From "gate lice" who crowd the boarding line before their group is called to travelers who leave a mess in the hotel room, some travel behaviors can be a turn-off. For those who view travel as the ultimate compatibility test, poor etiquette can make or break a relationship.
A whopping 94% of U.S. travelers said they have a pet peeve when it comes to flying, according to Booking.com's recent Turbulence Test research, which surveyed over 29,000 respondents across 33 countries between July and August 2025.
These annoyances could potentially lead to a breakup, with 69% of respondents saying they'd go on a trip with someone to test their compatibility. Nearly one-third of respondents said they've considered ending a friendship or relationship because
of what happened on a trip.
"Travel can help reveal aspects of what we desire from and how we function in relationships," relationship expert Dr. Jess Carbino said in a Booking.com news release. "It forces you to confront who you actually are, what you value, and whether the people you're with align with that. It's like relationship acceleration – months of everyday tension show up in days."
Overall, nearly 58% of travelers would hesitate to travel again with someone who expects everyone else to pay, while 42% get "annoyed by surprise expenses or upgrades" added without asking. And finally, being rude to airport employees annoys 53% of travelers.
The survey also found that age can influence what gives someone the ick:
- Fifty-three percent of Baby Boomers said people who blast music or are late are the worst to travel with.
- For almost a quarter of Millennials, their biggest travel nightmare is a social butterfly who won't stop chatting with everyone they meet.
- For 12% of Gen Z, it’s people who do things just to post about them on social media.
Here are the biggest travel icks, according to Booking.com.
Travel red flag? Constant negativity
Travel can bring unexpected stresses like delays and disruptions, but keeping a positive attitude can make a difference when things go wrong.
Constant negativity was considered the biggest red flag in the survey, cited by 23% of respondents.
Knowing your surroundings matters
Other in-flight pet peeves that ranked high in the survey include playing videos on the plane without headphones and bringing strong-smelling food onboard.
One habit that gets a pass is going barefoot on the plane, with 73% of respondents saying they don't mind if their travel buddy takes their shoes off during the flight.
Travelers also care about their companion’s hygiene. Nearly half said it's a turn-off if their travel buddy won't check the mattress for bed bugs, while 39% said someone who leaves their hotel room or bathroom a mess also leaves a bad impression.
The same goes for road trips. Half of travelers said they wouldn't like someone who leaves trash in the car.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The No. 1 travel habit that gives Americans the biggest ick
