These are the top 10 airline ‘passengers from hell’

Another survey asking flyers to rank the most offensive and annoying in-flight habits shows that more than the seatback kicker and seatback recliner, it’s the smelly traveller who is considered the “passenger from hell.”

In a survey from Airlineratings.com, readers ranked flyers with poor hygiene as the most offensive type of passenger — not surprising given there’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide when stuck with a particularly malodorous seatmate on either a short or long-haul flight.

Even if you’ve showered that day, the findings also suggest you might want to reconsider taking off your shoes in-flight if you have a propensity for sweaty feet, and ordering the garlic and onion-free lunch before boarding.

The results differ from a similar Expedia survey published last month, in which the seatback kicker was deemed the most annoying type of flyer for the fourth year in a row.

After smelly seatmates, runaway kids and seat recliners round out the top three in-flight gripes at Airlineratings.com.

Taking a flight this year? You might want to take care to avoid the following top 10 offending behaviors if you don’t want to be the flight pariah.

1. Poor hygiene
2. Hands-off parents and runaway kids
3. Seat recliners
4. Armrest hoggers
5. Excess carry-on baggage
6. Frequent bathroom visitor
7. Chatterbox
8. Aisle exerciser
9. Arrogant, demanding passenger
10. Window hogger, who pulls at the shades the entire flight

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