Travel pet peeves--add yours!

[mdgirl]

I figure we might need one of these while we're in the thick of traveling season, and the Dubai post reminded me of mine:

I HATE IT when I have to take a bus from the plane to the terminal. Hate. Everything about it. Struggling down the stairs with my bag, squishing into a bus, being that much further delayed getting out of the airport, getting dumped off in BFE in the airport and having to walk a mile to get anywhere. The second we stop at some random point on the tarmac my husband turns to me and says "Don't get too mad."

[origami]

The airports/airlines that don't let anyone check-in until <2 hrs before the flight. Ditto not letting me check-in online. I'm looking at you, Korean Air. Grrrrrrr.

When hotels call my room after 7pm. Unless there's a fire, don't wake up my kids.

Hotels that include breakfast but end it early. that pretty much guarantees I'll write a whiny TA review. #notamorningperson

Non-heated pools. Unless you're on the equator you need to pony up.

[Champagne Supernova]

I mainly hate people.

And people with oversized carryon bags and then expect others to help them load it up into the overhead bin. If you can't handle your shit, don't bring too much shit.

[ashap]

oh man i have SO many pet peeves. 

1st - People that are randomly placed in and don't know what to do in pre-check (and yes it still happens)

2nd - people that crowd the gate for boarding, if you aren't in First, sit the fvck down. 

3rd - people who meander through the airport with their roller bag, taking their time and swerving all over the place like lost children.  
4th - people who make my lounge check in time longer than it needs to be because they can't understand who has access to the lounge in the first place. 

5th - people who review hotels claiming that 3* properties have somehow magically turned into 5* places because a) their standards are low, or b) claim "so what you are on vacation, you don't spend that much time in your room anyway!"

So, basically people are my pet peeve. 

[osumelissa]

I hate when American airline carriers do not serve complimentary alcohol on international flights. Actually, I wish they would serve complimentary alcohol on all flights over 4 hours. If I am on a plane that long (or longer), I need a freaking drink to make the experience more enjoyable.

[osumelissa]

Jun 22, 2016 11:05:52 GMT -5 ashap said:

2nd - people that crowd the gate for boarding, if you aren't in First, sit the fvck down. 

Yes, this really bothers me as well. 

[Champagne Supernova]

OMG, I remember standing in the security line and the lady in front of me kept insisting to the TSA agent that she doesn't need a passport to go to Canada and that her regular license (not enhanced or anything)is enough.

Ummmm, WTF? It was so baffling. You're going on an international flight! How can anyone not know you need a passport? She was ready to fight that TSA agent.

[Wanderista]

Yeah, I am going to say that obnoxious fellow travelers count as my top pick. I'm understanding of/tune out most of them. Are you loud and inconsiderate? I probably don't like you. Are you kicking my seat or letting your travel companion uncontrollably kick my seat? I definitely don't like you. Is it a short or daytime flight and are you reclining your seat into my face? I don't like you either. 

I'll admit that I'm not too bothered about riding around on little buses throughout the terminal but it is de rigueur at my regular international airport so I was started on it early. If it were to interfere with a connection of mine then it would stress me out. I'm picky about my connection times though.

I dislike when I am on a road trip and I get stuck in a traffic jam for so long that I need to use the restroom afterwards and I am following the signs to the nearest rest stop only to learn that it is closed and is currently a crater of construction. (Grr, this happened in Virginia on I-95 recently, that inner circle of Hell). 

Mostly I like to travel though. 

[keweenawlove]

Most of mine are people related too.

I almost never check a bag but when I do, waiting at the carousal drives me nuts. I try to stand 10 feet back or so but every has to be right up against it so no one else can see when their bags are coming.

[Wanderista]

I will add another pet-peeve. While I like most airports, I really dislike when I expect an airport to have basic amenities, especially one that is known for long layovers and lots of air traffic, and it is really unacceptably lacking. (I am thinking of LAX; some people also feel this way about National although I think it is ok enough if not great). My expectations are lower for, say, the small, regional Midwestern airport near some of my relatives or an airport like Zagreb or Sofia, etc. You have a cafe and/or a place to get a bottled water? You are ok.

You have a massive amount of traffic and income and yet you barely have outlets to charge someone's phone? (This was my experience of LAX). There's one weird convenience store kiosk with one staff member to service a bunch of flights? Nope, I am not a fan. If there isn't a dramatic difference in price or itinerary, I might pick a more interesting airport over yours when connecting.

[mdgirl]

Wanderista, that reminds me of an airport complaint I read about on FlyerTalk once and now I can't unsee it--why are clocks so few and far between in airports? There should be big digital clocks every 10 feet.

[orangello]

People who stand around chatting in large groups in the main corridors of airport terminals, with all their luggage. MOVE TO THE SIDE! See also - people that take 20+ minutes to get their rental cars. I literally have no idea what they could be chatting about for that long - it takes me 5 minutes max to give them my license, sign the paperwork, deny deny deny all their add ins, and be on my way.

[Wanderista]

Jun 22, 2016 11:45:50 GMT -5 mdgirl said:

Wanderista , that reminds me of an airport complaint I read about on FlyerTalk once and now I can't unsee it--why are clocks so few and far between in airports? There should be big digital clocks every 10 feet.

Yeah, this is true. It's not like a shopping mall, it's a captive audience. (Shopping malls deliberately don't have them because they want you to lose track of time). I rely on the digital flight screens if needed, but it's true that more clocks would be helpful.

If I know that I have more time then I might go eat that croissant or goof off in the duty-free. It's better for business, and yes, very important when dealing with international passengers.

The more clocks, the merrier.

[sunnysally]

I hate when people crowd the baggage carousel. Once, I saw my bag coming and said excuse me to a lady who was blocking my way. She said, "I'm waiting for my bag." I replied, "Oh, is that what this is for? I thought they were handing out free candy!"

I feel like review sites need to have clearer guidelines for ratings. If I stay at a 2 star hotel that is excellent for two stars, I don't want to give it a low rating. If my bed is not comfortable when I'm paying $60/night I won't be as unhappy as if I'm paying $400/night.

[origami]

Jun 22, 2016 12:47:40 GMT -5 sunnysally said:

I feel like review sites need to have clearer guidelines for ratings. If I stay at a 2 star hotel that is excellent for two stars, I don't want to give it a low rating. If my bed is not comfortable when I'm paying $60/night I won't be as unhappy as if I'm paying $400/night.

Yes! I've started putting in my reviews "i think this hotel is like an American 3-star hotel and I'm giving it X rating because ..."

Because no not every boutique hotel in a city like Luang Prabang is a 5 star hotel. Come on now, TA. Also I think I'm harsher than others on TA because no one gets a 5star from me unless I think they're exceptional. But it seems like 5 stars = nothing tried to kill me and the carpets didn't gross me out.

[mags]

2nd - people that crowd the gate for boarding, if you aren't in First, sit the fvck down.

This so much this!

[alleinesein]

Jun 22, 2016 11:45:50 GMT -5 mdgirl said:

Wanderista , that reminds me of an airport complaint I read about on FlyerTalk once and now I can't unsee it--why are clocks so few and far between in airports? There should be big digital clocks every 10 feet.

Yes!!  Where are all the damn clocks?!?!  I wear a watch but when you are schlepping bags through the terminal it is so much easier to look up at a clock.

[GilliC]

When the airline claims to be boarding by row number and then never announces anything after the first group. I once sat right across from a gate agent who did this and stared at him until he made the final boarding call. Then I went up and said, "I'm sorry, but you never called my row number." He was so surprised and said, "Uh... Most people don't pay any attention to that and just board whenever!" ugh. Why do they bother saying they're boarding by rows, then?!

Also, games on touchscreen seatback screens. Who came up with that batshit stupid idea?! There's nothing like trying to relax on a 12-hour flight when the person behind you is frantically bashing their finger into the back of your head over and over and over again!

[Nonny]

The TSA. I have zero patience for security theater, especially TSA agents being snotty with me for not knowing that today is the day they don't want me to put my purse in a bin, when every other damn time I've flown I've put it in a bin and it's been fine.

[Deleted]

Also other people.

1). People who act brand new at security. It should not take you 12 minutes to take your shoes off, computer out, jacket off, etc. plan ahead people.

2) people who stand right up against the baggage carousel. It is not magically going to make your bag come out first. It will annoy the crap out of the people who's bags do come out first though.

[thebulldog]

Finding deals. It seems no matter what i do or where i look we will pay xyz for a trip and then someone somewhere is all i only paid (significantly less) for my plane ticket or hotel or whatever. It drives me crazy. Off season, on season doesn't matter. Sigh.



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[thebulldog]

I haven't read all of these but forced gate checking bag makes me rage.

If i have carefully packed all my crap into a carry on i do not want to go get my bag OR i could have packed things i left out. I am not a carry on only/always person but when i do carry on...i want to have my bag on the plane.

Also...i was one a flight from dc to sfo and the guy next to me brought nothing to do. No book, magazine, kindle, ipod nothing. He stared straight ahead for six hours. It was creepy.

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[thebulldog]

Jun 22, 2016 15:54:41 GMT -5 @mrsgreeko said:

Also other people.

1). People who act brand new at security. It should not take you 12 minutes to take your shoes off, computer out, jacket off, etc. plan ahead

There needs to be a "i have never flown before" lane. Flying out of dc during spring break time behind 10,000 middle schoolers going back home will make you want to stab someone

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[sunshinedaydreams]

Jun 22, 2016 17:34:42 GMT -5 thebulldog said:

Jun 22, 2016 15:54:41 GMT -5 @mrsgreeko said:

Also other people.

1). People who act brand new at security. It should not take you 12 minutes to take your shoes off, computer out, jacket off, etc. plan ahead

There needs to be a "i have never flown before" lane. Flying out of dc during spring break time behind 10,000 middle schoolers going back home will make you want to stab someone

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I say this to my H all the time!  I cannot stand people acting like they haven't flown since 1997 when they get up to the checkpoint.  Especially in the Pre-Check lines.

We went through DCA last week and they were putting randoms in the Pre-Check.  This lady in front of me was asking, "Do I need to take out my laptop?  What about my cell phone?  Can I keep my belt on?"  WHY, TSA?!

[sunshinedaydreams]

Any hotel that doesn't offer free WiFi or offers it only in the lobby. What is this, 2005?

People who recline their seats on short, daytime flights

Crowding, shoving, jockeying in any line of any sort (boarding, baggage, check-in)

Randoms in the TSA Pre-Check line

American Airlines. I've never had a flight with them that hasn't included some sort of fuckery.

People who travel sick and cough/sneeze their insides out into the lovely shared, recycled air

[scout8]

The ridiculously small amount of space in coach. It makes me insane.

Why must I always have a sick person behind me on a place?

People who don't follow the rules.

[killercupcake]

When I see 10 TSA agents just standing around not directing or helping with lines, 2 open lanes, and 100 people in line. This shit happens at LAS all the time and it drives me nuts. Wtf are you all here?

When people crowd the gate. That gives me crazy anxiety. You're C35, sit the hell down and get out of my way.

[dreamcrisp1]

People. They're annoying.

[rupertpenny]

A lot of the stuff you guys listed, but honestly by biggest travel annoyance is my husband. He is a nervous flyer but I swear he exaggerates for effect. He only looks at the moving map and hates I try and distract him from it for one second. He has to sit in the window seat because staring into the void somehow makes him more comfortable. He is absolutely useless with our daughter because he is too distracted by the moving map/window. He has even tried to sit far away from us just to get a precious window seat instead of sucking it up and sitting with his family. And becaues he is antsy he just wanders around the airport. Won't sit or stand still at all, just leaves me with all the luggage and a toddler who tries to run away every five seconds. He is fine once we are at our destination but I pretty much want to kill him every second we are at the airport or in a plane. Flying alone with our kid is easier than flying with him.

[dorothyinAus]

Ladies' room stalls that are too small to bring your luggage in with you and still turn around?
Ladies' rooms that do not have paper towels and only have those ridiculously ineffective pitiful air blowers.
Ladies' rooms that are not cleaned frequently enough and people who hover and don't clean up!
Basically ladies' rooms in general are one of my peeves.

But then there are the people who STOP. DEAD. and wait as soon as the jetway opens in the terminal -- keep moving, there are people behind you!
Or the people who stop at the bottom of the escalators or stairs and don't move.
People who crowd in already full elevators.

People arrive at the airport less than 2 hours before their flight and then complain that they have a flight they're going to miss because.
People who complain in the passport control/customs lines that they have small, cranky children and can they please just go to the front of the line?

Old people who run over my toes or run into me because they can't drive their scooters.

Atlanta airport employees who when asked how to get to a particular gate only ever say "Go to the Food Court and turn right." (neglecting to mention that you have to goo to the food court, turn right, go down an escalator, turn right again, take a train, go up an escalator, turn right at another food court and walk to the end of the terminal).