Slow Travel: Why is everyone losing it with the laggards?
Has this ever happened to you? You’re boarding a flight and the guy in front of you is slow. Almost deliberately slow.
He’s 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 — slowly. Meanwhile, other passengers are lining up behind him impatiently.
That’s 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.
“I just kept my mouth shut,” says Kazarian, a retired pharmacist from Tampa. “But 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.”
But he was fuming along with everyone else in line: “Slow travelers are one of my pet peeves.”
I have a confession, and I’ll get to that in just a minute.
Why you’re seeing more slow travelers
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.
In other words, they act like they’re on vacation. How dare they?
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?
Mahmood Khan, a professor of hospitality and tourism at Virginia Tech, says he’s seen a significant uptick in the number of laggards. With more people traveling, and more cancellations, he’s seen an increasing number of passengers wandering around the airport and train terminals.
“It’s especially been more noticeable since the pandemic,” he says.
Rising travel volume, an influx of inexperienced travelers, and a shift in cultural attitudes toward speed and efficiency are fueling this trend.
“Crowded airports and the surge in travelers post-pandemic have created a pressure cooker environment,” explains Carla Bevins, who teaches business management at Carnegie Mellon University. “Many of us are rushing to catch flights, juggle tight schedules, and make it through security lines quickly.”
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.
How to avoid slow travelers
Believe it or not, there are ways to avoid a potential confrontation with a slow traveler.
First, avoid peak times, whether you’re flying somewhere or visiting a popular attraction.
“Long lines are part of the experience,” warns Charlie Neville, a marketing director at Jayway Travel. “I recommend planning your visit during off-peak hours or opting for skip-the-line tickets when available.” You can easily find out the slow periods through an online search. If you plan your visit around them, the slowpokes won’t bother you as much.
Also, go out of your way to avoid lines. That’s what Gabriella Ribeiro, a travel advisor from Wayne, N.J., does whenever she travels.
“I have a routine,” she explains. “I 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’re there instead of managing an escalator or waiting for an elevator.”
There are workarounds for every place you’re 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’re all going to the same place).
And the group of travelers clogging the moving walkway? Don’t use it. You’ll be grateful for the exercise when you have to spend the next 10 hours sitting on a plane.
What to avoid when you see a slow traveler
When you see someone slow, it’s easy to make a mistake, say experts. Here are the most common ones that you can avoid.
Pushing them aside. That’s always a bad idea, says Silvia Lupone, a travel advisor. “It more often than not causes a further delay because people feel stressed or nervous.” Plus, it’s rude.
Shouting at them. Screaming “outta my way” can be counterproductive. “It’s important to stay calm and remember that frustration won’t change their behavior,” says travel advisor Nicole Cueto. Instead, a polite but firm, “Excuse me, I need to get by,” can often resolve the issue.
Telling them to hurry up. There’s usually a reason someone is moving slowly, and believe me, it’s probably not what you think. “Trying to rush or express annoyance rarely helps, and it can make the delay feel even worse. Besides, travel isn’t always about speed; it’s about the journey, quirks and all,” says travel expert Paul Fournier.
Confessions of a slow traveler
I’ve been part of the problem. A few years ago, I broke my pelvis and three ribs in a serious ski accident. Even after I graduated from my crutches, I still moved like an old man.
I can confirm that I was not the guy in front of Kazarian, the retired pharmacist, but it could have been someone like me — moving slowly and deliberately because of a hidden disability.
Eventually, I healed and my pace gradually quickened. But I’ll 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.
We live in a time when that kindness has been replaced by a me-first attitude. We may have lost the last shreds of politeness and decency in the previous election, and I fear that slower travelers will be the casualties. It’s up to us all to ensure that doesn’t happen.
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.