very time I travel through an airport, I’m astounded at how difficult air travel is for some people and how avoidable their gripes often are. I’ve never been to an airport where someone wasn’t having an argument with flight staff about a totally preventable problem and it’s starting to irk me.
If you’re in doubt about what constitutes reasonable airport behaviour here’s how to not be a dick at the airport.
Remove your metric fuck tonne of metal before you walk through the scanner
There’s always one person who tries to get through the scanner wearing more bling than Mister T and that person is pretty much always having a giant whinge about how they ‘always’ have to remove their jewellery/shoes/belts at the airport. If you have anything – jewellery, a belt, shoes – that always sets of the detector, it’s always going to set off the detector. It takes a lot less time to take off your shoes and belt than it does to not take off your shoes and belt, walk through the scanner, set off the scanner, get sent back, take off your shoes, walk through the scanner, set off the scanner, get sent back, take off your belt and walk through the scanner again. I’m more than happy to take off my shoes every time I go to the airport, if it means that will stop a person with a gun getting on my flight. Just take off your damn shoes and don’t complain about it. Also think ahead. If your shoes require a good 10 minutes of unbuckling/lacing up, maybe they aren’t the most solid choice for airport travel.
They’re actually really very clear across all airlines. I’ve been caught before taking too much luggage and I’ve had had to pay extra and it sucked but the point is, I did the wrong thing. I pushed my luck and I got punished for it. Pay attention to how much carry on luggage is allowed (usually 7kg) and stick to it. Buy a luggage scale and use it. Check your luggage in if necessary. It will save you having to pay extra for overweight bags. Also don’t yell at the airline staff because you packed too much stuff. They weren’t there when you threw in four extra pairs of jeans at the last minute.
Allow plenty of time to get to the airport
Always do your research and figure out what the traffic might be like when you’re planning on leaving for the airport. Sometimes things do go wrong but if you allow plenty of time you should never miss a flight. Oh and if you do miss a flight, it’s not the airline’s fault. They clearly state on your ticket what time you need to be at the airport by.
Stay seated until the seat belt light is switched off
If you’re poised and ready to jump up the second that light goes off, that’s totally cool. I’m right there with you, in fact I’ll race you but don’t stand up before the light goes off. The airline hostesses will have to tell you sit down, you’ll get cranky and every one else on the flight will think you’re a giant douche bag. It’s really childish behaviour, so don’t do it.
This is my biggest pet peeve at the airport. I want to get off the plane as soon as humanly possible but I will NEVER exit a plane before the people in front of me have had a chance to stand up, get their bag and go before me. I’ve had people pushing behind me trying to get past because I was letting an older couple get out of their seats and get their bags. Don’t disturb the flow. Let people get off in the order they’re sitting because that just makes sense.
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Have you ever come across an airport dick? What’s the worst thing you’ve seen someone do at the airport?
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