Airports and Aircrafts are the two things you cannot avoid as a regular or long term traveler. Over the last couple of years, I have been on more flights than the number of years I have lived till now. During those countless hours at different airports – mostly across Southeast Asia – I’ve come across folks from almost all over the world and I’ve met people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. From being Amusing to outright annoying, here are some of the unique types of flyers I have come across during my travels.
I am Terrified of Flying
Let me introduce my former self. I am Tamshuk and I am absolutely terrified of flying. Yes, I would be the first one of the few (or many) people who clutch on to the hand-rests during the entire duration of the flight. Honestly, I myself have given my co-passengers a good laugh on several occasions with my scared facial expressions. Although I am yet to meet a co-passenger who is equally scared of flying, I am sure there are quite a few of them. I did meet a traveler from France when I was waiting around at Bali airport and she was one of those few people terrified of setting foot inside an aircraft.
“The Whole Place Belongs to Me” Guy
Hands down one of the most annoying types, the folks who have a general sense of owning the entire place. These are the people who demand every second of attention from each of the flight attendants for simplest of matters. More often than not, therse are the same folks who end up being rude to their co-passengers too. I once heard a guy on a flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur actually utter the words “I am an Investment Banker and I deserve better privileges than you normal guys do”. Arrogance and ego are the two traits these people exude all the time.
One more drink please
International Flight or an Open Bar?? Some people find it hard to differentiate between the two. One drink leads to the request for a second. A second drink leads to demanding a third one. And sometimes, a refusal to serve further drinks results in a drunk passenger losing his brain nuts, turning into Hulk mode. Instances of passengers getting unruly with the flight attendants on being refused alcohol after a certain limit, is not that rare. Annoying is not the word to describe them. I am looking for a seven letter word that also starts with ‘A’.
Mr.Flirty Flirtkinson
There is always this cheeky guy who uses his flirting skills on female co-passengers and flight attendants alike. This guy plays with the odds and not being embarrassed of rejection is probably one positive takeaway from his flirtations. Annoying, Amusing, Irritating or Pleasant?? Ladies, your call this one!!
The Kids
My personal favorite because I love kids. Kids are not just cute but they are just simply too funny, in an innocent way of course.I have read so many articles and hear so many people complaining about being surrounded by hyperactive (read noisy) kids. For me, being around kids inside a vessel flying at 35000 feet is nothing less than a stress buster. They make for some of the most amusing and funny moments ever. No matter how bad a day you are having, how can you avoid having a chuckle or two when you hear innocent voices uttering “Mommy, tell the pilot to fly us to the moon” or “Daddy, I wanna fly the aeroplane”.
The Helper
These are the most pleasant flyers you will come across. Right from helping you place that heavy suitcase on the weighing scale at the check-in counter to assisting an elderly get on the airport escalator or stowing the carry on in the overhead bin, they are always around to extend a helping hand. Few days back there was a video on the internet of a man offering his pregnant co-passenger to comfort her crying baby. People like them really make your journey worthwhile and memorable.
I will probably be never able to make a list of the best or the worst kind of passengers on a flight. I can only list out the few unique ones whether good, bad or ugly. Maybe I will come up with six more in a Part II of this post. For now, what are the kinds you’ve come across?
Hahaha I have met all kinds of flyers. I can’t help but agree with this post.
Loved reading your post and can totally relate to all kinds of passengers in the airplane! I can tolerate most of them but crying babies in the long flights is something that I hate most!
Im lucky and havent experienced many of these types of flyers apart from the kids and yes they are lovely if they are saying comments like fly me to the moon but I generally get the child from hell that kicks my chair the whole flight
Tamz, recently I saw a group on Facebook called Passenger Shaming and there are lots of examples of “this place belongs to me guys”! How can they be like that?
The helpers are truly sweet. Whenever I used to travel solo those people really helped me a lot. Once, there was a Buddhist Monk on my flight from Kathmandu to Delhi and he was the nicest person on the plane.
That was a fun read! I’ve always LOVED flying, but after a couple bad experiences in the last few months, I get quite anxious lately! Hopefully it will go away soon 🙂
I can tolerate the 5 types, but I have very short patience with kids. Sorry they are cute yes, but what annoys me is that their parents cant handle them. That’s why I’m okay to airlines having a kid-free zone.
Haha this is so good. I can completely relate to these types of flyers. The kids drive me insane unless they sleep the duration of the trip, the drinky and flirty ones can just stay away! Flights for me are never fun on a good day, but having these annoying passengers doesn’t help my anxiety!
I definitely believe I have met all these types of flyers. I like your description of kids. A very positive spin! I am happy to read it as I always travel with my little ones.
Wow I’m shocked a big traveler like yourself is afraid of flying! This was quite comical as its all too relevant. Some people drink to overcome the anxiety I think but take it too far. Have you seen the news of some airlines doing new “child only” sections? Score!
This is all too true! I’ve been within hearing and/or seeing range of every passenger you listed (the kids are cute, though, for the most part). No flight experience is exactly the same, so I’m always anticipating what I’m going to be a part of next!
Haha! So true. I have seen the i am terrfiied of flying and the one more drink please guys too often not only on flights but also during train journeys. In fact, just yesterday a group was caught by the police due to the ruckus they were creating on the train.
I’ve met all of these too! Got to love the helper – and hate Flirty McFlirt. So annoying. I also can’t stand the entitled type, who spread their legs and take up my seat! Like, excuse me? I paid for this entire seat… get your disgusting legs out of my space ;P
There are all sorts of interesting passengers on a plane. I am one that sticks on my headphones and watches a movie. I detest the ones who recline right into your lap.Kids are cool only if they not screaming !
And then there are those who love ensuring their comfort is supreme – even at the cost of someone else’s comfort. Pushing the recliner beyond its limits, encroaching on your handrails when they have their own, fidgeting continuously…argh! Nice list of travelers.
This post is spot on Tamshuk 🙂 For last more than a year we too have travelled a lot and must say we have bit lucky on this. Though we saw these types but our fellow travellers were mostly helpers and flyers who would try start a conversation with our daughter (2 yrs now). We just wish we dont have to confront the other annoying types ever 😉
I really hate the ones that consider space all for them! And… damn!, I’ve never found any Mr.Flirty Flirtkinson. LOL
I think there’s one more… the “fell asleep” one – that is probably me hahaha
I think most travelers could come up with their own list, and I bet the lists would be rather similiar. The one I usually run across is “The armrest is mine” type.
This is so on point! LOL. I found myself saying, “yes, yes, exactly! ” all the way through the post. The most annoying as you said are those who feel they own the entire space and plane. I say, if you want to feel like that, don’t even fly first class, get a private jet!
Can’t believe you once belonged to the first category. 🙂
That one more drink category can be really hard to tackle. I have met many ‘helper’ kind of co passengers. 🙂