Traveling is fun, but flying is a whole other story. We’ve all experienced bad flights at some point, whether it’s a baby crying throughout the trip or a passenger kicking the back of your seat. Those are no match to what these travelers had to put up with, though.

From seeing people popping their zits to passengers resting their dirty feet close to your face, you’d either feel lucky to have never had to sit next to these flyers or get flashbacks of the times you did. So, fasten your seatbelts as we look at the most annoying and rude things passengers did while flying.

A Different Way To Fly

Dream of taking your own bird on tour around the world? Well, you technically can! Depending on which passenger carrier you fly with, you can have your pet “fly” right beside you in the cabin, just like this woman and her white cockatoo.

Among the companies that allow a variety of animals aboard is Alaska Airlines. Their rules only entail that your companion is some kind of household birds like parakeets, finches, and canaries. Owners are also required to be at least 18 years of age to travel with a pet in the cabin.

Airing Things Out Up In The Air

Traveling comes with a lot of unpredictable events. Sometimes you get your loafers wet and just air out when you’re up in the air. What this man failed to consider, though, is how uncomfortable his fellow flyers would feel seeing this kind of gross setup.

Now, we’re wondering whether he’s wearing a mask to protect himself from germs or the smell of his splayed out footwear. It could be both, though. Or maybe he just wanted some extra wiggle room and was trying to deter other people from sitting next to him.

In The Splash Zone

There’s just something satisfying about popping pimples. So, we can’t really turn our nose up at this young lady who’s busy eliminating the zits off her face. She’s even doing it in a somewhat sanitary way catching the bits on a piece of tissue paper.

Who we feel sorry for, though, is her poor seatmate. They’re in the splash zone and probably felt disgusted that some pimple content might fly onto them while being squeezed out. Here’s to hoping they got off this nightmare of a flight free of any acne residue.

An Awkward Meet Cute

When you’ve watched a lot of romantic movies, you begin to hope that you’ll meet the man of your dreams in the most unexpected of places. Say, a flight, for example. That said, our friend here was certainly disappointed to find herself seated next to a snoring man instead of Prince Charming.

This isn’t the kind of meet-cute she had in mind at all. She’s a sport about it, though, and just made light of an awkward situation. Getting her phone out, she took a commemorative selfie with her unsuspecting seatmate.

Too Close For Comfort

Sleeping is kind of inevitable on long flights. And with turbulence being unavoidable, too, falling over while you’re off to Dreamland is a possibility. Just look at this man who’s gotten too close for comfort and unknowingly used his seatmate as a mattress.

It wouldn’t be as bad had he woken up immediately after falling over. But it seems like he’s entered a deep stage of slumber, which is tough to wake up from. A simple nudge or clearing of the throat just won’t be enough to rattle him awake.

Her Seat Got Cold

It’s always best to come prepared when you board a plane. This includes bringing a sweater or a jacket to fight off the cold. Sometimes though, your comfort leads to inconveniencing other people, especially if you decide to drape your clothes on your seat as this passenger did.

Now, this guy sitting behind them would have to watch literally half of the movie to be played on the flight on his screen. But these kinds of things might not be a problem for long as some carriers are taking away these seatback screens as they redesign their aircraft.

Nightmare At 20,000 Feet

Know that episode of The Twilight Zone in which William Shatner spots a monster on the plane’s wing? Well, this is a less horrific but still nightmarish version of that. Call it a nightmare at 20,000 feet with a pair of strange feet, if you will.

Imgur user TherOboticdan shared this photo after enduring his flight from LAX and going to JFK with these passengers' feet chilling right next to him. With about five hours of travel time, the anonymous woman likely kicked off her shoes for comfort. Luckily, TherOboticdan had a sense of humor and didn’t make a big scene out of it.

Just Following His Hygienist’s Orders

Dental experts recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes at a time. A long haul flight won’t prevent him from following his hygienist’s orders. Nope, not even the absence of a sink to spit his toothpaste in.

Which makes us wonder, did he just swallow everything after he was done cleaning his pearly whites? That can’t be good, right. Toothpaste does contain sodium fluoride, which is a toxin but safe in small amounts. Oh well, maybe doing it one time wouldn’t hurt him.

A Man Of Strict Routine

Speaking of people who can’t be stopped from going about their strict routine, we have this man who’s determined to get his daily workout in. Despite being on the way to a vacation, he just won’t let himself slip up. While his discipline is admirable, doing push-ups in such a confined space is quite inconsiderate.

Besides, skipping one day won’t really undo all the progress he has made with his body. In fact, a few weeks of inactivity won’t cause athletes and regular people to lose their hard-earned muscles. That said, he could’ve just waited for the plane to land before he started his reps.

The Opposite Of Air Freshener

Seeing this photo of a passenger drying their shoe mid-flight, you’re probably feeling grossed out. You’d feel worse knowing that this kind of thing happens more often, you thought. One incident has even gone viral on social media at the beginning of 2020.

Some people just don’t understand that the air within a plane is contained and flows throughout the craft. So, if the culprit can smell their stinky footwear, chances are that other passengers are catching a whiff of it, too. Talk about creating something that’s the total opposite of air freshener.

Do You Ever Feel Like A Plastic Bag?

Remember that song Fireworks by Katy Perry? You know, the one that goes, “Do you ever feel like a plastic bag?” It looks like this woman is a big fan of it. It could be that she just got cold during her flight and made do with what she had on hand.

Some people might think that paying $8 to $25 for an airline blanket is reasonable but some, including her, don’t. This lady probably wanted to save her money for other expenses, especially if she’s traveling on a budget.

“Hi, I’m Chucky Wanna Play?”

Imagine this. You wake up from a short nap mid-flight. The first thing you see is Chucky, the terrifying doll that haunted your childhood. Now, that is a perfect start to a horror movie. Lucky for this person, though, things aren’t likely to take a dark turn in this scenario.

Chucky probably belongs to a kid passenger whose parents brought along the toy for entertainment during the plane ride. But with how scary he looks, we bet the image poster had flashbacks of their childhood when the doll said his famous catchphrase, “Hi, I’m Chucky wanna play?”

Watch Out For Fly Aways!

There’s a proper time and place for keeping up with your personal hygiene. And it’s definitely not when you’re surrounded by other people in a cramped space. We can only imagine how horrified this person’s seatmate was as they witnessed this.

Who’s willing to bet they braised themselves for the inevitable fly away nail clippings landing right on their lap? On the bright side, the passenger didn’t seem to have plans of doing a full pedicure right then and there. Let’s just hope they had the decency to at least clean up after themselves.

Work From Plane

When you’re a business traveler, you’re always on the go. There’s not a lot of time to kick back, relax, and watch your favorite movies with such a hectic travel schedule. So, this passenger did what he had to do and multi-tasked. Call it a work-from-plane type of setup.

Honestly, we don’t see much of a problem here. Sure, the man was encroaching on his seatmate’s tray table but not by much. Besides, who doesn’t want a free film viewing, especially if it’s something as hilarious as Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles?

Hairy Creeper

Now, here’s a problem a lot of frequent flyers know well: the dreaded hair creeper. And in this case, the passenger’s mane is literally in dreads. It’s a problem that can be easily solved, considering the parties involved.

If the passenger in the front is a true blue Rastafari, then a simple “Hey man, can you move your dreads a bit. They’re in my leg space.” would have done the job. Rastafarians are sometimes stereotyped to be laid-back and easygoing, perhaps due to the island lifestyle they live and the frequent use of ganja.

Making It Work

It took a lot of twisting and turning, but this couple finally found a comfortable sleeping position. Pretty amazing considering that they had such a tiny space to themselves, to begin with. Now, who needs a room at a luxury hotel when you’re this resourceful?

This problem might worsen soon, though, as aircraft makers have been steadily reducing their seat sizes over the years. According to a 2019 CBS report, plane seats have shrunk by four inches in the last three decades, with some being as narrow as 16 inches today.

Snip, Snip, Snip

We get it, we get it. You’re proud of your hair growth and want to flaunt your long locks any chance you can. But do you really have to extend your mane over to your co-passengers personal space? This is exactly the kind of thing that would make you wish you had some scissors at the ready and go snip, snip, snip.

If you’re infuriated, you’re not alone. In December 2020, a TikToker shared a video of a passenger sticking a piece of gum to another traveler’s locks. This happened after the woman sitting in front insisted on having their mane cover the person's screen in the back.

Not Taking Any Chances

When you hear stories like that of Mali musician Ballake Sissoko, you end up refusing to take any chances and securing your beloved instrument during your trip. In his case, his kora was broken into several pieces while traveling from New York to Paris. He suspected the TSA mishandled his luggage resulting in the damaged instrument.

Fortunately, musicians can opt to travel with their instrument case in the cabin if they’re willing to splurge the extra money to purchase another seat. That’s just what the owner of this enormous cello did, and they probably didn’t regret doing so.

A Disaster Waiting To Happen

Getting a seat near the exit is like hitting the jackpot. You get to hop off the plane faster than others and enjoy the extra legroom your seat offers. Some enjoy it a little too much, though. Take this guy, for example. He just had to put up his barefoot right on the door’s handle.

As you would’ve guessed, this is an accident waiting to happen. There have been cases when a passenger mistakenly opened the exit leading to flight delays and, in one instance, even some jail time. This man is lucky things didn’t turn awry for him that day.

He’s Got A Weak Hand

It looks like this passenger is already in his lazy vacation mode, even while still on the way to his destination. He couldn’t even bother to use his hands to play poker on the plane. So, in more than one sense, we can say he’s got a weak hand.

Looking at his cards, it’s unlikely that he’ll win against his computer opponent. He doesn’t exactly have something as great as a straight flush on his hand. Here’s to hoping he didn’t spend a lot playing, or he would’ve landed with a near-empty banking account.

He Felt Right At Home

Hanging out your underwear to dry is no big deal. If you’re in the comfort of your own home, that is. So, we’re guessing the owner of these underpants felt right at home on their flight for them to lay out their undies for everyone to see.

According to the Daily Mail, this scenario unfolded just 15 minutes into the flight. Perhaps, the passenger spilled a drink onto their clothes and felt uncomfortable to fly while soaked? Who knows! We still believe that they should’ve changed their underwear and kept the dirty ones in a plastic bag.

Frodo’s Off On Another Adventure

We’d like to imagine this pair of dirty feet belong to Frodo Baggins from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Since he’s done his part in destroying Sauron, he can now spend his days exploring the rest of the world. Still sans the footwear, of course!

The reality isn’t as fantastic, though. This is probably just a rather inconsiderate passenger who’s trying to get comfortable in the back as opposed to an adventurous hobbit. Too bad they didn’t think about how the person sitting right next to their grubby toes would feel.

Tall Guy Problems

When you’re taller than average, flying economy is bound to be an uncomfortable ride for you. No matter how you contort yourself and your limbs, fitting nicely in your seat would simply be near-impossible. But that didn’t stop this passenger from trying...and failing.

Despite being almost upside down, they still couldn’t get their position just right. Worse, their discomfort has shifted to those sitting around them. That’s when they realized how booking a cheap flight instead of upgrading to premium economy, which has more legroom, was a huge mistake.

Her Personal Closet

The overhead bin space on planes is limited enough as it is. So, imagine how flight attendants and other passengers would feel seeing these when they open the storage space. For some reason, the owner of this luggage just couldn’t keep her stuff inside her bag.

Are they designer pieces that can’t be squashed in with the rest of her baggage? Perhaps she thought the overhead compartment was her own personal closet to display her things in. However, her thinking might have led her to this; we expect the crew didn’t let her get away with taking up so much space.

Some Privacy Please

Flying business class is just a step away from the luxury that is the first-class section. Still, it’s far from having the wealth to fly on your own private plane. This traveler knew this when he boarded but still tried to create his own private flying experience with a blanket fort.

Building his own little world, he finally got the privacy he wanted. The only tradeoff was that he looked weird in doing so. If he really wanted to be left alone, he could’ve just chartered a private aircraft, which could actually be surprisingly affordable with a club membership.

And So It Begins

You’re bored on a long flight with not much to do. But then, you see this strange-looking toy with bulging eyes start bobbing its head at you. You think, “And so it begins.” You’re bound to start playing with a bored kid.

Oh well, it could be worse, right? You’re probably doing his mom a favor by babysitting him for a while and keeping him occupied. Of course, he could grow uninterested in you in a matter of minutes, too. As pediatrician Neal Rojas said, toddlers can only focus on a thing for up to five minutes times their age.

Bone Apple Tea

Eating is a comforting activity for many people, and this passenger is no exception. Thus, she made sure she’s as cozy as possible before enjoying her meal. Unfortunately, for the people around her, that meant having her bare feet out and up.

Seeing this sight during mealtime, we won’t blame other travelers for losing their appetite altogether; and add to that the fact that airline food isn’t really known for being as tasty as that of a Michelin-starred restaurant. Talk about an unfortunate case where the phrase “bone apple tea” applies more than the original French expression.

She Can’t Keep Her Hands To Herself

If you’re claustrophobic, flying inside a cramped airplane would be a total nightmare. It’s even recommended that you visit your therapist before your trip to get some anti-anxiety medication to help you cope with the potentially triggering situation.

Without meds, things are likely only bound to get worse once you board your flight and encounter passengers like this who overstep physical boundaries. Surely, it can’t be that hard for her to keep her hands to herself, right? It isn’t as awful as dirty feet encroaching in your personal space, but we can’t imagine having a stranger’s hands right in your face is any more fun.

Plankers Just Can’t Let A Bad Fad Go

Back in the 2010s, planking was all the rage. There was a time you’d find people posing stiff as a board on top of the most unexpected, sometimes dangerous, places covered in the news. Fortunately, the fad seems to have died down.

That is, except for this traveler who’s determined to keep planking alive. Oh well, at least they aren’t being reckless and doing it on top of a building, which seems like a horrible accident waiting to happen. In fact, it already did when a man fell seven stories down to his death in Australia.

No Time For Antics

It’s oftentimes an impossible feat to get restful sleep while on a plane, especially if you’re sitting in economy. So, we understand how this man would have woken up with sleep inertia and decided to snore away his grogginess somewhere more comfortable.

We just wish he did so at his final destination, where there are probably tons of 5-star hotels to pick from, instead of on the plane’s aisles. And you bet these flight attendants do, too. With their daily shifts going for up to 14 hours, they don’t have a lot of energy to waste on dealing with passengers’ antics.

Resigned To His Fate

We get it. Plane seats are incredibly tiny, and sometimes, it’s just inevitable to recline yours back for some wiggle room. What we can’t get behind, though, is doing so at the expense of other travelers like this unfortunate man who seems to have resigned to his fate.

Perhaps not wanting to cause a scene, he made do with the hand he was dealt and used the reclined seat as a headrest instead. At least, he can now read his paper without straining his neck. The story would be different if he was taller than he is.

Blissfully Unaware

Oh, to be this unaware of how much inconvenience you’re causing! This passenger was probably enjoying her time watching whatever movie playing on the plane to pass the time. Meanwhile, the person sitting behind her just had to find other things to do with her long mane blocking the screen.

And although they likely brought along enough books to last them through the trip, we bet it gets tiring to read at some point, especially with turbulence. Watching through their seatmate’s screen is no fun, so we suspect there was a confrontation shortly after this was taken.

If It Fits, I Sits

You know that meme of cats sitting in the most unconventional places simply because they could? Well, we think we’ve found the human equivalent of that in this passenger. Seeing the slits between the seats in front of them, they slid their legs through and found a cozy position resting their feet on the armrests.

We doubt this “if it fits, it sits” mindset is about to go down well when the people assigned to those seats see this, though. Sure, the perpetrator chose to keep their shoes on at least, unlike some of the passengers we’ve seen, but that doesn’t mean they won’t leave a germ trail behind.

Old Enough To Know Better

Here, we have another grooming-at-the-wrong-place-and-time culprit. And like the one we spotted before, they’re also clipping their nails. This time, though, the main difference is that they’re elderly and should’ve already known better than to leave specks of their DNA behind on the plane’s floor.

Still, we can’t help but wonder what goes on in the minds of passengers who defy common courtesy in this way. It’s not like waiting a couple of hours until they’re in the privacy of their own room would make much of a difference. Fingernails grow a minuscule tenth of a millimeter per day, which is hardly noticeable.

It’s A Foot Rest Now

Flying on an airplane is something many kids get excited about. Who wouldn’t want to see clouds from up close? This little girl even got a window seat, so you know she had the most amazing view. It’s just that the memory was ruined by one inconsiderate passenger.

For some reason, they decided to turn her armrest into a footrest mid-flight. With such a distraction by her side, she just didn’t know which way to look. Her parents found the humor in the situation, though, and decided to take this photo.