It’s official: Australian air travellers’ No.1 midair annoyance is having the back of their seat kicked by another passenger.

Seat-kickers came in at the top of a list of grievances in research published by comparison site iSelect, nominated by 42 per cent of those surveyed.

In results that showed that in-flight manners are a big issue, in terms of top peeves, it was followed by fellow passengers making calls or playing music or videos without headphones (34 per cent) and being confronted with another traveller’s feet on the window or armrest next to you (34 per cent).

Sophie Ryan, iSelect spokesperson, said the findings revealed that while Aussies were keen travellers, their fellow passengers were often the source of the biggest headaches – more annoying even that a delayed flight or lost luggage.

“Aussies love to travel, but it seems what happens once we’re in the air can make or break the experience,” she said.

“It’s a timely reminder that a bit of basic etiquette goes a long way when we’re all sharing a confined space for hours at a time.”

Also featuring on the iSelect list were people who block travelators instead of walking, people who take off their shoes and socks on flights, and pets in cabins.

Ryan said the responses were a reminder that travel had its difficult moments.

“Whether it’s a seat-kicker or a delayed connection, travel doesn’t always go to plan. Comparing travel insurance policies before you fly means you could be covered for the things that really matter,” she said.

The iSelect data came just days after a similar survey of American travellers also highlight in-flight behaviour as a top concern.

Bookings platform HotelTonight asked just under 500 of its users what annoyed them most about travel – with armrest hogs taking out the top spot (40 per cent).

The American survey was rounded out with:

• Impatient passengers – 39 per cent of HotelTonight’s respondents said they were annoyed by people who stood up in the aircraft aisle before it was their turn to leave the plane
• Chatty seatmates annoyed 27 per cent of respondents
• Trying to board before your boarding group is called (25 per cent)
• Asking to switch seats (20 per cent)

“We also found more than a quarter of travellers find overly chatty seatmates frustrating,” HotelTonight business lead Aleem Ahmed told USA Today.

“It’s always OK to politely let someone know you’d like to rest, but I’d also encourage travellers to stay open to conversation. Sometimes the best travel stories come from the people you meet along the way. Plus, they may even have recommendations for places to eat or where to stay.”

Armrest etiquette, meanwhile, remains controversial. A 2023 survey by travel platform Kayak found that 57 per cent of respondents did not believe the middle passenger had the right to both armrests, as a kind of compensation for the poorer seat.