We all expect and hope for a smooth-sailing flight. The idea is to have a hassle-free check-in and security experience, then either sleep through the entire journey or enjoy your favorite podcast or movie until you land.
Of course, that isn’t always the case. Every now and then, you will encounter some of the rudest, most entitled jerks who can cause an instant cortisol spike in even the calmest, most zen individual.
These people sure did, and they are sharing the hell they went through. Fair warning: these stories may induce secondhand rage.
#1
Last Christmas I was flying from Amsterdam to Seattle, and you know how you have to “have your window shades open, have your tray tables locked, your seat in an upright position and the arm rests down for take off and landing” ya, well this 50ish year old grumpy face of an old man literally did the opposite of all those things. (Was being a complete jerk the whole 9 hour flight)
So when the attendant came by to tell him to get his stuff together, he pretended to be asleep and ignored her, so she shoved his seat forward and slammed his try table up. This guy starts screaming at her, flailing his arms, and STARTS CRYING, yes, crying because she was “rude.”
I’m literally just staring at this dude in pure disbelief.
Then when we finally land, they were like “please stay seated until the seatbelt sigh turns off.” This jerk stands up while we’re taxiing and starts to get in the overhead bin. So the same flight attendant comes by and in the sternest and most pissed off voice, says “sit. Down. Right. Now.” She slams the overhead bin closed and just returns to her seat.
That woman needs a raise.
So when the attendant came by to tell him to get his stuff together, he pretended to be asleep and ignored her, so she shoved his seat forward and slammed his try table up. This guy starts screaming at her, flailing his arms, and STARTS CRYING, yes, crying because she was “rude.”
I’m literally just staring at this dude in pure disbelief.
Then when we finally land, they were like “please stay seated until the seatbelt sigh turns off.” This jerk stands up while we’re taxiing and starts to get in the overhead bin. So the same flight attendant comes by and in the sternest and most pissed off voice, says “sit. Down. Right. Now.” She slams the overhead bin closed and just returns to her seat.
That woman needs a raise.
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34points
#2
Person who hacked my credit card emailed me asking why I canceled his flight.
My credit card was hacked. I think the guy did it by hacking my gmail account. Because he signed up for Priceline, with the login with gmail button.
I called my bank and canceled it. I logged into Priceline to see if I could get any information about the person who booked the flight. I saw I could cancel it for no charge. So I did because it was going to be faster to get a refund from Priceline than my bank.
Two days later I got this email. It had his photo and phone number. It matched the name on the flight too.
My credit card was hacked. I think the guy did it by hacking my gmail account. Because he signed up for Priceline, with the login with gmail button.
I called my bank and canceled it. I logged into Priceline to see if I could get any information about the person who booked the flight. I saw I could cancel it for no charge. So I did because it was going to be faster to get a refund from Priceline than my bank.
Two days later I got this email. It had his photo and phone number. It matched the name on the flight too.
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25points
#3
Entitled passenger refused to move from my window seat… then had the audacity to argue
So I need to vent because this genuinely annoyed me.
I booked a window seat (27A) on my flight. When I got there, two women were already sitting in my row. I politely told them I had 27A, and one of them goes, “No, this is 27C the window seat. 27A is the aisle.
I was a bit confused, so I double checked after sitting down briefly in the aisle seat, and asked a flight attendant. She confirmed that 27A was in fact the window seat.
So I go back and explain that to the woman, nicely, and her response was: “For gods sake, what are you so desperate to sit by the window for?”
I told her calmly that I’d paid for that seat. She snaps back, “We all paid for it,” and still refuses to move.
At this point the flight attendant is right there witnessing everything and says, “It’s her seat if she wants to sit there, she will.”
Only then did the woman finally move, but the attitude the whole time was unbelievable. No apology, no basic respect, just pure entitlement.
Honestly, I don’t get how people can act like that over something so straightforward. If it’s not your seat, just move. It’s not that deep.
So I need to vent because this genuinely annoyed me.
I booked a window seat (27A) on my flight. When I got there, two women were already sitting in my row. I politely told them I had 27A, and one of them goes, “No, this is 27C the window seat. 27A is the aisle.
I was a bit confused, so I double checked after sitting down briefly in the aisle seat, and asked a flight attendant. She confirmed that 27A was in fact the window seat.
So I go back and explain that to the woman, nicely, and her response was: “For gods sake, what are you so desperate to sit by the window for?”
I told her calmly that I’d paid for that seat. She snaps back, “We all paid for it,” and still refuses to move.
At this point the flight attendant is right there witnessing everything and says, “It’s her seat if she wants to sit there, she will.”
Only then did the woman finally move, but the attitude the whole time was unbelievable. No apology, no basic respect, just pure entitlement.
Honestly, I don’t get how people can act like that over something so straightforward. If it’s not your seat, just move. It’s not that deep.
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20points
People who have had to deal with being in an airport know how stressful, even disconcerting, the environment can be. You can sense that many others around you would rather be somewhere else, or, if they could, fast-forward to their destination.
According to psychotherapist Tyler Jansen, such environments can lead passengers to break basic social norms.
#4
Just got off a flight in in Sweden. We were an hour late arriving because when the crew were preparing for take off a 3 year old child couldn't be made to sit in his seat. Apparently he was too old to safely sit in his parents lap. So after much screaming from the child, the parents were forced to deboard. We then had to go through the whole thing of refuelling, weights and balance, remove their bags etc.
It's a Friday night, we just want to get home, and this brat and his incompetent parents make us late, make people miss connections, cause delays for the airplane and crew etc etc.
And to add to it, there were several other screaming kids on the flight. But at least the toddler who ran up and down the aisle during the flight was cute and silent....
I would seriously pay extra to go on adult only flights.
Edit: just to add, the FA gave them about ten minutes to get the kid to sit down, or they'd have to deboard. This was happening as we were taxing out to the runway. The rest of the delay was getting back to the gate, getting them off, their bags off, and then refuelling, checking weight and balance and getting a new flight slot. Luckily we were at a very small airport or it would've been a much longer delay.
It's a Friday night, we just want to get home, and this brat and his incompetent parents make us late, make people miss connections, cause delays for the airplane and crew etc etc.
And to add to it, there were several other screaming kids on the flight. But at least the toddler who ran up and down the aisle during the flight was cute and silent....
I would seriously pay extra to go on adult only flights.
Edit: just to add, the FA gave them about ten minutes to get the kid to sit down, or they'd have to deboard. This was happening as we were taxing out to the runway. The rest of the delay was getting back to the gate, getting them off, their bags off, and then refuelling, checking weight and balance and getting a new flight slot. Luckily we were at a very small airport or it would've been a much longer delay.
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17points
#5
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”.
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15points
#6
A guy on a flight to New Delhi, who blew his nose in the blanket provided by the airline and smelled terrible.
12points
“There is almost this social effect that can happen within a transient environment where people think things like, 'Oh, well, I won't ever see them again, so they'll get over it,’” Jansen told Bored Panda. “Unfortunately, the temporary nature of the flight can significantly affect an individual's sensitivity to their surroundings.”
#7
I was flying an Airline (named after a Greek letter in the alphabet) I am a Management Consultant for a large global firm and I achieve medallion status pretty effortlessly. Anywho, I was waiting in the Premium Line for my flight to board and a middle aged woman came up to me and said that I was in the “Premium Line” as if I couldn’t read. I told her I was in the right line and that I was flying first class. She demanded to see my boarding pass. I hadn’t smelled any alcohol on her breath but I am assuming she was under the influence of something or just being a complete jerk. We start boarding the flight and after I get settled, here she comes demanding to know why I am in first class and asking the flight attendants to check my ticket. I do also recall her saying something like “this is unfair, I fly with y’all all the time.”
11points
#8
Yesterday I was flying home for my grandma’s funeral. I place my bag in the overhead compartment and sit in my seat.
Lady (In the middle seat): Hey, would you like to switch me seats?
Me: NOPE. I do not like the middle seat. Me: And that is why I paid extra to make sure I got this aisle seat.
Lady: What?! You didn’t pay extra! My husband has an aisle seat and he didn’t pay extra.
Me: Lucky him.
Lady: But I’m going to need to get up to go to the bathroom a lot.
Me: As someone in the aisle seat, I understand that is a possibility. Just let me know when you need to get up.
Lady: 😠
She had two opportunities to select a seat, one when she bought a ticket, and another while checking in. And the airlines explain this concept multiple times. It’s not my fault you can’t read.
Lady (In the middle seat): Hey, would you like to switch me seats?
Me: NOPE. I do not like the middle seat. Me: And that is why I paid extra to make sure I got this aisle seat.
Lady: What?! You didn’t pay extra! My husband has an aisle seat and he didn’t pay extra.
Me: Lucky him.
Lady: But I’m going to need to get up to go to the bathroom a lot.
Me: As someone in the aisle seat, I understand that is a possibility. Just let me know when you need to get up.
Lady: 😠
She had two opportunities to select a seat, one when she bought a ticket, and another while checking in. And the airlines explain this concept multiple times. It’s not my fault you can’t read.
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9points
Another plausible reason is anticipating a long, uncomfortable experience. According to travel expert and Rosotravel founder Robert Sekscinski, the confinement of flying tends to bring out the “self” in each person.
#10
This happened many years ago... I sat next to a woman who would not stop talking to me, and it became apparent she was like desperately looking for male companionship. She kept saying things like, "I haven't been with someone in a long time, can you believe that?" and "I really just want someone to take care of me and my son." - "Do you think I am attractive?" - "What kind of job do you have?" - "I bet your girlfriend is pretty." - "Oh man, you're so smart. I really like smart guys."
I started playing sudoku in a book to try to ignore her, and that seemed to impressed her even more. For 3 hours, she basically kept hinting that she wanted me to take her home with me. I was single at the time, but man, she came across as someone in need of some serious therapy.
I started playing sudoku in a book to try to ignore her, and that seemed to impressed her even more. For 3 hours, she basically kept hinting that she wanted me to take her home with me. I was single at the time, but man, she came across as someone in need of some serious therapy.
9points
#11
When United Airlines can't/won't tell a customer where their missing luggage is.
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9points
#12
Going on a flight alone, got the middle seat because it’s the only one they had… never again.
Did I try pushing them away? absolutely. at least 5 times. Did they end up leaning onto me again after a few minutes? Yes!
Did I try pushing them away? absolutely. at least 5 times. Did they end up leaning onto me again after a few minutes? Yes!
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8points
“The fact that many passengers experience some form of discomfort during flights-whether it be limited legroom, flight delays, a screaming baby next to them, etc.-can lead individuals to view their flight solely based upon their individual needs and concerns,” Sekscinski explained. “As opposed to being aware of all other passengers who share the same restrictions.”
#14
A toddler who got airsick and puked all over herself and pooped her diaper three times.
It was MY kid, but still.
It was MY kid, but still.
8points
#15
I was sitting next to a couple with a baby that was nursing who unlatched suddenly causing me to get squirted in the face with breast milk.
It was definitely an ice breaker.
It was definitely an ice breaker.
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7points
Most of these entitled passenger stories are about people so focused on their own comfort that they overlook how their behavior affects others. Jansen says unregulated emotions play a huge role, and they narrow as the trip progresses.
“It can feel as if people have horse blinders on, seeking to eliminate as much of their anxiety and discomfort as quickly as possible. When this is happening, it can be quite challenging to perceive those around them, which can come off as extremely rude.”
#16
On a recent west coast of the US to east coast of the US trip, I had one entire row to myself on one side of the plane, and this older gentleman had the the entire row on the other side of the aisle from me. Sitting in the plane, as you do, while waiting to push back & taxi & take off, he asked the flight attendant if he could use the restroom. Fasten seatbelts sign was already lit, but she said she'd go and check if he could use the bathroom before we started moving - guess she wanted to see how long until we'd push back. Apparently he couldn't wait those couple minutes, and proceeded to grab his air sickness bag, unzip, and pee into it... in full view of me. Then closed the bag up and smooshed in down into the seatback pocket. I cringed when, at the end of the flight, he finally handed it to a flight attendant to throw away. Definitely something I never wish to see again on a flight.
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7points
#18
I saw someone hand a baby with a dirty diaper to a flight attendant expecting her to change it. I wanted to engage the woman in a conversation. My wife stopped me. Probably good thing. The attendants would have had to throw me off the plane after I was done.
6points
Unpleasant airport experiences are definitely avoidable. And if conflicts arise, Sekscinski says dealing with them early, politely, and directly is the best course of action. However, he says airlines should do their part, too.
“Airlines need to communicate clearly and consistently about the procedures that flight attendants should follow when encountering disruptive behavior among passengers. Flight crews should be given authority to intervene in situations that could escalate quickly into disagreements,” he said.
#19
There was an elderly couple on board and the flight was completely full. They were sitting next to each other and the wife demanded another seat because when her husband falls asleep he will put his head against her shoulder. Since this was an intercontinental flight this was unacceptable. Nobody was willing to change seats and eventually the couple got so verbally agressive they had to be taken of the aircraft by the Dutch military police.
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6points
#20
Snotty kid looking into my bathroom stall at the airport.
He was doing that to everyone. The mom did nothing.
He was doing that to everyone. The mom did nothing.
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6points