I know I've told people multiple times not to go to meet Ed at hotels or airports. I wasn't doing that because I don't want fans to meet him. I actually want everyone to have the chance to meet him, that's just not the place you should be going. Especially now that Ed has actually asked fans not to come.
After being on a long flight, the last thing he wants to do is have to take photos or meet people. He's tired, and not feeling up to it. But if you stop him of course he doesn't say no because he knows how fans would remember the time he was a dick to them for the rest of their lives, so he takes a couple minutes out of his time to be nice. He's literally one of the nicest dudes I've met, but after long flights you can be in a crabby mood from being crammed in a seat for hours and hours and not sleeping.
Trust me, I've had a band (mainly the singer) be absolutely rude to me (and others) - twice and that was at shows when they were meeting fans. I thought the first time was just a bad day (everyone has those), second time I gave up on the whole band. I don't listen to them, and when I hear them on the radio I turn the station. I just can't support them because I know first hand they don't treat their fans the best.
Hotels are a home away from home, and it's the one place he get's to rest for the most part. I say most part because even then sometimes he's got phone interviews that he does while there.
If you want to meet Ed, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try to win radio contest. There's a lot of them. If you're so stuck on meeting him outside of those do it at places where he works. As he knows fans will be waiting, such as venues, and radio stations.
If you're saying "I NEVER WIN", Here's a tip... form a group for radio call in contests. These people don't even need to be living in the same state or even want to go. Give everyone in the group your info (name, number, address, email, DOB) and they can call in as you to win.