Melody Teh
International Travel

This is the reason why you get so grumpy on planes

What is it about flying on planes that turns people into a grumpy version of their former self?

According to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it can be pinpointed to one single thing: first-class seats.

Research has found that air rage incidents are four times likelier to happen on planes with first-class cabin than planes without them. 84 per cent of air rage cases occur in economy class.

The researchers’ note that passing through a first-class cabin makes other passengers aware of what they don’t have – which makes them keenly alert to any unfairness they encounter. You suddenly note the different queues, the extra time spent waiting to board, and you’re smaller, less comfy seats as you walk through first-class.

But it turns out that forking out for first-class seats won’t make you happier either, as people who sit in first-class tend to have higher expectations of their experience and when they don't measure up, they too can get quite angry.  

Of course, there are other factors that contribute to the feeling of air rage – delays, lack of luggage space, tiny seats and annoying plane companions. But perhaps the answer to a happy flight is to try and focus on the joy of flying. After all, isn't it simply amazing that all we have to do is board a plane to travel across the world? 

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Tags:
travel, flying, News, travel international, Air planes, Air rage