Airport Behaviour 101: The Unwritten Rules of Travelling

Airports have become a consistent part of my life. I spend a lot of time in them. And no matter where I am or where I’m flying, there are certain airport behaviours I can always count on witnessing, without fail.

It’s like the second people enter an airport, all sense of spatial awareness and basic social etiquette disappears. We are civilized humans in everyday life (for the most part)… so why do we collectively unravel at Gate B12?

If you find yourself doing any of the following, consider this your gentle sign to change your airport habits 🙂

Lining Up at the Gate Way Before Boarding Even Starts

I will never understand the urge to form a boarding line before the boarding call has even been made. Do people think the plane is just going to leave without them? Why are we voluntarily sitting in a cramped aluminum tube for longer than necessary?

Gate Lice, source: Business Insider

If you’re flying business class and your seat is objectively more comfortable than the gate seating and you’ll be pampered as soon as you board the plane, I get it. But if you’re in Zone 5 or 6, respectfully…why?

I usually fly Economy and am eligible for Zone 2, yet I actively try to be one of the last people on the plane. The seat isn’t getting any bigger if I board earlier.

There’s actually a term for the crowd that hovers and blocks the boarding lanes before their zone is called: “gate lice.” Yes, it’s real. And yes, it’s accurate. Don’t be gate lice.

To be fair, it doesn’t directly affect me. I could just mind my own business. But something about it always makes me pause and question the logic.

Talking on Speaker Phone…on the Plane

I didn’t know this actually needed to be said, but before takeoff or immediately after landing, there’s a 50/50 chance that someone decides the entire cabin should be included in their conversation on speaker.

No one wants to hear you recap your trip, negotiate your Uber pickup, or tell Aunt Linda you “just landed safely.” Headphones exist. Texting exists. Use them.

Attempting to Bypass the Entire Aircraft when Disembarking

You’re seated in the back third of the cabin. The doors open and somehow, you’re trying to pass everyone in front of you. I’m genuinely curious, what’s the plan here? We’re all getting off the same plane, through the same door. The aisle moves row by row. That’s how it works.

I completely understand if you have a tight connection. That’s valid. Say something. Most people (myself included) will happily let you pass if you communicate that you’re about to miss your next flight. But silently trying to bulldoze past every row ahead of you out of impatience? We’re all getting off the plane. Chill.

Standing Directly in Front of the Luggage Carousel

You know exactly what I’m talking about. The luggage belt starts moving and suddenly there’s a solid wall of people pressed up against it like they’re front row at a concert. Fun fact: if you take two steps back, you can still see your bag.

People crowding the luggage carousel at YVR

When everyone crowds the belt, no one can actually grab their suitcase without awkwardly elbowing strangers. And the people who do this are rarely the ones whose bags even come out first.

I’ll admit something slightly petty: when people refuse to create space, I sometimes make a dramatic show of “struggling” to grab my bag just so they’re forced to move. Is it mature? No. But is it effective? Sometimes.

In Conclusion

Maybe I’m a little dramatic but airports are chaotic enough without us making them worse. A little patience, a little awareness, a little consideration for the 200 other people sharing the same space. That’s all I’m asking.

I’m curious – what airport behaviours get on your nerves? Let me know 🙂