Indian man criticises fellow travellers' behaviour at airport lounge, shares pics

An Indian man triggered a heated online debate about public etiquette after sharing pictures from an airport lounge showing a traveller resting his feet on a table and children repeatedly running around the workspace area, allegedly disturbing fellow travellers.

Vivek Shukla shared the pictures on X, criticising what he described as poor behaviour by some passengers inside the lounge.

The pictures showed a man seated comfortably in the lounge with both his feet propped up on a table in front of him while other travellers sat nearby. According to Shukla, lounge staff had allegedly requested him multiple times to remove his feet from the table, but he refused to comply.

Alongside the image, Shukla also shared photos of children moving in and out of a designated work area inside the lounge. He claimed the repeated movement and noise had been bothering passengers trying to work or relax in the quiet space.

“We Indians are the worst travellers,” he wrote in the caption, adding that the passenger seemed to feel “entitled” despite being asked to behave appropriately.

He further claimed that the children continuously entering and exiting the workroom were irritating other passengers, but their guardians “couldn’t be bothered.”

Take a look at the post here:

The post gained traction online, reigniting conversations around civic sense, travel etiquette, and behaviour in shared public spaces.

Many social media users agreed with Shukla’s frustration, particularly over the passenger placing his feet on the table. Several commenters criticised what they described as a growing tendency among travellers to treat public spaces casually without considering hygiene or the comfort of others.

Some users also pointed out that loud conversations, careless behaviour, and lack of etiquette in airports and flights often contribute to negative stereotypes about Indian travellers abroad. A few commenters even suggested stricter rules or penalties for passengers who repeatedly ignore staff instructions in lounges and other shared spaces.

At the same time, reactions to the children roaming around the lounge were far more divided.

While some users agreed that parents should ensure children do not disturb quiet workspaces, others argued that expecting children to sit still for long hours at airports was unrealistic. Several commenters defended the kids, saying airports can be tiring and boring for children, making movement and play inevitable while waiting for flights.

Others felt the situation emphasised a larger issue of balancing public courtesy with practical realities in crowded travel environments, especially in premium spaces like airport lounges where passengers often have very different expectations of comfort and behaviour.