The stars of Netflix’s newest rom-com adaptation aren’t just playing travel-savvy characters—they’re sharing their genuine airport frustrations and vacation philosophies as the film brings Emily Henry’s beloved novel to life.
While their characters navigate a friends-to-lovers journey in People We Meet on Vacation, actors Emily Bader and Tom Blyth have strong opinions about what makes for perfect—and perfectly annoying—travel experiences in real life. The stars opened up about their personal vacation pet peeves in an exclusive interview, revealing that one particular airport habit has Blyth ready to call security.
The Airport Offense That Should Be ‘Criminal’
Tom Blyth didn’t hold back when discussing his biggest travel irritation. “It’s the trays in the airport security. If people take their bags and their shoes and their clothes and they don’t take the tray and put it in the pile of trays—I think that is criminal,” the actor stated emphatically.
Blyth elaborated on why this common traveler behavior warrants such strong condemnation: “It should be a criminal offense, because you’re holding up everyone, and then someone else has to get all the trays for you. My hot take is that people should be arrested, and not allowed to go through the airport until they learn how to pick up a tray and put it down.” This real-world frustration contrasts sharply with his character Alex’s more particular grievances in the film.
Bader’s Vacation Philosophy: Less Planning, More Flow
Emily Bader approaches travel from a different angle, focusing on the stress that comes from over-scheduling. “I don’t like to over-plan a trip. I think it ends up just being more stressful, and when you try to cram a million things… I feel like that’s when you see the people on vacation that look so unhappy,” Bader explained.
Her character Poppy might have strong opinions about exercise, but Bader’s real-life travel style is more relaxed. “I just like to go with the flow,” she said, acknowledging that while she doesn’t share Poppy’s hatred of running, she strongly believes in avoiding itinerary overload.
From Page to Screen: Bringing Emily Henry’s World to Life
People We Meet on Vacation marks the first of Emily Henry’s bestselling novels to be adapted for the screen, with several others already in development. The film follows longtime friends Poppy (Bader) and Alex (Blyth) who reunite for one last vacation after a fateful trip drove them apart years earlier.
The project represents a conscious career shift for both actors. Blyth, coming off his role as young Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, specifically sought a lighter project. “I was just eager to do something light and fun, and a bit sexy,” he admitted. “I’ve been doing a lot of serious films back-to-back. So, I was ready for something a bit more light.”
For Bader, the film offered her first opportunity to explore full-fledged comedy. “It was really fun to just fall on my face a lot with this character,” she shared. “I think that was the only way I knew how to even get in. I was like, ‘I just have to make some very silly decisions, and follow my gut.’ And that’s a very fun way to film a movie. I had a great time.”
Where Fiction and Reality Diverge
While their characters have very specific dislikes—Alex hates saxophones and sandals, Poppy despises running—the actors don’t necessarily share these pet peeves. “I love saxophones,” Blyth confessed. “I love a bit of jazz, so I can’t relate to that at all. There were so many things that he hates. He hates sandals and flip-flops, and I’m like, ‘I don’t care. You can wear flip-flops if you want.'”
The film’s supporting cast includes Sarah Catherine Hook, Lukas Gage, Lucien Laviscount, and Jameela Jamil, creating an ensemble that brings Henry’s vibrant character world to life. Directed by Brett Haley, the adaptation aims to capture the same chemistry that made the novel a BookTok favorite.
Why This Rom-Com Moment Matters
The arrival of People We Meet on Vacation comes during a renaissance for romantic comedies on streaming platforms. As the first of Henry’s novels to reach screens, its success could pave the way for adaptations of her other bestsellers like Beach Read, Book Lovers, and Happy Place.
For audiences, the film represents more than just another romance—it’s about the specific chemistry between two people who know each other better than anyone, and the vacation moments that can either break or make a relationship. The actors’ real-life travel philosophies add an extra layer of authenticity to their performances, suggesting that sometimes, the best fictional relationships are grounded in genuine human experiences.
People We Meet on Vacation premieres on Netflix on January 9, offering viewers both a escape and perhaps some inspiration for their next getaway—along with a reminder to always return those airport security trays.
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