polled consider them unacceptable. They include letting children play in the aisle (86%), getting drunk (82%), leaving your seat during turbulence (82%) and watching a movie or show without headphones (81%).
Other behaviors considered highly unacceptable include: leaving trash in the seatback pocket (79%), using both armrests when there’s someone next to you (74%), eating strong smelling food (68%), not listening to the safety demonstration (66%) and exiting a plane before the person in the row ahead of you (65%).
While we’re always hearing horror stories of people who ask to switch seats with other passengers, the poll finds 51% of people say it’s acceptable to do so, while only 26% say it’s not. Of course how you react when someone says no is likely a whole other story.
As for the debate about reclining seats, 55% say it’s fine to do so, with only 26% finding it unacceptable.
And if you’re worried about bothering the person in your row to go to the bathroom, you shouldn’t. The poll finds 76% of fliers think it’s perfectly acceptable to wake someone in your row if you have to go, while only 6% say it’s not OK.