America's Travel Gripes Include Luggage Fees, Babies

Flickr user jpchan

Chuck Schumer may be onto something. According to a new survey from Consumer Reports, luggage fees topped the list of complaints Americans have about air travel, followed by added ticket fees and rude staff. Luggage fees scored an average of 8.4 on a scale of 1 to 10 on annoyance, with 10 being the most annoying thing imaginable. So what else do Americans think about air travel?

Fees were followed by customer service complaints, people who hog precious elbow room and long boarding waits. Crying kids actually scored the lowest for annoyance, which research head Mark Kotkin contributed to the thinking, "With a crying baby, what can you do about it?" However, respondents over 50 tended to complain about kids more—put someone younger on a plane with a crying kid and no iPod protection and their story might be a little different. Also, apparently female travelers complain more than males. Women tended to be more annoyed by things like pricey hotel snacks and uncomfortable or cheap bedding fabrics. Consumer Reports: allowing women to promote their own stereotypes since 1936.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on May 4, 2010 12:24 PM

Comments [rss]

Wza

Long lines and I just hate sitting in a cramped space for hours.

Ryan

The easy solution for screaming babies and children? Require that all kids under the age of 4 be tranquilized for the duration of a flight. No more screaming!

Clarice City

I would like to tranquilize everyone on the plane, including myself.

OhMy

Actually, it would be even easier for you to tranquilize yourself.

Ritchie

Least favorite thing about air travel? People putting their seats back! there isn't enough room for that, people!

Kojak

I cancel them out with the work of Inner Earphones. They work remarkably well blocking out the noise of brats. And if that doesn't work, I have my belt.

I've rarely pay luggage fees because I try not to carry too much shit with me, and avoid airlines that charge those types of fees at all costs unless the fair is exceptionally cheap.

Manitoba

Crying kids aren't nearly as annoying as kids that are just flipping out while their parents ignore them. When a kid is crying and the parents is consoling them, I usually feel bad for the parent because you know they're trying.

In general, though, I hate parents more than kids.

Clarice City

Babies cry because the air pressure hurts their little ear canals. Babies don't bother me. No one can help that.

However, kids that are yelling their little fucking heads off, kicking the seats and running up and down the asiles while mom and dad pour cocktails down their throats should be cuffed to the air marshall.

alysonwonderland

Great point, Clarice City. It is frustrating to see parents traveling with a young child not bring any toys, books, or other means of entertainment with them. Do they think looking out the windows at clouds is going to keep a kid occupied for hours?

Also, my big complaint: spraying perfume/cologne/hairspray or using nail polish on board should be banned.

Ritchie

Applying nail polish on a plane IS against FAA regulations. I was on a plane from LA a few years ago and a well-known teen celeb was in first class. She started applying nail polish -- after hours of applying makeup -- and the flight attendant almost immediately got on the PA and announced that using nail polish on-boafd was against regulations and to stop immediately. I would imagine that using hair spray would be as well.

Gotham Extremist

do you hate your parents?

or better yet, do your kids hate you?

Manitoba

I really meant that I hate the parents of obnoxious kids more than the kids, or that is, I blame the parents more when I see poorly-behaved children.

But, your point is a good one, and to answer your questions:

1. Yes

2. Not yet

If my kids turns out to be obnoxious, I will likely blame myself for letting it happen, unlike most parents who blame teachers or anyone else but themselves.