Has this ever happened to you? You\u2019re boarding a flight and the guy in front of you is slow. Almost deliberately slow.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s in no hurry to lift his luggage into the overhead bin. Then unpacks a laptop computer, a book, a headset and reorganizes his bag before sitting down \u2014 slowly. Meanwhile, other passengers are lining up behind him impatiently.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what happened to David Kazarian on a recent flight from Tampa to New York. And get this: Before the passenger could get comfortable, he remembered that he had forgotten something and stood up to retrieve his phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just kept my mouth shut,\u201d says Kazarian, a retired pharmacist from Tampa. \u201cBut as the line in the jetway grew, a cabin attendant got on the microphone and asked people to please step out of the aisle when they found their seat.\u201d<\/p>\n
But he was fuming along with everyone else in line: \u201cSlow travelers are one of my pet peeves.\u201d<\/p>\n
I have a confession, and I\u2019ll get to that in just a minute.<\/p>\n
It feels like slow travelers are everywhere these days. They take their time boarding and adjusting the items in the overhead bin while a long line is waiting behind them. They block the escalators and walkways with their luggage, or by standing next to each other. They chat it up with the Starbucks barista at the airport when people behind them have a plane to catch.<\/p>\n
In other words, they act like they\u2019re on vacation. How dare they?<\/p>\n
Why are these travel laggards suddenly coming into focus? How do you avoid getting stuck behind a slowpoke? And how do you deal with a slow traveler who may be blocking your way, or worse?<\/p>\n
Mahmood Khan, a professor of hospitality and tourism at Virginia Tech, says he\u2019s seen a significant uptick in the number of laggards. With more people traveling, and more cancellations, he\u2019s seen an increasing number of passengers wandering around the airport and train terminals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s especially been more noticeable since the pandemic,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Rising travel volume, an influx of inexperienced travelers, and a shift in cultural attitudes toward speed and efficiency are fueling this trend.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrowded airports and the surge in travelers post-pandemic have created a pressure cooker environment,\u201d explains Carla Bevins, who teaches business management at Carnegie Mellon University. \u201cMany of us are rushing to catch flights, juggle tight schedules and make it through security lines quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
So when someone slows things down, like taking a while to store their bag in the overhead bin, it can feel like an enormous inconvenience.<\/p>\n
Believe it or not, there are ways to avoid a potential confrontation with a slow traveler.<\/p>\n
First, avoid peak times, whether you\u2019re flying somewhere or visiting a popular attraction.<\/p>\n
\u201cLong lines are part of the experience,\u201d warns Charlie Neville, a marketing director at Jayway Travel. \u201cI recommend planning your visit during off-peak hours or opting for skip-the-line tickets when available.\u201d You can easily find out the slow periods through an online search. If you plan your visit around them, the slowpokes won\u2019t bother you as much.<\/p>\n
Also, go out of your way to avoid lines. That\u2019s what Gabriella Ribeiro, a travel advisor from Wayne, N.J., does whenever she travels.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a routine,\u201d she explains. \u201cI buy protein shakes faithfully before I embark a flight at Newark, so I go wherever I can find a self-checkout. I go to the first-class lounge to avoid the crowds where pretty much everything is self-service. I walk stairs if they\u2019re there instead of managing an escalator or waiting for an elevator.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are workarounds for every place you\u2019re likely to find sluggish travelers. The chatty customer at the coffee shop? Use the app to order your latte and pick it up. The slow guy boarding your flight? Board early if you can or wait until the last minute to get on the plane (after all, you\u2019re all going to the same place).<\/p>\n
And the group of travelers clogging the moving walkway? Don\u2019t use it. You\u2019ll be grateful for the exercise when you have to spend the next 10 hours sitting on a plane.<\/p>\n
When you see someone slow, it\u2019s easy to make a mistake, say experts. Here are the most common ones that you can avoid.<\/p>\n
Pushing them aside. That\u2019s always a bad idea, says Silvia Lupone, a travel advisor. \u201cIt more often than not causes a further delay because people feel stressed or nervous.\u201d Plus, it\u2019s rude.<\/p>\n
Shouting at them. Screaming \u201cOutta my way!\u201d can be counterproductive. \u201cIt\u2019s important to stay calm and remember that frustration won\u2019t change their behavior,\u201d says travel advisor Nicole Cueto. Instead, a polite but firm, \u201cExcuse me, I need to get by,\u201d can often resolve the issue.<\/p>\n
Telling them to hurry up. There\u2019s usually a reason someone is moving slowly, and believe me, it\u2019s probably not what you think. \u201cTrying to rush or express annoyance rarely helps, and it can make the delay feel even worse. Besides, travel isn\u2019t always about speed; it\u2019s about the journey, quirks and all,\u201d says travel expert Paul Fournier.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been part of the problem. A few years ago, I broke my pelvis and three ribs in a ski accident. Even after I graduated from my crutches, I still moved like an old man.<\/p>\n
I can confirm that I was not the guy in front of Kazarian, the retired pharmacist, but it could have been someone like me \u2014 moving slowly and deliberately because of a hidden disability.<\/p>\n
Eventually, I healed and my pace gradually quickened. But I\u2019ll never forget the kindness of strangers who asked if I needed help with my luggage. Or, when I turned to them to apologize for taking so long, assured me not to worry.<\/p>\n
We live in a time when that kindness has been replaced by a me-first attitude, and I fear that slower travelers will be the casualties. It\u2019s up to us all to ensure that doesn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n
Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.<\/p>\n
Slow travelers may be a nuisance, but they are a reality we must learn to deal with. By understanding the reasons behind their slow pace and avoiding peak times, we can minimize our encounters with them. Remember to stay calm and patient, and avoid making mistakes that can escalate the situation. With a little kindness and empathy, we can make travel more enjoyable for everyone.<\/p>\n
Q: Why are there more slow travelers now?<\/strong><\/p>\n A: The rise of slow travelers can be attributed to the increasing number of people traveling, more cancellations, and a shift in cultural attitudes toward speed and efficiency.<\/p>\n Q: How can I avoid slow travelers?<\/strong><\/p>\n A: Avoid peak times, plan your visit during off-peak hours, and opt for skip-the-line tickets when available. You can also go out of your way to avoid lines and use self-service options.<\/p>\n Q: What should I do when I encounter a slow traveler?<\/strong><\/p>\n A: Stay calm and patient, and avoid pushing them aside or shouting at them. Instead, use a polite but firm tone to ask them to move or let you pass.<\/p>\n Q: How can I be more empathetic towards slow travelers?<\/strong><\/p>\n The Rise of Slow Travelers: Understanding the Phenomenon and How to Deal with It Has this ever happened to you? You\u2019re boarding a flight and the guy in front of you is slow. Almost deliberately slow. He\u2019s in no hurry to lift his luggage into the overhead bin. Then unpacks a laptop computer, a book, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":2458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2457","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/dmn-dallas-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com\/resizer\/v2\/QNRLPFCCDZBOTLDHQTRRC2IBYA.jpg?auth=49a0076e1c1fcf64369299ac1cc4f7d18c84aeff0cbbcdd813324aad4200d420&height=630&width=1200&smart=true&quality=80","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2457"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2459,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457\/revisions\/2459"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}