2024 Travel Grievances
It’s spring, and that means two things for me here at MtM. First, stay tuned for one of the most cliche but still warranted annual articles – points and travel spring cleaning. Second, it’s time for my 2024 travel grievances. That’s right, I’m back to complain about a variety of people I encounter while traveling, unnecessarily dwelling on the negative.  Because, hey, that’s the internet, no?
This TSA Bin Can Stay Right On The Belt People
I’ll start off with one which I feel is a no-brainer. I get it, a TSA checkpoint is not the most pleasurable place to be, so many people won’t do anything they perceive as “extra.” Plus, after clearing security, people just want to get away from the area as quickly as they can. But what still irks me is the sheer laziness of individuals who can’t bother to move their empty bin from the x-ray belt and place in the stack immediately next to it.
I’ve seen this sloth work against the entire process, where x-rayed bins cannot keep traversing down the belt to keep everything (and everyone) moving. I’d like to think they’re ignorant to the mess they’ve created, but probably not.
This Hotel Luggage Cart Can Stay In The Hallway People
This is similar to what I just described, but I think it warrants its own special place in my 2024 travel grievances. I have a problem with these invisible people who apparently have enough energy to push a luggage cart but not enough common decency to bring the cart back down to the lobby. People go as far as leaving the cart in front of other hotel room doors. I know this, because I’ve opened my hotel room door to find someone else’s cart in front of me, blocking access to the hallway.
I Just Worked Out People
Out of everyone I write about today, I experienced this person most recently. During my stay at the delightful Kimpton The Forum Charlottesville, I was enjoying my outstanding breakfast. Just after the waitress delivered my plate, a man joined a woman sitting at a separate table in front of mine. He was tremendously sweaty and wearing remarkably small running shorts and shirt – such sweatiness and skimpy workout clothing always seem to come together.
I’ve seen this phenomenon elsewhere. Often, in rather high-end properties, I notice these people loitering all over the property – restaurants, bars, lobby, everywhere – except in the gym. They don’t seem to be doing anything in particular, but they apparently wish to accomplish one thing. It’s as if they want to tell the whole world, or at least everyone in the hotel, that they just worked out. Great job, pal.
I Want To Rub My Shoe Bottoms On Everything People
Let’s move on to some others wanting to share nastiness. I’ve seen my share of poor behavior in airport lounges, and I know others have, as well. One of my least favorite sights – various individuals hike up their feet into nice seating and drag their shoe bottoms all over the upholstery. They kick up their shoes onto coffee tables. And more. Let’s award a gold star to lounge attendants who have the backbone to kindly request these individuals put their feet down. I’ve witnessed this, and it’s beautiful.
I know what some of you are probably thinking – “at least they have their shoes on.” Agreed, but how low is the bar when acting like this with shoes on is considered a positive next to unwelcome bare feet?
I’ll Enter The Elevator Before You Exit People
How on earth could someone convince themselves that it works out best to get on an elevator before allowing existing occupants to exit? But I quickly concede that certain people who behave this way often do so out of ignorance. I can understand various cultures around the world may treat elevator etiquette differently. And many kids don’t know any better. That says more about the poor job their parents are doing than anything.
While not as annoying as the above individuals, I’ve grown tired of what I’ll call uncertain elevator patrons. These are the ones who are tremendously slow (or completely out to lunch) on exiting for their floor. I’d also like to give a special shout-out to the individuals waiting for the elevator who ask whether a given lift is going up or down. They apparently don’t know about the cutting-edge lit up/down indicator adjacent to the apparatus.
Check Out The Favor I Just Did For You People
I save this next one especially for travel industry employees, who I generally know are extremely hard-working and hospitable. But here and there, some take their basic duties and frill them up as if they’re doing something extra for me. Here’s one I get most.
Often, I make multiple consecutive reservations at a hotel to ensure maximum flexibility in my trip scedule. I’m extremely careful in planning these trips, ensuring I book the identical room type and occupancy amount for each reservation so that I don’t have to move rooms.
At check-in, I’m periodically turned down for an elite upgrade after I inquire. No big deal, I’d rather ask for one than be curious if it was possible. On multiple occasions like these, the front desk agent immediately launches into, “but I was able to get you the same room type for your entire stay, and I’ve arranged it so you won’t have to change rooms.” Actually, you just did something basic which any competent employee can do. Making me change rooms would actually be more work for the hotel. But instead of saying either of those things, I opt for an Eddie Haskell smile, instead.
I’ll Work At The Bar People
I believe multitasking is a myth. Doing more than one task at a time means I’ll do them all slower and probably less accurately. But, of course, I won’t stand in the way of anyone else attempting to multitask. I may get annoyed, though.
I was enjoying an IPA while watching basketball at a hotel bar recently (okay, I guess that’s technically multitasking, but hear me out). A guy plops down at the bar a few stools down from me. Within seconds, his laptop is open. He makes a phone call. Minutes later, he’s loudly crunching on a salad, shouting into his phone, typing on his laptop, and looking up at the basketball score. Even better/worse, while this is all going on, the bartender returns and asks him if he needed anything else.
Maybe this says more about me than the guy. Regardless, it shouldn’t have bothered me, but it did.
I’ll Park In the Trailer Truck Area People
I’m saving the most ticky-tack one for last, as it hardly affects me. It’s more something I notice travelers taking advantage of, perhaps cleverly but selfishly.
My family and I prefer the convenience of an interstate rest area for bathroom pit stops, especially state welcome centers close to borders. With a family of four, we move much faster on bio breaks at rest stops than running into an Arby’s. Rest areas these days predominantly have clearly marked, separate parking areas for cars and trailer trucks. I’ve noticed more cars are parking in the trailer truck areas these days. Perhaps they wanted a bit more room, made a wrong turn, whatever. Regardless, they’re taking up the space allotted for trailer truck drivers just doing their jobs. I’ve also seen car drivers inappropriately park at truck stops, creating unnecessary chaos.
2024 Travel Grievances – Conclusion
I could go on, but that’ll have to do for now. Indeed, many have probably quit reading my complaints by now, anyway. Like the last few, I do this for the catharsis more than anything. As always, the above stuff doesn’t hugely matter during my travels, but it is noticeable. And, if anything, it makes the big social experiment that is travel, and life, more, um, interesting to experience. I’m oddly intrigued for another year of frustrations and oddities along the way. What are your travel grievances these days?
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Mine would be this. I travel full-time, 365 days a year and have done so now for 12 years. I’ve seen it all !! On some occasions I have a 12 hour layover between flights. It might be landing at say 19.00 and my next flight will be 06.00. So I always get a room in a nearby hotel. Even if it means entering the country through Immigration. I get to the hotel, hunker down for the night, wake up at say 03.00 ready for a shower. The friggin’ shampoo container is empty. No worries, i’ll use the body wash. Empty. It does my bloody head in. These woke hotel corporations stack the rooms with these containers under the auspices of going “green” BS. The problem is, the containers are all usually a solid color so Housekeeping cannot see whether they are empty or full. I assume they are supposed to check them daily. But the lazy things don’t.
And what makes me really laugh, the wokeness of using these containers that are saving them money ( fair enough, it’s a business ) It’s not about “green” BS. Because if it was, you wouldn’t have a breakfast that has plastic cutlery, poly-styrene plates and coffee cups, everything wrapped in plastic. So spare me the BS IHG and Hilton and Best Western and Accor and let me have the little containers again. And as a matter of fact, I think we use less liquid than one does in the larger so-called money saving containers.
Welcome to my first world problems!
Funny and true!
I appreciate you reading, Eliza!
Thank you for the insightful list, Benjy. Some reactions:
– TSA Bin – I pick up my bins and the ones the person before me left on the belt and put all in the stack.
– Hotel Luggage Cart – the last hotel I stayed at (Hilton Palacio Rio San Antonio) the bellhop specifically asked us to leave the cart in the hallway and not bring the cart downstairs ourselves when we finished putting our bags into our rooms, and they would come get the cart later! Tho I decided to place near the elevators since room hallways rather tight. So your grievance might be a direct result of hotel staff instructions.
– work out people – I never really paid attention, but now that you are pointing it out, I realize how much the norm this phenomenon has become.
– feet up on public furniture – I decided years ago to not put my feet up at all in any public place, including on airplanes, and (in addition to your point) to not recline my inflight seat back ever. After reading about these controversies online. One exception – First/Biz/Prem class seats that turn into flat beds or recliners.
– elevator – totally with you on this one, seems basic.
– staff favor – Not sure I would notice, prolly because I am enough of a “free agent” traveller that I dont know specifics of individual chains and properties
– work at the bar – Maybe the real issue is that he was loud (your word) and distracting? One of the best ways I have found to get unstuck on a difficult work task is on my laptop and/or phone at a bar or restaurant while waiting for the food. By the time I return to work, I have either finished or am well on my way to finishing my tasks. I make sure to use all waiting time productively – life is too short. And the food always seems to come quicker when working on something. Being divorced since the last century, I feel more comfortable eating at the bar than taking an entire table for myself in a crowded bar/restaurant (and better than sitting at home alone too much). But typically I am quieter than other people at the bar cheering on the game or engrossed in conversation, etc. I have to imagine all the remote workers, digital nomads (like yourself???) and others who have no office other than their home/hotel and Starbucks would have to agree with me.
– park in the trailer truck area – totally with you on that; seems unsafe to park cars/pickups/SUVs among all the much larger tractor trailers (unless you are towing).
Stephen,
Thanks for adding your takes! Interesting regarding your luggage cart experience. Perhaps I could see that, but I feel like that policy coudln’t be widespread enough for how often I see them abandoned. Great perspective regarding working at the bar. I concede I’m being a bit more ticky-tack on this one than most of the others.
People! some great observations – I can just hear Jerry Seinfeld now….
The problem today is so many people are selfish and inconsiderate. Yours are just a tiny portion of what you can expect on a day to day basis. They’re not trivial complaints, and obviously that Hannah is one of those very people who are inconsiderate not to find all your grievances legitimate. I live with a saying, “people are pigs”. Of course that doesn’t mean all people. Every day I encounter courteous people…but it’s not the norm anymore. We are now living in a world of entitled brats, who think everything is about them. If you’re super conscious and had an upbringing where your parents taught you to be polite and courteous, you’re screwed by the amount of crappy behavior you’ll meet daily. Sorry about that, Benjy.
I hope we cross travel paths some time soon, Frank! Then again, since you’re well behaved, I may not notice you. 😉
Get off my lawn -Benjy most likely
Guilty as charged, Remy.
Very trivial complaints, grow up!
The TSA bin complaint is not trivial. When the post X-ray area is filled with bins, it stops the entire X-ray process and it delays everyone in line. Moving one’s bin to the collection thing is a simple thing to do. It’s doing a good turn for others. It’s a common courtesy. Indeed, that’s all Benjy is talking about: common courtesy. Are you a Millennial?
Then there’s the airport lounges that Benjy mentioned. Amex lounges have become crowded, disgusting frat houses. If some guy is putting his feet up on one table, you have to believe it’s happened to all of the tables. Never mind yourself, how comfortable would you feel having your child eat at that table? And, instead of putting his bag on the side of where he’s sitting, the guy takes up an entire couch . . . just him and his bag. It’s just plain inconsiderate. And, then, there’s the low life that comes in with a gym bag and loads it up with food from the buffet.