What is it about airports that bring out the worst in us? Why is it that otherwise upstanding citizens of the world act like total douches as soon as they enter the airport terminal?
Instead of taking the view that these travellers just decide to be annoying as soon as they enter airport terminals (and when they’re sitting next to you on the plane), I’m going to propose that perhaps airports have the power to trigger bouts of selective amnesia amongst certain travellers.
And when this amnesia strikes, they momentarily forget the very basics of air travel, such as the following…
1. FORGETTING HOW CHECK-IN WORKS
Dear traveller.
Before you step up to the counter to check into your flight, please, please, PLEASE have your passport ready for inspection. Make sure it’s not somewhere in your carryon bag or in your luggage because we’d all rather just get our boarding passes and have a pre-flight drink at the airport bar.
Oh, and please weigh your check-in luggage before you get to the airport. We don’t want to have to judge your holiday wardrobe.
2. FORGETTING HOW TO PASS THROUGH AIRPORT SECURITY
Waiting in line to pass through airport security is a given – it’s really only a question of how long you’ll be shuffling along until you get to step through those magical arches.
This means that you always have time to empty your pockets of coins, take out your laptop, whip out your liquids bag (100ml or less), remove your belt and so on before it’s your turn. Don’t be that guy or girl that needs prompting from security staff and electromagnetic equipment to do this!
3. FORGETTING TO STAND TO ONE SIDE ON MOVING WALKWAYS
How annoying is it when two people decide to block both sides of a moving walkway when you’re in a frantic dash to get to your gate before your flight takes off with your luggage and holiday plans? It’s just plain selfish it is!
Well, the charge of selfishness would only be appropriate if these travellers intentionally stood in your way. But in most cases these travellers have just forgotten that they’re in a public space full of other people who have their own boarding times and schedules to keep.
4. FORGETTING THAT SEATS ARE FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR BAGS
Travellers that decide to park their bags on an empty seat fall into one of three categories in my opinion.
Option one is that they’re committed animists who believe that their bags are living entities are are therefore deserving of a seat. Option two is that they’re just plain rude and anti-social. And option three is that they’ve once again forgotten that they’re in a public space with other people who too would like to rest their bums whilst waiting for their flights.
Whatever the reason for this behaviour though, it’s completely unacceptable – even for you, animists!
5. FORGETTING THAT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS PERSONAL SPACE
Why is it that some travellers feel the need to push up against your back whilst you’re waiting in line either to check-in, pass through security, or board your flight? No, the concept of personal space doesn’t just disappear as soon as you walk through the airport terminal doors.
As much as you want to get the whole airport part of your holiday over with, just remember that breathing down someone’s neck isn’t going to make the line move any faster. It’s just going to make you annoying!