Booking.com Reveals the Top 10 Most Annoying In-Flight Behaviors

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Watching videos without headphones, bringing strong-smelling food on board and filming TikToks are among the in-flight behaviors passengers find most irritating, according to new research from Booking.com.

The study suggests air travelers are increasingly treating aircraft cabins like an extension of their homes, with 67% of respondents saying they behave no differently on a plane than they do at home. However, the findings also reveal growing divisions over what passengers consider acceptable behavior at 30,000 feet.

Loud Entertainment and Smelly Food Top the List

The survey found that the two biggest frustrations for passengers are people watching films or listening to music without headphones (43%) and bringing strong-smelling or messy meals on board (43%). Sushi (38%), garlic-heavy dishes (32%) and boiled eggs (31%) were among the foods travelers considered the biggest offenders.

Other common annoyances include passengers leaning into someone else’s space to take photos out of the window (42%), filming TikTok or other social media content during a flight (33%), and being accidentally captured in another passenger’s videos (30%).

Modern Travel Habits Divide Opinions

The research highlights the rise of new travel behaviors driven by social media and fitness trends. One-quarter of respondents said they are annoyed by passengers walking repeatedly up and down the aisle to maintain daily step counts (24%), while 23% dislike people stretching or practicing yoga in the aisle. Another 23% object to passengers painting or filing their nails during flights, while 18% said using dental floss on board is unacceptable.

Despite widespread criticism of certain behaviors, many travelers admit they engage in some themselves. While 89% believe passengers should behave as they would on any other form of public transport, 11% admitted they remove their shoes and go barefoot during flights.

Most Travelers Avoid Confrontation

Comfort remains the highest priority for 76% of passengers, particularly on long-haul flights where travelers share confined spaces for extended periods. However, rather than confronting inconsiderate behavior, 31% said they prefer to tolerate it quietly, while 36% admitted they vent to friends or family after the journey instead.

To help travelers navigate evolving cabin etiquette, Booking.com partnered with etiquette expert Laura Windsor, who encourages passengers to remember that aircraft cabins are shared spaces where small acts of consideration can make a significant difference for everyone on board.