Criticizing the airlines has become the norm these days, and often with good reason (we’re all guilty, aren’t we?). Somewhere in between the military style seating and astronomical fees for just about anything, there are some good things out there.

This article did the investigative work for us, suggesting eight things already in practice or soon to be. There are a few increasing passenger conveniences, in-seat power sockets, easier upgrades, mood lighting on red-eye flights, checking your bags before you are at the airport, and redesigned seats as in Cathay Pacific’s new fleet. Some are simply overdue updates, axing the prehistoric radar systems for GPS and doing away with the paper ticket entirely. All steps in the right direction.

My favorite, probably based on the futuristic quality of it, are the driverless pods being introduced at London’s Heathrow. You hop in, type in your car’s destination, and let the pod zip you there at twenty five miles per hour.

O.K., we’ve all been there: the nightmare transatlantic flight with the bad food that makes it even worse. Brutal, right? This Travelocity online survey was conducted recently (the results can be found here) to finally let the cat out of the bag as to who the worst airline passengers really are. Their results? Smelly neighbors and crying babies (fair enough).

So let’s air out some of our own laundry. What are some of your annoyances at 38,000 feet? Personally, I’ll offer up three.

1) I’m a minimalist seat recliner simply for the fact that I don’t like it when I have a stranger’s head in my own lap.

2) Chatty Cathy: When I’m in the mood you’re alright, but usually I’ve got articles to write or movies to watch.

3) Seat kickers. Nothing says “have a good flight” like having a rugby match in the seat behind you.

Did I cover them all?