August 9, 2026, 11:46 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Tight seating and limited space can quickly sour the mood on a plane. Annoying fellow passengers can become a nuisance. A new survey reveals which behaviors on board are particularly irritating–and which habits many wish had stricter rules in place.
Unpleasant Odors Cause the Most Annoyance
Bringing strongly scented foods onto a plane is the most common cause of discontent. This is according to a survey by “Booking.com” of 1,000 air travelers. Four out of ten respondents (40 percent) are generally disturbed by intensely smelling food.
Particularly unpopular are pungent cheeses and sausages, which 46 percent of respondents find bothersome. These are followed by foods with a lot of garlic (42 percent). Sandwiches with fish or liverwurst (30 percent), currywurst (27 percent), and hard-boiled eggs (16 percent) are also viewed critically.
Tech Disruptions on Planes
Many travelers see modern technology as a reason why flights are perceived as more disruptive today than in the past. Nearly half (49 percent) admit to behaving on a plane as they would at home.
More than half of the respondents (53 percent) advocate for stricter rules regarding smartphones, tablets, and other devices. Passengers find it particularly annoying when videos or music are played without headphones. The U.S. airline United Airlines has already introduced an explicit headphone requirement for the use of phones and tablets.
Recording fellow passengers without their consent is also met with disapproval. Forty-four percent feel disturbed when other passengers are photographed or filmed. At the same time, 68 percent would welcome special quiet zones on flights.
The Ten Biggest Annoyances on Board
According to the survey results, these behaviors particularly irritate passengers:
- Bringing strongly scented food on board (40 percent)
- Leaning over others to take photos or film out the window (39 percent)
- Watching videos or listening to music without headphones (32 percent)
- Appearing in social media photos or videos of other passengers (26 percent)
- Painting, cutting, or filing nails (26 percent)
- Being barefoot on board (26 percent)
- Walking up and down the aisle (23 percent)
- Making recordings for social networks during the flight (23 percent)
- Using dental floss (18 percent)
- Doing stretching or yoga exercises in the aisle (17 percent)
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How Passengers React to Troublemakers
When fellow passengers stand out with their behavior, 49 percent of respondents would address the issue politely. Only 14 percent would accept disruptive behavior without comment.
About 11 percent prefer to react nonverbally. This includes disapproving looks, audible sighs, or a demonstrative click of the tongue.
Gen Z Considered the Biggest Nuisance
When asked which age group shows the worst manners on board, 27 percent named Generation Z. Notably, even the youngest agree. Within Gen Z, 34 percent believe their own generation stands out the most negatively on planes.
Baby boomers view the situation much more calmly. Nearly half of them (48 percent) find that no generation stands out as particularly unpleasant on board.