After a flight delay and missed connection stranded an American Airlines passenger in Palm Springs, the carrier put them up in a motel for the night – a drag queen motel.

Airlines Are Required To Put Passengers Up When They Strand Customers Overnight

In summer 2022, the Department of Transportation strong-armed airlines into covering hotels and meals during delays that are their fault. That includes mechanical delays or when they have a lack of crew, but not delays and cancellations due to weather or air traffic control.

Most major airlines already did this. But here’s the thing. They promise a room. They do not promise anything about the quality of that room.

You’re Often Better Off Booking – And Paying – For A Room Yourself

Seeing the poor shape, dirt and mold, bugs and unsafe conditions that some passengers have found themselves in after being given a free hotel night by an airline I’ve written that waiting in line and losing precious sleep time to get that free room can be a big travel mistake.

Consider booking something on your own and paying out of pocket, and if you book your tickets with a credit card that has trip delay coverage, submit a claim. While you may have to mitigate the insurer’s losses, you don’t have to accept a room that is unsafe or unsanitary.

But Maybe The Trixie Motel Is The Exception?

Since I often call out the poor quality of rooms airlines expect you to accept when they strand you, I need to share when an airline did something super interesting while providing a free hotel night to a stranded passenger.

Veteran television reporter for WXIA 11 in Atlanta, Cody Alcorn, reports American Airlines arranging a room for him for the night at the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs.

Even w/ delays & a missed connection, @AmericanAir team helped us find our which gave us an extra night in Palm Springs. Shout out to AA Agent Holly at Gate 12. We landed at @trixiemattel’s hotel. pic.twitter.com/lqnCfAPptQ

— Cody Alcorn (@CodyAlcorn) November 21, 2024

Trixie Motel is a reality show originally on Discovery+: that follows draq queen Brian Firkus who performs under the name Trixie Mattel as they and their partner David Silver acquire and renovate a dilapidated Palm Springs motel. The show’s second season, “Trixie Motel: Drag Me Home” premiered this past summer on MAX.

The motel’s aesthetics are based on her drag character and beauty brand Trixie Cosmetics. The property had been Ruby Montana’s Coral Sands Inn. After a $1.9 million acquisition and $500,000 in renovations, it’s now a bookable motel.

Credit: Trixie Motel

Reviews for the Trixie Motel paint a vivid picture of a… unique… and vibrant property with good service.

Guests rave about the motel’s themed rooms, such as “Atomic Bombshell” and “Malibu Barbara,” with an overall midcentury design and pink lighting. The heated pool is a favorite, and drag shows are a regular occurrence. Food though, like frozen pizza and nachos, is often criticized as overpriced and underwhelming and guests note peeling tiles and limescale on taps.

Fair warning, though, that the place is frequented by tourists and guests describe feeling like ‘zoo animals’ in their photos (despite house rules prohibiting it). Rates appear to run around $295 to $795 per night, so while American is likely receiving a discount it’s still a much pricier place than I normally see them put up displaced passengers. And most importantly, the passenger seemed thrilled!

Atomic Bombshell Room, Credit: Trixie Motel

Unusual Stays Do Happen To Airline Passengers

Air Canada has sent a man and a woman, who didn’t know each other, to a hotel to share a room. And in China, Hainan Airlines put passengers up in an S&M-themed hotel. But a reality show drag queen hotel? That seems like a first!