Here’s why air travel makes us so cranky — and what to do about it

By Milad Haghani

(CNN) — It’s peak travel season, airports are packed and emotions are running high. You’ve probably seen it or even been part of it: that tense moment when a passenger snaps at a flight attendant, or a near-meltdown over a seat reclining too far. Why does flying seem to bring out the worst in us?

Airplanes are, quite literally, a pressure cooker for emotions. For many, airports and airplanes are synonymous with anxiety, which often begins well before they step into the terminal.

These environments combine stress, discomfort and a loss of control, often leaving even the calmest travelers feeling on edge.

Planes also make inequalities bleedingly obvious. We’ve all experienced the envy of walking through first-class cabins to reach economy.

It’s easy to see why air rag