I think that one of my favorite credit card perks is the ability to access airport lounges when I’m traveling. It’s just nice to have a spot in the airport where you can sit in reasonably comfortable seats, have a bit to eat and drink while you wait for your flight to start boarding. Sure, most lounges are more “The Club” than the Emirates First Class lounge, but I’m not a particularly “fancy” person, so this works out well for my family and I.

Annoying Airport Lounge Behaviors

I saw an article over at Eye of the Flyer where he listed out several annoying airport lounge behaviors, starting with people talking on their cell phones in the lounge. He also mentioned a few other annoying lounge behaviors such as seat hoarders, buffet bulldozers, outlet hogs and line cutters. I took a look at his list, and I agreed with most of them. However, there were a few that were on his list that I didn’t think were big deals, and there were a few others that I thought were missing. So here is my list of annoying airport lounge behaviors.

My 9 Most Annoying Airport Lounge Behaviors

Without further ado, and not in any real order, here are my 9 most annoying airport lounge behaviors:

• Watching videos without headphones – Playing music, videos, or games out loud invades everyone else’s personal space with unwanted noise. This is annoying no matter where you do it.
• Loud phone calls – Talking on speakerphone or shouting into their device disrupts the quiet environment many travelers value. It turns a peaceful lounge into a phone booth. Speaking of phone booths, MANY LOUNGES HAVE SEPARATE PHONE BOOTHS. GO USE ONE!

• Drinking excessively – Treating the open bar like a frat party can lead to loud, obnoxious behavior that spoils the atmosphere for others.
• Taking up multiple seats – Spreading out bags, coats, or even feet across extra chairs is inconsiderate when others are searching for a place to sit.
• Sleeping across couches – Lying down across an entire sofa leaves fewer seating options for others and makes the lounge feel like a hostel.

• Monopolizing power outlets – Hogging multiple plugs or unplugging others’ devices without asking is a surefire way to annoy fellow travelers.
• Letting kids run wild – Unsupervised children yelling, running, or jumping on furniture can quickly turn a relaxing lounge into a chaotic playroom. Personally, I don’t see this often – most kids I see are fairly well-behaved, but it’s annoying if it happens.

• Leaving trash or messes behind – I think that in most lounges, there are attendants who proactively clean the tables. So I don’t think you necessarily need to “bus” your own dishes. I think in most cases, it’s fine to leave a neat pile of your used dishes / glasses. But leaving huge messes shows a lack of basic courtesy in a shared space.

• Cutting in line for food or drinks – Jumping the line at the buffet or self-serve bar is disrespectful and aggravating, especially during busy hours.

The Bottom Line – What’s Your Biggest Lounge Pet Peeve?

Okay – I gave you my list – now it’s your turn. What are your biggest lounge pet peeves. I want to hear from you about the things that you see in airport lounges that really bug you. Do you agree with my list, or do you have other ideas? Leave them in the comments below

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