The Number One Pet Peeve Among Airplane Passengers - And Other Annoying Behaviors

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 3:50 PM ET, Thu August 6, 2026

We all have our pet peeves when flying, whether its fellow passengers taking off their shoes and socks or reclining their seatback into your lap.

But it seems there’s one pain point when flying that travelers find more offensive than all others: armrest hoggers.

A recent traveler poll surrounding pet peeves while flying conducted by HotelTonight found that 40% of people agree that armrest hogging is the worst of such high altitude annoyances. Not far behind however, at 39% is what the survey calls “aisle sprinters,” meaning impatient passengers who stand up too early to deplane, which also irks fellow travelers.

Rounding out the top three pet peeves is chatty seatmates with 27% of those surveyed indicating that they just want silence in the skies. Translation: Please keep conversations to a minimum.

Additional frustrations identified by the survey include line cutters with 25% of respondents saying they hate it when people sneak into an earlier boarding group and seat switchers: 20% get annoyed when someone asks to switch seats with them.

Here are some of the additional takeaways from the report.

Anxiety among travelers: A common theme for summer 2026 travel is anxiety, according to the survey. Americans are most concerned about airport delays and canceled flights (32%), finding destinations that are both affordable and enjoyable (26%), and deciding whether it’s cheaper to fly or take a road trip (23%).
Tightening budgets: With rising costs, Americans are tightening their budgets and finding unique ways to save on travel: 57% cut back on purchasing new clothes for trips; 49% bring only a carry-on to avoid extra bag fees; 45% opt for more affordable restaurants; and 42% look for cheaper lodging options.
Sometimes, the grass is greener outside of the US: Some Americans envy other countries' customs, such as walkable cities and reliable public transportation (68%), work-life balance (68%), and lower food costs (64%). Nearly half of respondents (49%) would like to see the US ditch the tipping culture at restaurants.
Americans have been leveraging AI to pull off the perfect vacation: 21% of respondents use AI chatbots for activity and restaurant recommendations; 19% rely on them to manage logistical and planning questions; and 17% use them to find hotel options.
Americans make the most of hotel offerings: The top tactic is to ask for a later check-out time (63%). 50% take advantage of complimentary drinks and on-site amenities like pools, restaurants, and spas. Close behind, travelers who want rooms with a better view report asking for free upgrades at check-in (43%).
Majority rules: It’s not Mount Rushmore (24%), the Statue of Liberty (66%), or even the White House (65%) that Americans consider a must-see. The most-visited destinations are actually Disney parks (84%), the Las Vegas Strip (82%), and Times Square (78%).