Flight Delays, Cancellations and Chatty Seatmates: Canadian Fliers’ Pet Peeves

A new Flight Centre survey shows that flight delays and cancellations top the list of travel pet peeves for Canadians (58%), followed by lost luggage (52%) and disruptive passengers (41%).

The findings also reveal generational divides: Gen Z is the most frustrated by lack of Wi-Fi (me, too) and talkative seatmates, while Baby Boomers cite middle-seat discomfort (ugh) and flight delays as their biggest pain points. 

Here’s a list of the biggest flight bugaboos, as found in the Flight Centre survey conducted by YouGov:

1. Flight delays or cancellations – 58%
2. Lost luggage or baggage concerns – 52%
3. Disruptive passengers (e.g. a crying baby or a drunk passenger) – 41%
4. Paying additional fees (e.g. for excess luggage) – 34%
5. Getting stuck in the middle seat with strangers on either side – 27%
6. People taking shoes off and going barefoot on the flight – 19%
7. Passenger beside you chatting the whole time – 16%
8. Passenger in aisle seat not getting up to unblock aisle access – 16% 
9. No in-flight entertainment – 16%
10. No wi-fi on the plane – 13%

Suhyeon Choi/Unsplash Photo

Gen Z are most likely to be bothered by lack of wi-fi, chatty seatmates and needing to fill out physical passenger cards; Millennials most detest bare feet and lack of in-flight entertainment; Gen X can’t stand lost luggage and additional fees; Baby Boomers are especially annoyed by flight delays, disruptive passengers and getting trapped in the middle seat. 

“The week before Christmas and the period right after New Year’s Day are always busy, and this year is shaping up to be one of the busiest winter travel seasons,” says Flight Centre spokesperson Amra Durakovic. “Understanding where frustrations arise helps travellers prepare, and it also highlights where travel experts can step in. When disruptions happen, having support and flexible itinerary options can make a significant difference.”

To help Canadians keep spirits bright at 30,000 feet, Flight Centre has created its Considerate Flyer Guide:

• Wait Your Turn: Obeying the rules of air travel helps everything run smoother. To board: Wait to get in line until your section is invited. To disembark: Exit the plane in order of row, from front to back. (Hear, hear. Unless you have a connecting flight and a tight timeline, in which case you should let your fellow passengers know so you can move ahead in line.)
• Tread Carefully: Ensure your bag(s) meet the allowed dimensions and, when boarding, carry them directly in front or behind you to avoid bashing other guests.  (Thank you. Please DO NOT wear your backpack, as when you swing around to load your luggage in the overhead bin you’re likely to bop someone in the head. I almost always choose an aisle seat, and this happens to me quite often.)
• Share Storage: Overhead compartments are prime real estate on full flights, so only store your largest bag—ensuring it’s in the compartment above your row when possible—and stash gifts or other items under the seat in front of you.
• Cede the Middle Armrests: The middle seat doesn’t have a lot going for it. (I agree. Middle seat passenger gets two armrests.)
• Stay in Your Lane: Be mindful of encroaching on other people’s personal space, either by reclining your seat (don’t do it during meal times!), pulling on someone else’s headrest to stand or pushing your feet or knees into the back of the seat in front of you. (For sure. I don’t recline my seat unless it’s a late flight or an overnight flight, as the people behind me need personal space.)
• Imbibe Wisely: You know yourself best. If you tend to get loud and sloppy after three glasses of mulled wine, cap it at two.
• Keep Your Shoes On: Unless you’re on an overnight flight and brought a pair of slippers, keep your footwear where it belongs: on your feet. 
• Keep Washroom Trips Short: If you frequent the washroom, book an aisle seat, and avoid turning the lavatory into a lounge.
• Mind the Chatter: If your neighbour puts on their headphones or buries their face in a book, it means they want the gift of peace and quiet. 

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Adrian Yu/Unsplash Photo

Flight Centre notes that the sheer amount of travel is especially evident on the Vancouver – Toronto (YVR-YYZ) route, now ranked North America’s busiest domestic route with 3.7 million seats, highlighting just how many travellers are managing these stressors every day. 

Does it surprise you to find that Vancouver-Toronto is the busiest domestic route in North America? I might have guessed New York-Los Angeles, but the U.S. has so many big cities that also get a lot of traffic, which means lots of flights between, say, Miami and Chicago or San Francisco and New York. In Canada, the only truly major cities (relax, folks; I mean in population, not importance or lifestyle or anything else) are Toronto and Montreal, followed by Vancouver. Calgary, Halifax and Edmonton don’t come close, so it stands to reason that Vancouver-Toronto might be the busiest route. On a related note, I’ve read many times before that the busiest trans-border route in North America is Toronto-New York. Which shows you just how important Toronto’s airports, particularly Toronto Pearson, is to our country’s economy.

FORT LAUDERDALE EMBRACES DIVERSITY: THANK YOU

Fort Lauderdale, Florida. JIM BYERS PHOTO

At a time when the U.S. seems so divided on political and social lines, it’s nice to see Visit Fort Lauderdale embracing LGBTQ visitors. Visit Lauderdale has introduced a global brand campaign, “Never Lose Your Splash,” to highlight the unique spirit of Greater Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,’ as a welcoming and inclusive beach destination. The campaign features broadcast, digital and print elements, including pro-LGBTQ+ marketing, and debuted during CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live. “It’s a place where people feel free to be themselves, connect through our waterways and rediscover the joy of travel in unexpected ways,” says Visit Lauderdale CEO Stacy Ritter.

SLEEK, NEW OVERNIGHT BUSES IN EUROPE OFFER LIE-FLAT SEATS AND WI-FI

My friends at Frommer’s.com have a good item on a new, sleek overnight bus service being offered in Europe. Beginning in November, the new Twiliner coach service starts rolling between Zurich and Amsterdam (stopping in Basel, Luxembourg, Brussels, and Rotterdam) and Zurich and Barcelona (stopping in Girona, Spain). The buses feature lie-flat seats, and no children under the age of five are allowed. Every seat comes with its own mini table for working or eating, USB chargers, and a reading light. Water, coffee, power, and high-speed Wi-Fi are free, and each bus has its own changing room, bathroom, and snack bar for food sales. SIGN ME UP! … 

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES UPDGRADES

Hawaiian Airlines has announced a USD $600 million, five-year plan to modernize infrastructure, upgrade technology, enhance aircraft interiors, and expand sustainability initiatives. I’ve flown Hawaiian many times over the years, including their route from Oakland, California to Maui, and think they do a good job. I quite like the in-flight magazine, and I love the Hawaiian music they play on board. The POG (Pineapple, Orange, Guava) drinks with rum are a little sweet, but still a nice treat that help get you in the mood.