Everybody deserves a relaxing, stress-free flight no matter the distance.
The PA announces the plane is ready for boarding. Passengers with children and special needs first. Please wait until your zone is called. Again, please wait for your seating group to be called before lining up.
These pleas, unfortunately, fall on deaf ears as passengers insist on flocking to the gate like moths to light.
Are you as irked as I am with passengers who swarm around the airport gate even if their zone or aisle is not yet called? We now have a word for them annoying lot: gate lice. These queue jumpers might think it’s no big deal, but gathering ‘round the gate before your turn causes congestion which can lead to confusion and longer wait times. It’s not that difficult to wait for your turn and the plane won’t be leaving without you, but some of us can’t seem to resist the urge to beat others to the queue.
This phenomenon is so commonplace it has spurred a number of studies to explain why people become gate lice. According to an article in The Washington Post, psychology experts pointed to two possible explanations for why passengers jostle to get in line early: conformity and competition.
“People will do any weird thing if they think that’s the way to behave,” explained Shira Gabriel, a psychology professor at the University at Buffalo, as quoted in the article. “When you see people lining up, getting ready, it makes you feel there’s a benefit for that.” And clearly, there’s no benefit to being a gate lice apart from you satisfying that primal compulsion to compete and conform all while inconveniencing others.
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Gate lice have become such an annoyance that American Airlines is testing a new technology at airports that aims to humiliate passengers who try to board the plane before their seating group is called. An alert tone will beep if a gate lice scans their boarding pass before it’s their turn—alerting everyone at the gate. Gotcha!
“We’ve been pleased with the results of the test so far,” AA told CNN by email. Good for you AA! I hope more airlines follow suit.
Annoying passengers don’t start and end with the gate lice, however. There are other equally irksome breeds which we hope you wouldn’t be a part of. The POST has here a quick guide on how not to be that kind of a passenger because everybody deserves a relaxing, stress-free flight no matter the distance.
The boarding area is not your living room
Gate camping isn’t always too bad. I’ve had my own experiences setting up my own camp by the boarding gate—but please maintain some spatial awareness and basic courtesy for those around you.
Don’t camp in a busy area. Some airports are quite nice and have dedicated spots for campers, you may want to go there instead of the boarding gate. Really need to catch a few zzz’s? Maybe drape something over your dozing self? No one wants to see you knocked out. Avoid draping your clothes (or limbs) over chairs, that’s just icky. Clean up your trash before boarding.
Oh, and don’t be an outlet hog, please. Other people who may not have brought their own power bank need to recharge their gadgets, too.
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Don’t take too long at the aisle
Almost boarding? Make sure you get your things in order. You don’t want to do that while queued up at the gate, and worse, before getting to your seat.
Planning on watching a movie or listening to music during the flight? Then get those earphones out of the bag and into your hands or pockets before boarding. Do the same if you plan on reading a book. You don’t want to inconvenience others by fumbling through your bags before loading them in the overhead bin and scooching to your seat.
Repeat the mantra again and again: Fix your stuff, queue up for boarding, find your seat, and get out of the aisle ASAP.
Use your earphones!
Listening to music or TV without headphones can be an ick so offensive to many (myself included), airlines actually have policies against it. Nobody but you wants to hear your Spotify playlist or whatever it is you chose for your in-flight entertainment.
Airplanes are confined spaces where noise can easily travel, leading to a cacophony of sounds from multiple devices. For many, this can create an uncomfortable environment, as passengers may be subjected to a jumble of music, movie dialogue, and game sounds, which can be overwhelming. The lack of consideration for others can lead to heightened stress and discomfort during the flight, making it less enjoyable for everyone involved.
In the same vein, be mindful of what you’re watching. As already mentioned, airplanes can be cramped and your next-door neighbor can easily see what you have on your phone or what you’re watching via your seat’s monitor. Choose your in-flight entertainment wisely. You don’t want kids seeing NSFW content.
Air travel is already stressful as it is, don’t add to others’ stresses, please.
You can bring your own baon, but not a tuna sandwich please
A viral TikTok video posted by TikToker Ally Jaksen showed her trying to sleep on a morning flight from Anchorage to Seattle last month when her seat neighbor opened a can of tuna, ate it with a fork, and even made cute little cracker sandwiches with it. The video spawned a debate on what you can or cannot pack as your in-flight meal.
Airline food isn’t exactly something to fawn over, especially when traveling on economy, so it’s no crime bringing your own baon. It’s best, however, to avoid bringing strong-smelling food like tuna sandwiches, sushi or gimbap, shawarma or kebabs, and yes, even hard boiled eggs.
Jaksen made her position clear when she wrote: “Gotta be up there in terms of crimes against humanity.” Since there are really no hard and fast rules on what to bring as airplane baon, allow me to borrow The Washington Post’s advice: “Carry a mix of foods that are portable but not pungent. If your cat likes it, consider it a no.”
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Don’t crowd the aisle
If there are gate lice, there are also those who stand up and crowd the aisle as soon as the plane comes to a full stop and the seatbelt sign has been turned off. I think this is especially true for many Filipinos and is a common sight on flights plying routes to and from the Philippines. I think it’s about time we come up with a name for this kind of passengers as they’re just as vexing.
The plane isn’t going anywhere (as is already painfully obvious), and unless you’re a contestant on The Amazing Race, there’s really no need to go on a mad dash to the exit. Doing this can create a bottleneck in the aisles, causing frustration among other passengers who are still seated. This behavior can also cause chaos, with people simultaneously attempting to retrieve their belongings and exit the aircraft.
Again, air travel is no walk in the park. Don’t make the experience worse for others.
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Clean up before you deplane
Just because you can leave your trash behind when you deplane doesn’t mean you should. Clean up after yourself (and your little ones), like a responsible adult. Flight attendants and cleaning staff already have enough to do in the few minutes they have to ready a plane before its next flight.
Let’s be more mindful travelers! The experience is not all about you. Having consideration for others and prioritizing communal comfort over individual preferences is a must to make air travel a less stressful experience for all of us.
