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I am so old that I remember a time when airport lounges were a place of tranquility. The noise level was never over a whisper and not only was there plenty of space but the food and drinks were quite good and service was top notch. Clearly those days are long gone.
Now before anyone says anything – yes I know – blogs like this one are one of the reasons why lounges are so different nowadays because everyone with a pulse who has a half decent credit score can get a travel card that gives them access plus a bunch of other perks. But that is not my point. Even with a lot of people getting access this does not necessary mean that a lounge no longer can be an enjoyable place to visit. All it takes is a degree of decorum and awareness of those around you.
The complete twit you see in the featured image at the top of this post is one of those who should never be allowed inside a lounge. This happened not so long ago at the Miami Sky Club (yes, I know, Miami, sigh) and the dude was literally walking laps around the wall divider so I could LOUDLY hear parts of his phone call over and over and over again! His phone call went on for something like 10 minutes and boy did he get his steps in. SMH!
But this is just one of my list of super annoying things my fellow passengers do in an airport lounge. What are some of my other pet peeves? Let’s dive in:
- Seat hoarders. Nothing like a solo traveler who uses one seat for their laptop bag and then another one for their coat, and one for their fragile ego.
- Buffet bulldozers. I know plates are small but why would you pile up food like you’re stocking a fallout shelter. Relax, Karen, they will refill the buffet over and over and over.
- Bringing in stinky food into the club. You know this is against the rules right? There’s always that person who thinks the lounge needs to smell like Panda Express. Just don’t, people.
- Lounge drinking champions. If you see a pub crawl tag on the bag – just move away and sit somewhere else.
- Free-range parenting. This may be one of the worst offenses. Kids sprinting laps around the lounge while parents sip cappuccinos in oblivion. Kids with feet either on chairs or sitting upside down or yelling at each other or watching videos without headphones or you name it. Just so hate this.
- Trash artists. Leaving plates, cups, and napkins everywhere as if lounge staff are their personal maids. How hard is it really to buss your disposable stuff on your way out the door?
- Line cutters. I know your flight is taking off soon. Hey buddy – so is mine and everyone else standing in this long line. One more.
- Outlet hogs. Charging four devices and a toothbrush while everyone else’s battery hits 1%. If there are two USB ports between us we each get one – you don’t get both. Need more – use a power strip like me!
What do you think. Have I missed anyone of the other most egregious faux pas that our fellow flyers commit in a club? Is there one on my list that you feel is THE WORST of the bunch? Let us all know in the comments below! – René
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
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Using the speaker phone option at full volume. Glad we all got to hear about your Uncle Ed or about your golf trip…
Honorable Mention: The clown that uses a bathroom as their own personal office, taking a call while tying up the stall from its intended purpose.
Took a photo of a woman CUTTING HER TOENAILS in the Admirals Club at LHR. I mean…who DOES that???
…raised by wolves apparently
It’s not just phone calls, it people using earbuds while on the phone. Instead of talking into the phone they are talking into the room. 2 weeks ago BA SoHo lounge at jfk, 9:30 am, 5 people in the lounge and everyone could hear everything on this mans endless phone calls
I despise people who lack any awareness and rude people in general, and just about every visit I see at least a few people who treat the lounge like it’s a one-star buffet restaurant.
I’m a big guy I do my best to make sure I’m not violating anyone’s personal space, but I’ve been hovered over, or pushed while in the buffet line and have had to dodge people whilst walking with my hands full of plates and cups because they couldn’t be bothered to move.
I also get a little irritated when I see people who miss the trashcans with their trash and don’t bother to pick up what they missed as well as people in the buffet lines who spill food and don’t bother to at least try to clean it up (I assume because they feel that “there are people for that”).
I know the lounges are no longer exclusive places and I confess that I am one (of many) who benefits from having good enough credit to own credit cards that get me into lounges, and I’m thankful for that, especially when I’m flying solo. But there was a time not long ago that I was the poor schlep who had to clean up behind these same types of people who thought they were too good to clean up, or at least attempt to tidy up after themselves, and I guess that’s why I say, “thank you” with a smile on my face when someone takes my dirty dishes and why I tidy up as much as possible before leaving.
Rene, Your list is great! I agree with all of the above. Especially those who pile so much food on their plates and then do not eat it! The other day at a centurion lounge the young guys in front of me took all of the omelettes on the tray that the staff had just put out- it was about 5-6 a piece and 4 guys. My observations are a family with a young child taking over an area for 8!!Then changing diapers and leaving it and all of their trash and food waste all over the furniture and floor… also the people who must fly with their 1-2 or 3 dogs and sit them on the couch and feed them lounge food=truly service dogs..I have also seen a “service dog” go to some ones coffee table with their plate on it and the dog steal the other person’s food!