You're the Most Annoying Traveler If You Do This, Survey Says

Running late makes you the worst type of travel companion, according to a new HotelTonight survey. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they're most annoyed by people who are always running late.

Other annoying travel traits: not planning anything, overpacking, and stuffing your excess baggage into someone else's suitcase because you brought too much.

The hotel-booking site surveyed 1,500 users about holiday travel pain points. With Christmas around the corner and record numbers of Americans traveling, everyone should gear up for crowds and pack extra patience.

And for everyone's sake, don't be late.

Airport Arrival Times

Despite advice to buffer plenty of time at the airport during holidays, most travelers plan to arrive one to two hours before their flight.

Some people are really pushing it. Seventeen percent said they'll show up 30 minutes before boarding to spend "the least amount of time in the airport."

Thirty minutes before boarding during the holidays is a bold move.

Ron Sandel, HotelTonight's general manager, says he's one of those travelers but doesn't recommend it. "While I wouldn't recommend cutting it so close during the holidays, the findings show that travelers are planning to make the roughest part of travel as smooth as possible."

Twenty-five percent of respondents have TSA PreCheck or CLEAR, which helps. But arriving 30 minutes before boarding during holiday weeks is still risky.

Sandel recommends checking into flights via mobile apps, booking flights on non-peak days, and using smaller, less congested airports.

Top Worries

Forty-four percent of travelers said flight delays are their biggest concern, followed by severe weather disruptions.

As of Tuesday, Thanksgiving flight delays and cancellations were low. But everyone who's been stuck on a tarmac during the holidays keeps worrying anyway.

Last-Minute Bookings

One-third of travelers are waiting until the last minute to score deals. Sixty-two percent are traveling on non-peak days to save money.

"Put another way, two-thirds of travelers are spending too much," Sandel said. "Last Thanksgiving, our guests saved nearly 10% by booking the same day vs. the day before. It's a common misconception that hotels are completely booked as we approach major holidays."

Booking last-minute might actually save you money. Just don't be late getting to the airport after you book.

Hotels Over Family

Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents prefer staying in a hotel rather than with family for the holidays.

The top reason? Privacy, cited by 52% of travelers. Twenty-six percent want to avoid family tensions.

Most people would rather pay for a hotel room than stay with relatives for free. That tells you something about holiday family dynamics.

Privacy means not sharing a bathroom with six people. Not sleeping on a pull-out couch. Not hearing your aunt's opinions about your life choices over breakfast.

Worth the hotel cost, apparently.

The Worst Behaviors

Running late topped the list at 51%. But the other behaviors are also annoying:

• Not planning anything. Someone has to figure out where you're eating, what you're doing, how you're getting there. When nobody plans, everyone stands around asking "what do you want to do?" until someone caves and makes all the decisions.

• Overpacking. Three suitcases for a weekend trip. Taking up all the trunk space. Making everyone wait while you decide which of your seven pairs of shoes to wear.

• Using someone else's luggage space. Your bag is over the weight limit, so can you just stick a few things in someone else's suitcase? No. Pack better.

But being late is the worst. This makes everyone wait and creates stress about missing flights or reservations. Mostly, it shows you don't respect other people's time.

If you're always 20 minutes behind schedule while traveling, you're the problem. Everyone's annoyed. They're just too polite to say it.

The Reality

Record numbers of Americans are traveling for holidays this year. Most will get to the airport one to two hours early, though 17% are gambling with 30 minutes before boarding.

Flight delays worry people most. Last-minute bookings can save money. And most travelers would rather pay for hotel privacy than stay with family for free.

But the most annoying thing you can do? Be late. Don't make everyone wait. Plan ahead. Show up on time.

The holidays are stressful enough without being the person everyone's waiting on. If that's you, fix it. Your travel companions will thank you.

Or at least they'll stop silently resenting you every time you show up 15 minutes after the agreed meeting time saying "sorry, I couldn't find my charger." Nobody believes the charger excuse anymore. We all know you just didn't leave on time.

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