- Baggage fees.
- Change fees.
- Poor entertainment choices on flights.
- Loyalty programs with no real benefits.
- TSA difficulties.
- Airlines keeping passengers in the dark about delays, flight cancellations, etc.
- Late night dinners on night flights.
- In-flight restrictions that don't make sense, like turning off electronics prior to take-off and landing.
- Poor customer service.
- Passengers who rant about acts of fate / God.
I'd add Immigration lines as number 11. After my latest debacle at London's Heathrow airport (the worst major international airport in the world, in my opinion), which you can read about here, immigration lines have to be one of the most irritating aspects of international travel.
I'd also add the baggage claim process as number 12. I've had to wait ridiculous lengths of time for my checked bag to show up on a carousel. Before you say that any seasoned international traveler knows never to check a bag, let me say that I take presentation materials and workout gear, and so I often have no choice but to check a bag.
Hat tip to my friend Kurt for forwarding the column to me.
Here's a link to the article:
http://walt.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/06/22/the_top_ten_things_that_make_air_travel_annoying
Here's a link to my post on London Heathrow, the worst major international airport in the world in my opinion:
http://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/6/heathrow-airport-is-an-embarrassment-to-the-uk.html