Jerks come in all shapes and sizes.

It’s impossible to avoid them.

The boors who make air travel even more unpleasant than it already is … adding to the existing horrors of crowded flights, screaming kids, limited overhead space and delays.

This jerk was a pain in the ass from the second he arrived at the gate. His first stop, the gate agent, off whom he tore a strip because the airline had advised him to arrive at the gate 45 minutes before boarding.

That was much too early, he told her. She gently informed him that as it was the holiday season, flights would be packed and security was going to get very busy.

He reappeared at pre-boarding time to board before the rest of us, even though he didn’t have an upgraded seat that included pre-boarding.

Wait. There’s more.

Instead of putting his two bags and two large mailing tubes in the overhead bin above his seat, he deposited his goods in overhead bins a few rows ahead, bins clearly reserved for customers who’d paid for roomier seating. He also stuffed articles into the bin assigned to my row. Not his own.

Then, he had the nerve to advise me that I’d need to be careful when I opened the bin when we landed or risk being hit by his articles.

He also had to be told twice to turn off his smartphone and bring his seat to the upright position.

I wish I could have punched this guy. Friendly skies indeed.