How does gender factor in? It turns out that both men and women are equally prone to irritability during air travel. Exactly half of male and female travelers report noticing a behavior they perceived as “extremely annoying.” However, men and women feel differently about various behaviors.
For instance, women report being much more affected by strong perfume than men. They’re also more bothered by what might be perceived as selfish or thoughtless behavior: phone and computer users who monopolize power outlets, brusque flight attendants, fellow travelers who leave luggage on airport seating, and passengers who bring smelly food on the plane.
Men seem to be more disgusted by certain smells, including body odor and sock feet on airplanes. Male passengers also have less patience for people who stand still on the moving sidewalk, flight attendants who crack corny jokes, children behaving badly, and travelers who play music or games loudly.