Bad travel habits that absolutely need to disappear in 2025

This is a photo that I took at Zurich Airport in September.

I took it, because it so perfectly captures the act that makes my blood boil in airport arrival halls all around the globe.

Here is a community service announcement: if everyone stands a metre back from the baggage carousel, everyone can see their bag arrive, and easily retrieve it from the conveyor belt. 

And if you bring your small children and your trolley right up to that carousel as well? That might just tip us right over the edge.

Frustration at Carousel Crowding is something that unites the Escape team.

Escape’s content director Jana Frawley says “airport baggage claims are the tenth circle of hell. All sense of pre-holiday excitement or post-holiday bliss evaporates the moment I see people standing so close to the baggage carousel as through they’re preparing to hop on a merry-go-round.

“Worse are people who not only plonk themselves next to it, but bring their trolley and the crowd of other people they’re travelling with none of whom are going to assist with the bag extraction in any way. This wall of selfish travellers blocks everyone else from seeing, let alone getting their bags in a civil and timely fashion.

“I’m only 160cm so I crane my neck and peek through gaps while my rage grows and grows. By the time my suitcase arrives I’m seething and out for revenge so god help anyone nearby. When my bag finally comes grab it like a hammer-thrower preparing for gold. Get in my way at your peril”.

The chat about poor airport etiquette got us thinking about the broader travel trends, habits and moments that we’d like to see the back of in 2025 …

Constant content creation

This year I was on a flight that was delayed, because of a couple of passengers who were late boarding an aircraft.

When they originally boarded, I recognised them as a couple I had seen filming TikTok videos around the airport.

Content creation is an unavoidable part of travel these days and hell, it’s part of my job – I do it on occasion for work. But when it impacts the enjoyment of other travellers (eg hogging the jacuzzi at a resort while you take video, or blaring a ring light in your fellow passenger’s face while they’re trying to sleep on a long haul flight) that is when it crosses a line.

Escape’s social media editor Edwina Hart is particularly irked by the trend where people film an aesthetically pleasing airport tray in an already bottle-necked security line.

“In 2025, I hope we are done with artfully arranged security bins for the sake of everyone’s sanity,” she says.

“Don’t get me wrong – I’m still living vicariously through your holiday snaps, but I’m going to scroll past the mundane content you capture in transit”.

Airport crowding

A lack of respect for personal space at airports is something that drives Escape’s managing editor Kelli Armstrong ’round the bend.

“Standing on top of me when checking in or lining up for security [needs to stop],” she says.

“Did Covid teach us nothing? Getting in my personal space is not going to get you there faster.”

Wrapping luggage in plastic

“Unless you’re going somewhere truly lawless, it seems so paranoid,” says Escape writer Alex Carlton.

“Worried about theft? Use what everyone else uses: a lock.  Worried about damage? It’s a suitcase, not a Fabergé egg. It’s meant to get a bit bashed about. Suitcase raincoats are just embarrassing and all that plastic sucks. Stop.”

Face-time and speaker phone in public places

“I’ve been in airport terminals, in near empty restaurants, near the pool on a cruise – all very public areas where inevitably there’s loud talker on their speaker phone/video with no regard for fellow travellers,” says Escape writer Andrea Black.

“You have to hear the two-way conversation at full bore (which is often fully boring). Yes, you may want to tell your work colleague that the plane is going to be an hour late but we don’t need to hear you shout it, nor hear your workmate complain about rescheduling a meeting. Put on headphones, or old school style, up to your ear”.

Standing as soon as the plane lands

This is a long standing annoyance for many frequent flyers.

“… the fellow passengers who stand up the MINUTE the plane lands and the seatbelt signs go off? They kill me,” says Escape’s Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa.

Launching out of your seat the minute the seat belt sign goes off, then having to stand with your neck craned in your seat for a further 10 minutes while the arrival documentation is completed and the doors are opened? That needs to get in the bin in 2025.

Running up to the gate when your row hasn’t been called

“Big surprise: we’re all sick of waiting and want to get on the flight,” says Escape‘s Sabine Leroy.

“What won’t make it faster is if you prevent people whose turn it is to board by joining the queue when your row hasn’t been called. You’ll waste your time and the crew’s as they turn you away when they scan your ticket”.

Treating the plane like your lounge room

“Grotty bare feet snaking into other people’s leg space. Trays of dirty food scraps plonked onto the middle seat. Taking two drinks rather than one when the trolley comes by. Standing in the aisle rustling through your belongings in the overhead locker, arms flailing like you’re doing the YMCA, while everyone else waits in a queue behind you. Getting drunk and belligerent. None of this is acceptable,” says Escape writer Alex Carlton.

“Imagine the people you are sharing the plane with are on the same intimacy level as work colleagues – not close enough to relax with entirely but close enough to respect. Oh, and it’s worth remembering that the cabin staff are HR and they will happily get you fired if you cross boundaries. And people will cheer. And put it on YouTube. You have been warned.”

Plane yoga

This is a bit of an extension of Alex Carlton’s point above.

While regular, casual stretching on a long-haul flight is absolutely recommended to decrease the chances of DVT, the full yoga routine on a plane needs to get in the bin, according to Escape’s creative director, Baz Goodwin.

He doesn’t mince his words:

“Any passenger who starts to do a full yoga routine in the aisle of a flight, she would be restrained and put in the cargo bay.”