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30 Annoying Plane Passengers Who Left Their Manners At The Boarding Gate
There’s no shortage of passengers behaving badly while cruising the sky. In November, fellow flyers used duct tape on a man’s wrists and ankles, to stop him from trying to force open an aircraft door mid-flight. Days later, a flight from Paris to Atlanta had to be diverted to Dublin when an unruly passenger caused a scene. Authorities say there have already been more than 1,800 incidents of unruly behavior on planes in 2024. And the year isn't over yet.
If you’re lucky, you’ll never have to witness extreme or violent behavior while traveling to your destination. But we can’t promise that you won't be subjected to an annoying fellow passenger. From stinky feet, to excessive displays of PDA, airplane passengers are going through the most. They've been posting their worst air travel experiences online for all the world to see. Bored Panda compiled a list of the ones that had our jaws on the floor.
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#1
Dear Rude Couple Who Put Their Bag On A Seat So Nobody Would Sit Next To You During The Flight Delay, You Left That Bag Behind In Iah Terminal E. I Enjoyed Watching You Walk Away And Forget It
RELATED:
#2
2 People Hoarding Sleep Mats At The Airport
2 people are using 8 sleeping mats in MSP airport after a bunch of flights to chicago were cancelled. Plenty of others are sleeping on the floor so these selfish tricks can be extra cozy.
whineygingercat 1 year ago
I'd have taken one and if challenged, said "these are for SLEEPING ON, not so you can build a fort."
#3
Please Don't Be Garbage. To The Passenger Who Let Their Child Do This Today: Shame On You
Being stuck in an enclosed vessel thousands of miles up in the sky means you need to stay put until you reach your destination. You can’t just stop, open a door, and get out, as you might be able to do while traveling by road. But this didn’t stop one man from trying anyway, during a recent flight from Milwaukee to Dallas in November.
The 29-year-old demanded he be allowed to exit the plane “immediately” mid-flight. When the aircraft crew told him it wasn’t possible, he took it upon himself to try and force open the door. As CBS reported, a flight attendant “positioned herself between the man and the cabin door, blocking his access.” The man then rushed toward the attendant and hit her, prompting fellow passengers to intervene.
#4
Now I’m Going To Be One Of Those People Who Wipes Down My Seat And Screen
Dude went to the bathroom barefoot and then navigated the touchscreen with his toes. I’m gonna need a Silkwood shower after witnessing this
#5
Yes. I Have The Middle Seat And I Have Legs. I Was Eye Rolled When I Politely Asked If The Window Seat Passenger Could Move Her Backpack. I Guess I Should Have Left My Legs At Home
#6
We Were Greeted By Hsi/FBI
This guy rushed the front to confront the FA in a threatening manner apparently for not receiving snacks as he was sleeping when they serviced his row. Apparently this jerk then decided to smoke in his seat and would not comply with FA.
It took three people to restrain the unruly passenger, and they ended up using duct-tape to tie his ankles and wrists together. Needless to say, the man was arrested by the FBI as soon as the plane touched down. Abdul-al-Jabbar Oloruntoba Olaiya faces charges of interfering with a flight crew through violence or intimidation, under the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. If convicted, he could spend up to 20 years behind bars.
#7
Passagers From A France - Dominican Republic Flight
#8
Never Thought It’d Happen To Me! Planes Are A Lawless Place
#9
On My Flight To Reykjavik Just Now
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 1 year ago
How about just using your voice and saying "get your feet off my seat". If they give you any flak, call the attendant.
There were around 2,000 incidents involving passengers behaving very badly in 2023. And the Federal Aviation Administration revealed there have already been more than 1,800 incidents so far in 2024. A former flight attendant described it perfectly when they wrote that “in recent years, it seems that respect for crew members' instructions can be as difficult to find as lost luggage.”
In writing about the uptick in unruly passenger behavior, the former crew member pleads with passengers to practice tolerance "and understand that they're going to occupy a small space with people from all walks of life. They should do so with respect."
#10
Unbelievable
#11
This Girl At The Airport Waits Until The Queue Moves All The Way Forward To Move. People Confronted Her And She Said “It’s The Same If I Move Now Or Later”
#12
Blocking The Second Register With Your Service Dog At The Airport
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 year ago
That is most absolutely NOT a trained and registered service dog. It's people like this person who cause all the drama and issues for people with actual legitimate medical/physical service dogs.
In the article, Anaïs Monique shares some lesser-known facts about the lack of hygiene on some aircrafts. The former flight attendant reveals that some passengers think it’s okay to use food tray tables as diaper changing stations. Monique also warns that lavatory floors aren’t as clean as you may think, and cautions passengers to always wear shoes, or socks at the very least.
“The stains on the carpeted aisles are probably not dried-up cola, and the galley floors have seen various forms of waste and the bottoms of thousands of dirty shoes,” they wrote. And on the dried-up cola note, you might want to put down your lunch before you read any further...
#13
Terminal Was So Crowded People Were Sitting On The Floor While This Woman Took 3 Seats For Her Bags
#14
People Who Stand Right Up Against The Luggage Conveyor Instead Of Giving 3 Ft (1 Meter) So Others Can Watch For, And Step In, For Their Luggage
#15
People Like This Make Me Lose Faith In Humanity
Flew out of IAD earlier this week to go home and caught this while trying to find a seat near a charging area to fill up my phone before my flight.
Those on board a Delta flight last September were subjected to what the pilot called a “bio-hazard” when someone’s very bad bout of diarrhea ended up all over the cabin of the Airbus A350. The plane was just two hours into the eight-hour flight from the U.S. to Spain. "This is a biohazard issue," the pilot reportedly told air-traffic control. "We've had a passenger who's had diarrhea all the way through the airplane, so they want us to come back to Atlanta." The pilot promptly made a u-turn to get passengers to fresher pastures.
#16
Man Uses Airplane Safety Brochure & Inflight Magazine To Protect His Naked Feet From Touching The Floor. He Put Them Back In The Seat Pocket When We Landed
#17
It's Not My Armrest, It's Their Footrest
#18
Zero Respect
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
If those are assigned seats, the airline ought to bill them for the cleanup.
"Delta flight 194 from Atlanta to Barcelona returned to Atlanta following an onboard medical issue," said a representative at the time. "Our teams worked as quickly and safely as possible to thoroughly clean the airplane and get our customers to their final destination. We sincerely apologize to our customers for the delay and inconvenience to their travel plans."
#19
Woman Kept Covering My Screen With Her Hair During A Flight
Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago
She would have done that no more than twice to me. First time, I'd ask politely. Second time, I'd move it myself - just grab the hair, and shove it her side of the chair. And yes, I *would* do the same to a 200lb biker type - except that sort of person tends to be a lot more considerate of others, so the situation probably wouldn't arise.
#20
This Was On For The Duration Of A 10 Hour Overnight Flight - Blinking And All
#21
Girl Sleeping Across All 5 Seats In The Cellphone Charging Section At The Airport When Holiday Season Is In Full Swing
But it seems it’s not just humans behaving badly. In April, a United Airlines flight had to be diverted after a dog pooped in the aisle. It took the crew two hours to clean up the mess. The incident happened next to a first class toilet, deeming it unusable for the rest of the flight. A passenger on board posted pictures of the grossness, describing how the crew used paper towels to clean the carpet. "The smell never quite went away," said the passenger.
#22
They Found Out Their Flight Got Delayed
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 year ago
I'd start making Bender-esque "WOOO!" sounds. And maybe clapping. XD
#23
We’re Waiting In A Crowded Airport Terminal And This Toddler Wouldn’t Stop Running Around And Screaming, So Her Mother Gave Her A Whistle To Play With
#24
The Person Behind Me On The Flight Put Their Jacket On My Seat
#25
Why Was Everyone Barefoot
Oskar vanZandt 1 year ago
Considering what is embedded in the carpet on planes, going barefoot isn't a good idea...
#26
Littering Nail Clippings In Public Spaces
#27
Truly Hate Sitting Next To Children
Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago
Blame the parents, not the kids. In any case, I've met adults who are worse.
#28
This Kid Was Running Up And Down The Aisle And Using The Seats As His Own Personal Jungle Gym
#29
In Addition To The Screaming Children, I Also Get Feet
#30
I Was At The Airport And My Leg Was In A Cast. I Had To Use Crutches, And All The Seats Were Taken. I Was On My Way To Get Into The Wheelchair, But This Woman And Her Mom Rushed To Them Before Me. Luckily A Very Nice And Kind Woman Gave Me Her Seat. Some People Have No Shame
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
That's so fu*ked up, I def would have complained to the airline/airport staff about able bodied people stealing wheelchairs from those who truly need them. I don't understand how someone could see you, with a cast and crutches heading towards the wheelchair and intentionally running/rushing to get it before the person that actually needs it, could get there. 🤦🏻♀️
#31
On Our Flight From Den To Bna, This Women Took Turns To Punch, Shove, And Kick The Seat In Front Of Them. This Continued For The Duration Of The Flight. United Airlines Opened An Investigation And Is Attempting To Ban The Couple From Flying United
The flight attendants were made aware of the couple’s actions, and attempted to approach them nicely. The couple ignored the staff and continued to bully the lady in front of them when the staff wasn’t looking.
#32
Ready To Get Triggered?
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
I'd ask them nicely to take it down and if they refuse, I'd ask a crew member to intervene. The lack of consideration for others is strong on airplanes.
#33
Guy Wafting His Dirty Sandal Throughout The Plane
#34
This Family Letting Their Kid Spill Chips In The Airport. The Absolute Mess They Left Behind
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
These lovely parents also let the kid run around barefoot in an airport 🤦🏻♀️
#35
We Know It’s A Stretch, But Please Save Your Yoga For The Studio
#36
Lady Trying To Smoke On Plane
#37
This Person Sitting Next To Me On An Airplane
#38
I Had Dreadful Flight This Morning
#40
Taking Up 4 Seats At A Very Busy Gate
#41
No Regard For Personal Space On This Flight
#42
This Lady Behind Me On The Airplane. To Clarify, That Armrest Is For My Chair
#43
People Stuffing Chewing Gum Wrappers In The Charging Ports At The Airport
#44
Delta’s New Slogan: “Air Out Your Feet In A Delta Suite”
#46
The Two People Sitting Next To Me On The Airplane Take Both My Armrests
#47
Guy Keeps Playing His Snap Stories While On An Airplane Without Headphones. Lady Asks “Can You Wait To Play That Til You Get Off The Plane”. His Reply, “Why?”
#49
I Don't Know This Man
#50
So Why Aren't There Small Pieces Of Paper In And Around His Mouth?
#51
Blocking The Whole Aisle With Your Charger. Or You Could, Ya Know, Sit Next To It Maybe? Miami Airport
Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago (edited)
Hmm. It would be terrible if someone "accidentally" tripped over that lead and caused some damage to it, wouldn't it?
#52
Woman With Green Shoes Taking Up A Full Row Of Seats At The Airport Without Actually Sitting With Them. Airport Gate With Very Little Seating
#53
I'm An Airplane Cleaner And Sh*t Like This Is Infuriating. Please Don't Do This
#54
Some Kid Peed His Pants. Let’s Use The Airplane Air Vent To Dry Them Out
#55
Not My Seat. Still Annoying
#56
About To Start A 9 And A Half Hour Flight
#57
My Dad Is On A 20 Hour Flight Back From South Africa And Said He's About 40 Screwdrivers Deep. When I Asked Why He Just Sent Me This
#58
There Are About 15 Seats Unoccupied By A Person At Our Gate By This Group That Just Dumped All Of Their Luggage There And Are Now Wandering The Airport. Meanwhile Every Other Seat Is Full At The Gate And People Don’t Have Places To Sit
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 year ago
Oh, heck no. They abandoned their luggage on the floor, that doesn't mean they claimed those seats. I'd sit there anyway.
#59
Someone Dropped A Big Pile Of Spaghetti On The Ground At The Newark Airport And Walked Away. It Sat There For Hours Because It's The Newark Airport
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
For some reason, I was picturing uncooked spaghetti when I read the title. This is worse. 😬
#60
Lady In Front Of Me Has A Nice Mink Coat - Said She Couldn’t Put It In The Overhead
#61
This Lady Has Been Running Her Bare Feet All Over The Seats At The Lax Airport
#62
This Person Taking A Very Loud Conference Call In The Airport
#63
This Guy That's Playing His Music Out Loud On A Full Flight (At Max Volume)
#64
Whoever Left A Dirty Diaper On The Floor In The Denver Airport
#65
Seconds Before She Kicked His Head. Stay Classy Yall
#66
Anyone Need A Priority Seat In A Packed Airport Lounge?
#67
Don't Worry Buddy, You're Only Blocking 4 Seats At A Crowded International Airport
Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago
He's not blocking seats, he's just kindly volunteered to be a footrest for those using them.
#68
Thanks For Spreading That Smile At The Airport. Selfish
#69
The Only 4 Available Power Outlets In The Whole Terminal. (Yes I Looked And Yes I Asked To Use Them)
#70
It Finally Happened
I thought you were all making this upside down thing up, but here we are, deep into coach heading to LAX, and this person is doing some inverted yoga pose while whomever is in the middle seat is just praying for their flight to end soon.
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
If airlines would finally give passengers decent leg room, we just might see less of this. Notice I said "might."
#71
Passenger Of Flight From Bacolod-Silay Airport Received A Bomb Threat Via Airdrop While Inside The Aircraft. Flight Delayed For 2 Hours
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
I'm not too sure what Airdrop actually does, all I know is it's an iPhone feature, I believe. Can someone please explain how or why this person got a bomb threat on their phone?
#72
Comfortable Mate?
#73
How It Started vs. How It's Going
#75
Lady Had Two Service Dogs On Plane
#76
Oc Why Are People Like This???
MalayDragon 1 year ago
How unlucky it would be for her hair to accidentally get caught in the locking mechanism for the tray table, You know it has to be up and locked for take off and landing.
#77
Family Spending Some Quality Time Together At Airport Smoking Room
#78
My Sister Is On A 6 Hour Flight To Mexico
Kelly Scott 1 year ago
I wish I could bring barb wire armbands on a plane. I'd put it on and...oopsie, so sorry.
#81
Full Volume TikTok’s At Reagan Airport
Kelly Scott 1 year ago
You know how to solve that, don't you? Stand in front of them and sing at the top of your lungs.
#82
Personal Charging Station
#83
At Least I Had My Mask On
#85
This Passenger Put Her Bare Foot Inbetween My Armrests During A 10 Hr Flight! I Noticed When I Felt Her Toenails On My Arm. Ew
#86
Airport Charging Station
#88
Gave Up My Window Seat For This Guys Kid As He Looked Super Happy About It And Didn't Have The Heart To Say "No". I Get The Middle Seat In The Middle Isle And The Dad Does This All Flight. Just Gross
#89
Just When I Thought I’d Seen It All
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago (edited)
I would have been hollering for those flight attendants as soon as he turned the shaver on. Who tf decides to shave their head while on a flight, in their seat, in such a close vicinity of others and thinks it's okay? At least go into the bathroom, preferably the one inside the airport.
#90
Aggressive LED Light Attached To Kindle During Night Flight
Fire Singer 1 year ago
I took a night flight with family once and my aunt had this headlamp thing for her knitting. It was SO BRIGHT! It was fine mostly when she was just looking down but she kept looking up to talk to me or look at her screen and it was like a dang lighthouse light signaling to everyone. I asked her to turn it down or off. She did. But my gosh she was so unaware!
#91
At Bwi Airport. Rude Couple Knock Their Plate Off Table While Leaving And Don’t Pick It Up
Fire Singer 1 year ago
"that's what the cleaning people are paid for" - all A-holes who are too lazy to make any effort to clean up after themselves or take responsibility for their actions.
#92
3 Hours Flight, Back And Forth Shoving Of This Parcel Under My Seat
#94
Taking Your Child To The Airport Smoking Room
#95
Reclining Your Seat Back On The Plane But Leaning Forward The Whole Flight... Thanks Random Inconsiderate Guy
#96
Not What They Mean By Comfort Plus
#97
Straight To Jail
that one guy 1 year ago
soak their socks with water, they will have an absolutely terrible flight
#98
Someone Cook Steak On Flying Plane
#99
Waiting To Board While The Plane Hasn’t Eve Actually Let Its Passengers Off Yet, As If It’s Going To Get You There Any Faster
#100
Heading To Los Angeles For The Mart This Weekend. This Snoring Couple Was Last Years Seat Mates
Fire Singer 1 year ago
Ok snoring is obnoxious, but I'd take snoring seat mates over a lot of these other ones. They seem to be in their seats, clean, dressed, and overall just sleeping. Not so bad in my opinion!
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What do you think ?
JK 1 year ago
Guys, pro tip when stuck with someone's feet in your space - channel your inner Tarantino and stare at those feet like you're a starving person staring at a feast, lick your lips, make eye contact, smile (creepy like Tarantino) then just quietly say "i like feet" - do not break eye contact. In less than 30 seconds those feet are going to be hidden and a million miles from your area.
qkppyrxvfx 1 year ago
All these opportunities to put permanent marker on people’s feet, boots, hair, clothes, luggage…maybe I’m an optimist.
Susical 1 year ago
The only thing more annoying than these travelers are all the commenters saying, "I would do this & that, blah blah blah." Right. You'd probably just be polite & complain later, like the rest of us. (You're only that big a badass in your own mind.)
Forrest Hobbs 11 months ago (edited)
I'm not badass at all. Nor do I suggest badass solutions. Just mildly irritating ones which are calibrated to fit in with the environment of an airliner.
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JK 1 year ago
Guys, pro tip when stuck with someone's feet in your space - channel your inner Tarantino and stare at those feet like you're a starving person staring at a feast, lick your lips, make eye contact, smile (creepy like Tarantino) then just quietly say "i like feet" - do not break eye contact. In less than 30 seconds those feet are going to be hidden and a million miles from your area.
qkppyrxvfx 1 year ago
All these opportunities to put permanent marker on people’s feet, boots, hair, clothes, luggage…maybe I’m an optimist.
Susical 1 year ago
The only thing more annoying than these travelers are all the commenters saying, "I would do this & that, blah blah blah." Right. You'd probably just be polite & complain later, like the rest of us. (You're only that big a badass in your own mind.)
Forrest Hobbs 11 months ago (edited)
I'm not badass at all. Nor do I suggest badass solutions. Just mildly irritating ones which are calibrated to fit in with the environment of an airliner.
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