Terminal Peeves
 

Though there are many threads about airline peeves, hotel peeves and restaurant peeves, I can't recall seeing one about terminal peeves. After a fairly unpleasant layover at PHX yesterday, I thought I'd start one.

1. People wandering aimlessly while talking on cellphones. I can't tell you how many people just walked into my path, completely oblivious of my presence, while talking into their cellphones. Each instance required a rapid change in speed and direction on my part, which took some effort given the inertia from my rollaboard and accompanying computer bag.

2. People hogging seats at the bar. For some reason Concourse A was unusually crowded yesterday. I wanted a quick drink before boarding, but all the seats at the bar were occupied, though only about half by people. The other half of the seats hosted their computer bags, jackets, etc.

3. Groups promenading together. These seemed to be, exclusively, family groups and Kettles at that. They'd saunter along 3, 4 or 5 abreast, effectively blocking what is already a crowded and narrow concourse corridor.

4. People who read magazines at the news stands. Because most of the floor space of the airport concessions is given over to merchandise, there is very little space for customers, particularly given that almost everyone has a trailing rollaboard. What's up with the people who camp out in front of the magazine racks and, rather than choosing what they want and paying for it, treat the place like a library and just stand there reading the magazines, blocking not only those who want to shop of magazines, but those who are just trying to get buy.

5. People who stand at the exits of restrooms. What's up with that? When you leave the restroom, keep walking! Don't stand there, framed in the doorway, as if you're expecting accolades from the crowd.

2a. People hogging seats at the gate. I seriously do not understand why people feel their purse, laptop case, hand luggage, or coat needs to occupy a nice chair that a PERSON could be sitting in. Particularly, when the gate area is crowded and there often seem to be as many seats containing belongings as there are passengers standing around.
(small exception made for a jacket or briefcase occupying a seat being held for another passenger, who is perhaps doing business at the counter or in the restroom)

Sounds like a typical day at a shopping mall, stadium, train station, crowded city street, amusement park, etc. People with time on their hands will always be an impediment to people in a hurry. Nothing special about an sirport terminal.

I don't have any particular peeves in a terminal that would not exist in
another other public area except when I was provided with a non-existent
gate number by the board at ORD a few weeks ago.

amen
 

Just amen to that !

1. Poor signage. Trying to find gate A27 shouldn't resemble a treasure hunt!

2. Few or no places to recharge electronics. The reason goes without saying these days (especially since pay phones have all but vanished, and we need our cellphones to be charged at our end destination!).

3. Domestic terminal layouts which require passengers to leave the secured area to go from on concourse to another, or one terminal to another. (BOS, I'm looking at you!)

4. Limited meal options after clearing the security screening. Since we aren't fed on most flights anymore, and half of what we'd like to carry for snacking will get tossed out by the TSA as a prohibited "liquid," a decent array of dining options is important.

I think there is are differences between the terminal and a mall, sporting event, or other venue. The key one is that many people are hauling luggage, which makes them both a larger obstacle and less nimble. I am in complete sympathy with the complaint around people stopping dead in the middle of the terminal concourse, walking several abreast, or otherwise impeding the free flow of traffic; it's much harder for me to stop (if I have a rolling suitcase particularly) or move around them politely in the terminal.

I'd add to this free range children. No problem with children, no problem with children traveling, and I sympathize with parents who view this as a last opportunity to get some exercise into the child before boarding the plane (where, hopefully, they will sleep like little angels) but there have been many occasions where I've seen a two or three year old innocently toddle into the path of a business person moving very quickly, hauling a rollerboard with a computer on top, and it is never pretty and can be pretty hazardous to everyone involved.

Another terminal pet peeve is people who leave their trash all over the boarding area as they board the plane: food containers, soda bottles, newspapers, magazines....put it in the trash or recycling, so that the next sad group of travelers isn't sitting amongst your leavings!

Terminal Peeves
 

I second the trash pet peeve. In these days when everything is a threat i don't want TSA to shut down my gate because someone left a big mac box on a chair.

Terminal peeves: kettles who check their common courtesy and common sense with their luggage.

You folks with the trash pet peeve oughta work in a big office. Somebody brings in 18 doughnuts on Fridays, 18 doughnuts in a cardboard box. Not just once in awhile but every single Friday, whoever gets the last doughnut doesn't seem to see the need to throw the box away.

Either he's extremely stupid (doesn't realize the box has lost its purpose), or delusional ( thinks his mom will arrive to throw it away for him). I gotta switch to decaf.

Terminal Peeves
 

Yes but which is more peeving: mall rats or gate lice?

People stretched out on the gate chairs sleeping leaving no available chairs to sit.

Yes to everything you said.

Interesting that all the OP's peeves have to do with the mere presence of other people....

My terminal peeves tend to related to the facilities themselves. Like this oldie-but-goodie:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ight=endlessly

Mow them down.

Excuse me, <choose one>
- Can I sit here, please?
- Is this seat free?
- Is anyone sitting this seat?
- Move.

Ever play Red Rover?

"Excuse me..." <plow>

See above.

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I'm being somewhat facetious, but have had to take others to task before for being absolute morons and not being fit to be part of society.

I try to remember that these horrible people are mostly folks not experienced with flying, don't know the routines, don't know the terminal, and are like my once-a-year elderly father. Smiling and giving people the benefit of the doubt is both gracious and keeps one's blood pressure down.