Some people really don't like kids. For instance, this person, who OP calls Zoe. She disliked kids so much that she would avoid them at all costs. That became impossible after OP and her friends (which included Zoe) organized a trip together to meet another friend 2 States away. At first, it seemed like OP wouldn't need to take their toddler with them, but as time went on and a few complicated situations arose, they realized that they didn't have a choice. Look, if you've got a kid, and the tri…

If the airline industry needed a poster child for what “bad airplane edict” looked like, they found one. Sometimes it is simply mindblowing how impolite and utterly repulsive someone can be. Like, can you not see what you are doing? You are very obviously acting like a child, but you are a grown adult. Do you not know that you are a grown adult and are expected to act as thus? What a world…

It's often the case that love blossoms from the most unexpected places, and you might think it surprising that this couple, a flight attendant and a pilot, would bond over a confrontation with an entitled Karen. The Karen was demanding that the flight attendant upgrade her to first class, mistaking her for a gate agent. This escalated to a point where the pilot of the flight, who was passing by for boarding, felt the need to step in. In her fury, Karen attempted to lash out at the pilot, which…

If you have ever flown before, then you should be well aware of the in-flight edict. You can try and pull the ‘ole switcheroos with seating, nobody is really against that. But you need to approach it with zero expectations. You are not entitled to that seat switch. And if you are considering asking someone to switch seats with you, then you have to come to them with an upgrade, not a window seat for a middle, or ask for a front seat with more legroom and offer a middle seat by the bathrooms. Li…

Bringing a four-year-old on a flight with you will require some planning in advance. At the tender age of four, most kids just cannot sit still for the duration of a plane ride . At that age, children want to run around and play until they drop. Sitting still and being quiet aren't usually in a kid's skill set at that age. That's why many parents find themselves stocking up on snacks and charging up their iPad before they head to the airport. At least a lot of planes nowadays offer personal TV…

The ordeal of air travel opens the doorway for some insane behaviors. You have groups of complete strangers who are collectively sleep-deprived, stressed, and overstimulated, crammed into far-too-small spaces for far too long. Air travelers usually have a lot riding on the success of their trip, too, and literally can't afford for things to go sideways, with holidaygoers having spent their literal life savings and cashed in all of their PTO in order to make this trip work—usually also facing un…

People's perceptions of plane etiquette seem to changing, and this story clearly serves as evidence of the friction between passengers. If you were seated next to someone who was playing loud music, you probably would be slightly annoyed but the truth is in this day and age, everyone is playing music throughout the flight. The air pressure also makes it pretty hard to hear the music of your neighbor, especially if you're also listening to something. I'm just saying: slightly loud music surely i…

Being stranded at the airport is like finding out that the thesis you worked on for ten weeks was on the wrong subject. This helpless, furious feeling that sits in your stomach like a bad apple. Once, I had to stay at the airport for 12 hours, and it was extremely frustrating at the time. My hands clench up whenever I think about it. The airport was practically empty, which made it a little less worse because there was less commotion, but it still wasn't a pleasant experience that I like to loo…

We don't think you can top these tales of airport madness . But you're welcome to try! If you work in the airline industry , or you're just a frequent flyer, you're going to witness some crazy moments eventually. From a grandma accidentally smuggling scissors through security, to an escaped pup running around the tarmac, these people have seen some things. Nothing crazy has ever happened to me at the airport, except the time I waited in the security line for three full hours, which was excrucia…

Nothing will stop a determined traveller from bringing along all of their belongings. Every friend group has people who under-pack for trips. They're the ones always asking to borrow a phone charger or a pair of socks, because they packed at the very last minute. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, are the over-packers. They want to bring three suitcases for a weekend trip; they're the one who needs to pay extra on the flight so that they can get all their bags back home. Your over-packer f…

You'd think finding your seat on an airplane would be one of the easiest parts of the flight. Airlines are pretty specific about that. Unlike concerts or some movie theaters where you can sit in one general area, when you fly, you choose your own seat. For those who get plane-sick, there are window seats; for those who want to stretch their legs out and move around, there are aisle seats . No one wants the middle seats, naturally. You can't just waltz onto an aircraft and sit where ever you wan…

Having kids is the greatest joy one could experience, or so any new parent will tell you, despite that they haven't slept since the night before they became parents, and the bags under their eyes tell a different story. In fact, it's more than likely that this entire sentiment is really just a combination of sleep deprivation-fueled delusion and resigned coping with the fact that there's no going back.

There are certain places where you can see the full range of the human experience, warts and all: the subway, the DMV, and, of course, the airport. We have all had memorable experiences waiting in the security line, sitting at the gate, or being stuck on the tarmac for hours on end. Those memories are seared into our brains forever and inform every insecurity we'll have the next time we travel. Most of the time, however, what we experience at airports is completely outside of our control. Becau…

Restrictive policies are often written with a singular use case in mind, with the authoring manager's short-sighted and horse-blinded perspective generally resulting in the policy not being as cost-saving as intended in the first place and leaving ample opportunity for loopholes and malicious compliance.

Sometimes humans can be bros. It's not very often that we meet genuinely amazing strangers out in public, but sometimes, in the most wholesome moments, our faith in humanity is restored. Usually we don't expect those moments when we're anywhere near our local airport, but apparently people can surprise us.

If you've been around the airport block a few times, you know we've all had our fair share of airport drama. It could be your bag playing a game of "almost too heavy," a little extra TLC from TSA during security checks, or navigating those airports that need a freakin' tram to get from one end to the other. And let's not even start on the nightmare of flight delays – we've all been there. But the real wildcard at the airport is the mix of folks you'll encounter on any given day. I'm talking abo…