You may be an annoying passenger – but don’t realise it yet.
To find out if you are one, take note of the following insights from behavioural experts at C-Me Colour Profiling, who have identified four types of difficult plane passengers and explained exactly how to spot them.
The expert team, based in Bath in Somerset, tells MailOnline Travel: ‘Air travel places people in a confined space for extended periods, often leading to stress and frustration.
‘Extreme stress can push passengers into unexpected behaviour shifts. A usually confident traveller may become indecisive, a sociable one may withdraw, a calm person may snap, and an analytical thinker may make impulsive choices.
‘By recognising different behavioural patterns and stress responses, we can better understand why certain passengers become difficult and how to manage these situations effectively.’
The Demanding Passenger
According to the C-Me Colour Profiling psychologists, the demanding passenger type is ‘assertive, easily frustrated and impatient’.
They explain that demanding passengers ‘value control and efficiency’ and could be provoked into a ‘strong reaction’ by ‘flight delays, slow service, or changes in schedule’.
Psychologists at C-Me Colour Profiling have identified four types of difficult plane passengers and explained exactly how to spot them
During the flight, a demanding passenger ‘may frequently call for flight attendants, demand immediate solutions, or express dissatisfaction openly’.
Potential triggers: Demanding passengers can be set off by ‘delays, inefficiency, limited options, and lack of responsiveness’, say the behaviour experts.
How to manage the situation: Flight attendants should ‘stay calm’, try not to ‘mirror the passenger’s frustration’ and provide ‘clear options’. The experts explain: ‘Allowing the passenger to feel some control over their situation often defuses tension.’
The Overly Social Passenger
Overly social passengers are generally ‘talkative, excitable and prone to distraction’, say the behavioural experts.
This type of passenger ‘thrives on social interaction’ and a ‘long flight with little engagement’ can cause them to ‘overcompensate’, warn the team at C-Me Colour Profiling. They may ‘initiate loud conversations, speak loudly or frequently move around’ during the flight.
Potential triggers: Overly social passengers can be set off by ‘isolation, boredom or feeling excluded from group conversations’, say the experts.
How to manage the situation: The experts at C-Me Colour Profiling say flight attendants should ‘politely acknowledge’ the passengers while setting ‘effective boundaries’. Overly social passengers can also be ‘encouraged to find other forms of engagement, such as watching films or reading’.
Demanding passengers could be set off by ‘delays, inefficiency, limited options and lack of responsiveness’
The Anxious Passenger
The C-Me Colour Profiling experts say anxious passengers are usually ‘withdrawn, overwhelmed and uneasy’.
‘Flying is a stressful experience’ for anxious passengers, say the experts, who add that these travellers may be panicked by ‘turbulence, crowded environments or a general fear of flying’. Anxious fliers may ‘fidget, grip armrests or avoid eye contact’ during the journey.
Potential triggers: ‘Turbulence, unexpected changes, lack of reassurance or personal discomfort,’ according to the experts.
How to manage the situation: Flight attendants could ‘ease’ an anxious passenger’s ‘discomfort’ by ‘offering reassurance, keeping a calm demeanour and providing distractions such as light-hearted conversation’, say the behavioural experts.
The Critical Passenger
According to the experts, a critical passenger is usually ‘detail-oriented, negative and highly focused on perceived inefficiencies’.
This type of traveller is ‘often irritated by disorder, last-minute changes or noisy surroundings’, say the behavioural experts. Critical passengers may ‘complain about policies, critique airline services or show visible frustration at disruptions’ during their journey.
Potential triggers: Critical passengers can be upset by ‘disorganisation, lack of structure’ or ‘unexpected schedule changes’, explain the experts.
How to manage the situation: Cabin crew should give this type of passenger ‘space’ and ‘respond with factual, calm explanations’, say the behavioural gurus. The experts add: ‘Allowing them to focus on personal activities such as reading or work may also ease their irritation.’