We all know that airports aren't the most enjoyable places to be. Unless you're flying business or first class and can relax in the comfort of a swanky lounge, then airports are just a necessary inconvenience which make sure that you get to where you want to go.
Here are our list, in no particular order, of the top 10 most annoying things at airports. If you are the culprit in some of these cases, please be a little more considerate! And we'd like to apologise in advance for the number of exclamation marks in this article, we got a little passionate!
1. Repacking your bag at check-in
It happens, you've packed a little more than you expected to or that massive toiletry bag has taken you over your baggage limit. But that shouldn't mean that you have the right to open up your bag right there at check-in and display all your private property to the rest of the queue. Move to the back of the line and come back when you've sorted it out please!
2. Getting through security
We all know the script don't we? The rules are clear and regular travellers should be used to being asked to remove their coat / belt / shoes, to put their toiletries in a separate bag or to avoid carrying a two litter bottle of water into the terminal. However, each and every time we get to security there is always some dumbfounded traveller creating a huge queue by not being prepared. Save us this pain please!
3. Hogging seats
We've seen a family of three taking up a bank of eight seats at the gate! Seats are made for people to sit on, not your luggage. We all like a little extra space but please think of others with sore feet looking for a seat.
4. Using electrical devices at full volume
It's understandable that parents need to keep their little ones amused in those hours before departure but what's wrong with a pair of earplugs. We had to listen to Dora the Explorer repeatedly at full volume on one child's iPad last time we were waiting to board. No, just no!
5. Being followed around duty free
It's not only other travellers that are annoying at airports. We bet you've all been trying to spend some time browsing in the duty free shop and been harassed by a salesperson forcing you to take a squirt of the latest perfume or cologne or to try their latest product. The hard-sell does not go down well with us when we're trying to grab a moment's peace!
6. Unruly children
Parents letting their kids run wild at any time is annoying, but when you are all sharing the same enclosed space, it's almost unbearable. We don't want to look after your unruly children anymore than you do. Sit them down with an iPad and let them watch some shows and don't forget the earplugs!!
7. Hogging the outlets
There's always one. Someone who has an iPhone, iPad, laptop and camera to charge and wants to do them all at the same time sitting in the departures lounge. It's ok he's got an adaptor to plug two things in at a time, but that still means he's using the only two outlets in the whole lounge!
8. Travelators
What's the point of a travelator? It's to help you get to your destination more quickly, right? So why, oh why, do some travelers insist on giving up all movement the minute they step on to the travelators? Something takes over and tells them, ah the ground is moving therefore we should not. Move over please, some of us have gates to get to!!
9. Waiting by the gate when they're not even boarding
Yes, we know you want to be first on to the plane so you can cram all your extra-large bags into the overhead lockers so there's no room for anyone else BUT please sit down and wait until the gate has actually opened for boarding! We can feel our blood boiling just thinking about this!!
10. Getting your baggage
We've all experienced those annoying people at the baggage carousel who refuse to stand behind the line and stand so close to the carousel that you can't actually get your own bag off! Grrr, right we think we need to stop there before we put ourselves in a really bad mood!
It's time to book that staycation so you don't have to suffer the dreaded airport!
TravelerVIP
