It’s prime time for travel, much of which involves flying. As a family of frequent fliers, this year wasn’t my first time drudging through an airport to catch a flight out of town.
Millions, if not billions, travel via airports every year, and yet each time I have visited the airport I experience déjà vu in the people I encounter. This trip, I’ve narrowed it down to 16 archetypes of airport travelers you would likely see in an airport.
1. The mom with her kids on leashes
Have fun at Disney World!
2. Preteens lying on the ground by the gate
We understand you need to charge your phone, but please don’t fall asleep on my leg. I don’t enjoy cuddling with strangers and there was a seat 10 feet away.
3. The cute guy your mom nudges you about
It’s particularly tragic because you know you’ll be on opposite sides of the country in three hours.
4. The Sports Team
So you can bring a field hockey stick onto a plane but no toothpaste?
5. That one girl from a j-crew magazine
The fedora, striped skinny jeans, strappy heels, and button down shirt look isn’t as adorable in the Caribbean’s humidity.
6. That one girl dressed super bohemian
She looks cute and her J.C Hammer pants with elephants are basically sweatpants. But instead of
7.The multi-generation family
Who plans on ditching who first?
8. The school trip
Teachers deserve so much more than they are given.
9. The college student alone with headphones in
How do they board without hearing or looking up from their Instagrams? Sorcery.
10. The bedazzled t-shirts so you know what the trip is for
Gotta keep the birthday-gal entourage together. Bedazzled “bride” tank tops have probably prevented more affairs than counseling ever has.
11. Clueless people on their phones walking into crowds of people
Don’t blame me when my rolling suitcase hits your foot and flips over.
12. The Cat in the Bag
How that duo gets through security intrigues me.
13. The fighting kids
Please don’t sit in front of me, please don’t sit in front of me, please don’t sit in front of me…
14. The twenty-something and her mom
This is always super sweet to see.
15. The lone middle aged man in cargo pants
He’s not quite dressed for a business trip, but his bag is too small for a business trip. You know what’s happening…
16. The dad who rushed his three teenage girls out the house at 6 a.m. and now have two hours of downtime in the airport
And at 6 a.m., he spent an extra 15 minutes muttering about how the luggage was packed wrong and now they were going to miss the flight because of the security line and traffic.