There's finally evidence of what every traveler has known for years: People really are more rude when they're at the airport, a survey of 1,000 passengers by Citi/AAdvantage shows. Among the disappointing findings is the revelation that only one in three fliers has ever let a fellow traveler step aboard an aircraft first. In fact, three out of five travelers say they would actually give up amenities like in-flight entertainment, beverages, or even access to the lavatory in order to board first. While fear of missing out on overhead space no doubt drives some of this selfishness, the survey reveals other me-first attitudes that can't as easily be explained away.
To take one example, only a third of travelers have ever traded seats with another person. Only 36 percent of people think pregnant women deserve a free upgrade to first class. (That drops to 13 percent for honeymooners, though 63 percent of travelers say soldiers deserve a free seat up front.) Also disappointing—but probably not surprising—is the fact that only one in three fliers has offered to help another person with a bag. Since it apparently needs to be said, we'll advocate for chivalry: If you're able to help someone lift his or her bag into an overhead bin, you should step up!
There was one glimmer of good news in the survey: One question asked respondents if they'd ever made friends with a stranger they'd met on a flight or at the airport. Two out of three people said, "no, never." But when narrowed to answers from travelers under 40, almost half of people said they'd stayed in touch with somebody they'd met while flying. There's hope for the future yet.