‘I always start the holiday being slightly pissed off,’ Amelia Jackson, 26, says. ‘Luckily the airport pint comes shortly after.’
After all, as she points out, a good holiday vibe doesn’t start on the beach, it starts in line for security at the airport.
Although many Brits take flight etiquette very seriously and get apprehensive about sticking to luggage weight limits or adhering to recent boarding pass changes, there are some very irritating members of airport society, who simply refuse to consider fellow passengers:
The Problem of Belt Bumping
Belt bumping refers to a frustratingly common habit where people refuse to properly put away their security tray once they’ve collected their belongings from the conveyor belt.
This could mean leaving said tray on one of the designated unloading tables or even abandoning it altogether in the middle of the belt — but either way, bumping the responsibility to do the right thing and return their receptacle.
However, not only could this devil-may-care behaviour be deemed rude, but it can also end up being a health risk.
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While common sense – and numerous signs dotted around the security area – should dictate against this, it seems many people are either unaware or ignorant of the pre-departures protocol.
Dodging these civic responsibilities has likely been exacerbated by recent studies that’ve pointed out how truly germ-infested airport security trays are.
In 2016, for example, scientists from the University of Nottingham and the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare picked up traces of rhinovirus, the source of the common cold, off these trays.
Yucky as they might be, they’re not going anywhere anytime soon – although it does seem as though our manners left us years ago.
The worst part is, people who engage in belt bumping are almost impossible to identify in the world. They could be infiltrating your family, close friends group, or even be sat across from you on the Tube right this second — no-one is safe.
How Do People Feel About Belt Bumping?
Unsurprisingly, we aren’t the only ones to have noticed this maddening trend.
Fleurine Tideman, 29, has seen her fair share of belt bumpers over the years, telling: ‘It’s the equivalent to people who don’t put away their shopping trolley. It’s one of the societal rules that aren’t about legality, so it shows you who people are.’
Blaise Kelly, 26, adds: ‘It’s horrible etiquette and disrespectful to the queue and people working at the airport. It’s also a request from the staff, so you’re basically choosing to ignore them.’
Another frequent traveller, Charlotte Howard, 26, finds belt bumpers so maddening that she’s begun taking matters into her own hands.
‘I’ve started making a point to passive-aggressively put everyone’s trays back for them, giving a big smile to the security workers as I go,’ she tells.
On TikTok, @currentdowns recently posted about doing the same, captioning their video: ‘Always having to start a shift at security because other people don’t clean up after themselves.’
‘We actually love people like you – I’d always make their life easier,’ a former airport security worker named Kav wrote in the comments. ‘Thank you!’
Others shared their annoyance at belt bumpers, including Nicole who replied, ‘Its like it’s everybody’s first day on earth,’ and Emily who added: ‘Nothing bothers me more than people leaving the trays to pile up.’
Which Kind of Traveller Is Your Ultimate Pet Peeve?
- Bulge blockers – making packed trains an even more cramped nightmare
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It’s a major pet peeve for Amelia Jackson, 26. In fact, she goes as far as to say that anyone who does it is a ‘massive red flag.’
Amelia continues: ‘What’s even worse is when people don’t move their tray off the conveyor belt to the unloading station, and just clog things up so people can’t reach their stuff.’
Is Belt Bumping Actually Bad Etiquette?
Laura Windsor, dubbed by the public as the Queen of Etiquette, offered a different perspective, arguing that while it might be annoying, belt bumping doesn’t necessarily qualify as ‘bad etiquette’.
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Laura tells: ‘It is common courtesy to return your tray to the end of the belt. But we also have to be realistic.
‘Many passengers are travelling with young children, elderly relatives, or have mobility issues, and they can’t reasonably be expected to manage everything at once.’
According to the expert, for those who are able to do so, it can be considerate to grab a few trays if they’re piling up and security staff are busy, as ‘this kind of courtesy makes the process smoother for everyone.’
However, as far as Laura is concerned, ‘it isn’t compulsory, and it isn’t the passenger’s responsibility.’
‘Airport security staff should be aware of what’s happening and step in when needed,’ she adds. ‘Helping out is a courtesy, not an obligation.’
A version of this article was first published in December 2025.
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