Sit back, relax and don’t be a jerk: Expedia study finds seat-kicker to be most annoying air traveler

There are plenty of things to moan about when it comes to modern American air travel. But one thing gets under the skin of passengers more than any other according to a new survey on airplane etiquette from Expedia.

The Bellevue, Wash.-based travel company reported this week that the “rear-seat kicker” is the most annoying person you could hope to not encounter during a flight. The study sought feedback from 1,005 Americans age 18 and over and 64 percent of respondents cited that behavior as most infuriating.

Inattentive parents — defined as those who have no control or pay no attention to misbehaving kids — were second on the list at 59 percent. Those with poor hygiene or excessive perfume/cologne — the aromatic passenger — were the third least-liked at 55 percent.

Here’s the full list:

1. The Rear Seat Kicker (cited by 64 percent of respondents)
2. Inattentive Parents (59 percent)
3. The Aromatic Passenger (55 percent)
4. The Audio Insensitive (49 percent)
5. The Boozer (49 percent)
6. Chatty Cathy (40 percent)
7. The Queue Jumper (35 percent)
8. Seat-Back Guy (35 percent)
9. The Armrest Hog (34 percent)
10. Pungent Foodies (30 percent)
11. The Undresser (28 percent)
12. The Amorous (28 percent)
13. The Mad Bladder (22 percent)
14. The Single and Ready to Mingle (18 percent)

That amorous passenger at No. 12 is an interesting one. Couples who display an “inappropriate level of public affection” toward one another on a flight were called out by 28 percent of Americans. But just under 3 percent report having “been physically intimate” with a fellow passenger aboard a plane.

“As we embark on 2017, millions and millions of people will be taking to the air this year, and should know that there’s no better gift you can give to a fellow traveler than respect and generosity,” John Morrey, vice president and general manager of Expedia.com said in a statement. “The Airplane Etiquette study shows that small acts of decorum can go a long way. After all, as it relates to flights, we are quite literally all in this together.”

Despite the many reasons to eye roll the person sitting in front or behind or next to you on a flight, there is some silver lining up there in the clouds. Expedia says 79 percent of those surveyed feel that “for the most part, fellow passengers are considerate of one another.”