“Door ears” aside, flight passengers are now debating the latest annoyance to occur on a plane: “passing ears.”
Door ears grabbed headlines after American Airlines announced it was expanding new technology that beeps when it encounters the phenomenon at more than 100 airports.
The term “ears” refers to passengers who cut lines in the hope of getting on a flight early. “Passing ears,” on the other hand, indicate passengers pushing through others in an attempt to disembark before everyone else.
EVERYDAY FLIGHT PASSENGER BEHAVIOR THAT IS A RED FLAG TO TSA AND COULD HOLD YOU AT THE AIRPORT
On the “r/delta” Reddit forum, one flyer asked, “Who hates more? Door lice or aisle lice?”
The user shared that he was on a flight from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport to LaGuardia Airport and witnessed “passing ears” as soon as the plane landed.
One airline passenger on Reddit asked fellow users what’s worse, ears in the aisle or ears at the door, when it comes to dealing with fellow fliers. (iStock)
“Not only did the two people next to me decide to get up but [somehow] the guy from the window seat makes his way forward and is the first of all of us to get off the plane,” the user wrote.
Fox News Digital reached out to Delta for comment.
The user added that the passenger ended up in the toilet at the airport terminal.
MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS HEARD ON PLANES MAY NOT MEAN WHAT YOU THINK
Fellow fliers opened up the comments section to share their thoughts.
“Transient ears. Door ears don’t bother me because most people want to get to the trash can first,” one user posted.
The post on social media prompted users to ponder whether it’s worse to have “ears at the door” or “ears in the aisle” when traveling. (iStock)
Another commented: “The ears in the aisle don’t bother me as much because if they get in my row (I’m a window seater) I usually get more room to stretch out while I wait.”
“Heads in the aisle are exponentially worse imo. Who really cares who gets on the plane first, you all get on anyway. Heads in the aisle slow things down, hold people up and cause so much more headaches”, stated one.
User said: “Ears are ears.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“The fact that we have to choose between these two is ridiculous. Neither is the epitome of appropriate adult behavior,” commented one.
Adding: “Yes, of course there are exceptions. However, literally everyone does – watch on your next flights. They can’t all be exceptions.”
“Selfishness knows no bounds,” one person commented. (iStock)
Brandon Blewett, Based in Texas author of “How to Avoid Strangers on Airplanes,” told Fox News Digital that “passing ears” are also known as “eager exits.”
“[Aisle Lice] are those passengers who treat getting off the plane as an Olympic sport. As soon as the seat belt sign goes off, they catapult out of their seats, tossing their bags into the aisle like they’re looking for prime real estate,” Blewett told Fox News Digital.
For more lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle.
He added: “They recount their travails on the journey with a level of self-importance usually reserved for royalty, all the while patiently working their way through the ranks waiting passengers in a frantic desire to shave off a few precious seconds.”
“It seems to stem from the mistaken belief that being first in line somehow provides a magical pass to bypass everyone else who disembarks the plane in an orderly manner. Spoiler alert: It’s not,” Blewett said.
“[Aisle Lice] are those travelers who treat getting off the plane like an Olympic sport,” Blewett said. (iStock)
He said this is the travel habit he finds “most annoying” because it can disrupt the disembarkation sequence and cause delays.
Blewett said it can sometimes be understandable for those in a rush to have a short window to catch a connecting flight.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
He said that in those cases, flight staff should be warned and, often, the crew will politely ask passengers to remain seated so that others can exit first.
“Frankly, everyone would leave faster if we followed the unspoken rule of waiting our turn,” Blewett said.
