If you’ve been following travel news, you have heard about the increase in unruly passengers that have been causing delays, rerouting flights, and ruining everybody else’s plans and experiences.
In today’s episode, I need to address those unruly passengers and get to the bottom of this.
Let’s go:
[03:12] Since 2020.
These are the stats from the FAA:
What started as 14 unruly passenger reports in 2019, it escalated to 183 in 2020. Then, in 2021, 1099 unruly reports were investigated. As of November 1, 2022, there have been 2178 reports.
It more than doubled last year’s numbers and it’s not even the end of the year yet.
[04:57] Why is this happening?
I did some digging into this, and here are some of the reasons that people gave for this rise in reckless behavior.
Some said it started with the mask mandates (and some even said it was inconsistent). Listen, if you followed every step of the process to book your flight, you would’ve been reminded about the rules enough times to not be confused about it. You accepted those rules when you clicked “purchase”, and then you still chose to be difficult about it?
Some people also felt like others shouldn’t have worn masks. I don’t understand how someone else’s mask-wearing affects you. If the rule is that you need to wear a mask to fly, and other people are wearing their masks, then what exactly is your problem? If you don’t want to wear it, don’t make that everyone else’s problem. Mind your own damn business.
[10:40] Pandemic fatigue.
Another reason for the unruly behavior is pandemic fatigue.
The pandemic was a tough experience for most people, and I understand that it was frustrating and tiring, but just because you had a bad time during the pandemic, doesn’t mean that you should take it out on everyone else as well.
Seek professional help to work through those feelings.
[14:14] Depression.
Since the pandemic started, more people have been suffering from some form of depression.
As I said before, seek professional help.
No amount of lashing out at others is going to improve your mental health.
[16:23] Entitlement.
Some of y’all need to check your entitlement.
Just because you’re traveling, and someone is helping you in the airport, airplane, hotel, or resort as part of their job doesn’t mean that you can treat them as though you’re above them.
You’re traveling, but you’re also a responsible adult, and behaving like a spoilt child is not going to give you a good experience.
[20:10] First-time fliers.
If you haven’t flown in a while, or you’re flying for the first time, I suggest familiarizing yourself with the aviation rules and regulations.
Things have changed, and every time something happens that jeopardizes the safety of other travelers, you best bet it will become part of the regulations, so things that were once common might not be so common anymore.
[24:49] When y’all started it.
What REALLY works on my nerves is when people start something and then when somebody else kicks their ass, then they start to complain about their ass-whooping.
Listen, if you’re out there starting things with people, and someone puts you in your place, I don’t have sympathy for you.
[28:03] If this is you.
If you are one of these negative people, or you know one of them, do us all a favor and stay home, or get professional help, because the rest of us do not need your uncontrolled internal negativity to be put on us in public.
[28:45] Stop being selfish.
Your actions affect those around you.
Think about those you’re affecting when you cause an entire flight or cruise to reroute because you’re feeling entitled.
[30:08] There are rules.
The rules that are in place are there to keep as many people safe as possible.
You do not get to decide that you are above those rules.
If you do not like the rules, get some petitions going, have the rules changed if you can, but don’t interrupt everyone else following the rules just because you decided to travel while those rules were in effect.
[31:38] Think before you act.
Before you do something, think about the consequences.
Is it worth rerouting a plane just to be banned from every flying again? Or is it worth the enormous fine that you will get?
[33:49] If you can’t handle your alcohol.
There are people out there who act out and become unruly when they’ve had alcohol.
If you’re one of those people, just don’t drink before you travel.
That’s the end of my rant.
If y’all can explain to me why people are behaving like this, maybe I’ll understand, but until then, I don’t get why so many people are just so angry.
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