Survey pinpoints the behavior on planes that people find most annoying
Here's what travelers think about shared armrests, reclined seats and fellow passengers' use of tech on planes.
A recent survey conducted by travel site The Points Guy and YouGov reveals passengers' top annoyances while flying. The majority of the 2,500 U.S. adults surveyed agreed that fellow travelers are responsible for disruptive behavior in the air. Among the most irritating activities, 40% of respondents cited other passengers using personal devices to make phone or video calls, or watch television shows and movies without headphones.
These disturbances occur not only during boarding but also in preboarding areas, where passengers are often seen watching videos on full blast. Surprisingly, age demographics do not seem to influence this annoyance, as it is experienced by people of all ages.
Airlines are well aware of the issue and have taken action. United Airlines, for example, amended its policies in March to require all passengers to wear headphones when listening to audio from personal electronic devices, including scrolling social media feeds that emit sound. Non-compliant passengers may even face being banned from flying. The debate over seat reclining also remains contentious, with 51% of adults agreeing that it is acceptable, while only 10% believe it is never acceptable.
Despite airlines' efforts and passengers' sensitivity to noise, Americans tend to prioritize comfort over decorum when traveling. A significant portion of respondents, 70%, believe the most appropriate attire for air travel is whatever makes them feel comfortable, including casual athletic wear and loungewear. Only 9% thought passengers should dress more professionally. Oddly, only 1% considered pajamas an acceptable outfit on planes.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
