It may be hard for a person of the 21st century to imagine just how much aeroplanes have revolutionised air travel.

About a century ago, a Malaysian planning a visit to the UK would have taken about a month to reach London by ship whereas now, anybody can fly to London in about 14 hours.

But while aeroplanes have made the world a smaller place, it is no secret that like every other mode of transport, planes sometimes play host to the most annoying of passengers to ever grace the skies.

Here is the list of the six most irritating kinds of passengers you may feel like pushing off the plane mid-flight:

1. The seat kicker

Ah, yes! The pest that tormented you in the cinema and ruined movie night also happens to have signed up for a frequent flyer programme.

With limited legroom on a plane, it’s no surprise that some opt for first or business class where they can stretch out comfortably during a flight.

But for the cheapskates who want the same without spending an extra penny, they have no qualms slamming their feet into the back of your seat repeatedly.

For the unlucky passenger in front, they have to brace themselves for sudden jolts throughout the flight, knowing full well it has nothing to do with turbulence but a tardy lout behind.

2. The seat recliner

Already annoyed that the imbecile behind thinks your seat is a football?

Then perhaps you will welcome the diversion of having the seat in front of you reclining all the way down into your torso.

Technically, aeroplane seats are meant to be able to lean back to allow passengers a more comfortable sleeping experience.

However, by design, the space between each seat is limited and fully reclining a seat without badly affecting the passenger at the back is simply not possible.

So, unless you can tell for sure that there is no one sitting behind you, recline your seat at a bare minimum.

3. Crying babies and noisy kids

Among the most common of air travel nightmares are wailing babies and screaming toddlers.

In such a confined space, their screams are amplified throughout the cabin, leaving you scrambling for earmuffs.

Admittedly, flying is a scary experience for the young, what with the loud noises outside and the terrifying mental image of hovering high above the ground.

But parents also bear some responsibility in keeping their children in order, especially when it’s a toddler running up and down the aisle screaming his head off.

For fellow air-travellers though, it is incredibly hard to not lose their cool at the high-pitched decibels bouncing about the cabin.

4. The overhead compartment hogger

Many savvy globe-trotting tourists choose to carry on rather than check in their baggage.

It saves considerable costs and there’s no time wasted at the baggage carousel.

However, the space in overhead compartments is limited, and when a single passenger decides they have exclusive rights to the entire space, tempers will flare.

If you happen to have many bags with you, consider placing them at your feet rather than inconveniencing others sharing the compartment with you.

5. The unwashed stinker

One of the worst experiences is being stuck in an elevator with someone who clearly has not washed.

Now, take that experience and multiply many times over to understand how bad it can get, stuck on a 10-hour flight with that same smelly person.

Particularly putrid odours can leave you gagging for a bit and on an aeroplane, you don’t always have the choice to change seats mid-air.

Some airline crews actually provide deodorant for instances like this, but being told that you are smelly tends to elicit pretty hostile responses.

Where are shower facilities when you need them?

6. The audio insensitive

For most passengers on long-haul flights, sleep is a must to avoid jet lag.

The problem is that some people, who may not be as sleep-deprived as others, will decide that now’s the best time to tell you their life story.

As you try to close your eyes and shut yourself off from the noise of the engines outside and the wind beating against the hull of the plane, you will also have to deal with the yammering of the imbecile next to you talking about how they got third prize in a school essay competition.

Even worse, is when they whip out their mobile phones to watch a funny video…at full volume.

God save you once they finally fall asleep, but their snores start shaking the entire plane.

Turbulence would seem like a dream at this point.