An American Airlines passenger was blocked from flying from Los Angeles to Sydney after he attempted to board before it was his turn and bring too many carry-on bags onto the aircraft. Fellow travelers filmed this escalate.
As flight 73 was boarding from the Tom Bradley terminal at LAX, the passenger clad in shorts and sandals was blocked before reaching the jetbridge door. Things get heated, and an employee tries to calm him – while warning that if he doesn’t return to the gate area he isn’t going to fly to Australia. The man tries to make it past several employees, gets caught in the boarding gats, and loses one of his sandals.
Men wearing sandals when they fly is never a good idea, for many reasons! He eventually slammed his bags against the goarding gate. And at that point it was wise to ensure he didn’t make it onto the aircraft – if only because of the risk that the plane would have to divert somewhere over the Pacific Ocean if things got heated again.
American Airlines Gate, Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX
When you’re told “You’re Going To Get Arrested!” the best thing to do is stop. Even if you think you’re somehow in the right, trying to bring two full-sized carry-ons onto the plane (something that hasn’t been allowed in decades).
American Airlines Flies The Boeing 777-300ER From Los Angeles To Sydney
Behavior like this never ends in anything other than police being called. Trying to sneak past airline staff to board a plane never actually results in being able to fly, unless you’re Marilyn Hartman.
(HT: Live and Let’s Fly)
Gee. What’s this world coming to when petulantly slamming luggage against something doesn’t get you what you want?
Sad part of 2025 is that people immediately pull out their phones and start recording. Our society is so sick and narcissistic. Anyone that records others should be shot on sight. Just sit down and mind your own business.
@Retired Degenerate Gambler
Equally sad is you thinking that summary execution is an appropriate response.
Based upon his demeanor and movements it seems like he may have had a few too many pre-departure drinks.
The standard allowance for First Class and Business Class on some airlines (I checked Asiana and EVA) is two carry-ons and one personal item. This passenger should have followed the rules for AA. I would have had one hard side carry-on and a larger backpack that still fit within the generous size rules of American Airlines for a personal item. I would have had a jacket with zippered pockets and a waist bag for phones, credit cards, passport, money, and other necessary things. The small backpack he had would go in one of the other bags and items moved around so everything fit. I would have waited until my group was called to board. I would probably flown an Asian airline because of the narrow seats in coach on the AA B773 although the nonstop service is attractive.
Once he started hitting property have police called, cuff, arrest, haul off to jail. Trespassed from LAX and put on AA No Fly List. He can think about his actions while he’s on a very slow boat to Sydney.
Incidents like this are not great. I wish our fellow passengers respected rules and agents, alike. And instead of escalating, to attempt to reach understandings, even if it’s not what we wish. There’s often a better way. And if too much alcohol was involved, then drink responsibly, or not at all. Especially for those traveling to/from Australia, you really need to ‘fly’ (you usually can’t drive, and the boats take months).
@CHRIS — Thank you for saying what you said about @Retired Gambler’s absurd and hyperbolic response. We need to ‘turn the temperature down,’ not escalate, even rhetorically.
@George N Romey — Getting authorities involved may be the correct procedure; however, automatically ‘haul off to jail,’ may not be necessary. ‘Trespass’ is not valid here. ‘No Fly List’ maybe for that particular airline, but there should be some sort of ability to ‘appeal.’
I’m one who detests the morons who pull out their phones to record everything. Have you gone to a concert lately. They travel in herds.
@1990 If you commit a crime at an airport you can and will be trespassed from that airport. And yes hauled off to jail. He’s committing vandalization against private property. I guess if he started beating the hell out of your car with a hammer you’d want what? Give him a time out and a sippy cup like a toddler?
I see people getting arrested and trespassed from airports all the time on You Tube videos.
Oh no!
But who is going to present his important PowerPoint about quarterly sales now!!
Quality content Gare Bear
Putting the American in American Airlines.
“Men wearing sandals when they fly is never a good idea”
Wrong. There’s nothing bad about wearing sandals Gary when you fly under the right circumstances. If I’m bouncing around the South Pacific, I leave my shoes at home. Why bring out shoes when you’re never going to use them for the duration of your stay once you land ? Now, I would never wear open heel sandals or flip flops on a plane and I always fly with socks on when I am wearing my Tevas but there’s absolutely no reason for me to wear shoes on the plane when I’m not going to be using them on the ground.
white dude for kamala behavior right there.
100% chance this guy was American
“Men wearing sandals when they fly is never a good idea, for many reasons!”
On the beach or in a public shower. No where else. There are few things worse than seeing a man’s feet.
What happen to try and help instead of pulling out a phone?.
Hats off to the gate agents and other employees involved in handling this — very professional and smooth (based on the video).
@Walter Barry
Your can’t spare the brain space to be giving Kamala real estate. Besides, you KNOW this guy is one of yours — you can tell by the toddler behavior and sense of entitlement.
The Usual suspects!
@ Retired Gambler, or maybe recording people when they behave badly and knowing many people will do that might help detract people from misbehaving!!
@Walter Barry – Hmmm, all I see is petulant MAGAt behavior on display.
Don’t need all the racism and xenophobia in the comments.
The man is drunk. I have never understood the reasoning for having bars in an airport. Never made sense to me when so many people can’t control themselves. Cannot tell ya how many people I have sat next to that smelled like a brewery, not to mention the snoring. At least if they drink on the plane they can be monitored for intake.
While I understand people’s annoyance with bystanders whipping out their phones to record an incident, it’s now part of the culture that we can’t hope to change anytime soon. Posting videos taken by bystanders on websites like this only serves to encourage them (seeking Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame). But how would these websites get the “click throughs” they need to survive financially? The only silver lining is when there is a true criminal or violet incident where the ad hoc video documentation becomes “evidence.” Remember Dr. Dao on United in 2017? Bet he was thankful someone documented his horrible treatment.
First, I think sandals and shorts are inappropriate attire for most public places including airplanes. Plus, an idiot in sandals is a risk to himself and others during evacuation. Go down an airplane evacuation slide in shorts? Second, I’ve never filmed others in public. However, I would. If my help is not needed, and I don’t exacerbate the situation, I would film. I’m not looking to post; I’m interested in justice. In this case, I’d make the video available to AA in case the CCTV isn’t as revealing as needed. Having video can protect the innocent party in a they said/they said case. Otherwise filming should be limited to Black Mirror, White Bear situations.
“Men wearing sandals when they fly is never a good idea, for many reasons!”
This post was hard to read. For one, you seem to be very fixated on his clothing. Two, your post has a few sentence fragments; as if you were going to finish that sentence but got distracted by a squirrel. Reads more like a Reddit post.
You may have seen the pic of people at the Newark airport sitting, waiting, their carry-on luggage in front of them. Steamer trunks! Guaranteed, mid-flight they want something from it, need to put it on a seat to open. An aisle seat …” … could you please stand for a minute …”
As a pilot instructor for a Part 121 carrier, I see people wearing shorts, sandals, flip-flops, pajamas and the like. These are the folks that will be severely injured or killed in an emergency relating to the flying.. “While flying isn’t inherently dangerous, it IS terribly unforgiving of carelessness and neglect.” The emergency slides will “burn” the skin due to the nature of how they are made and how robust they must be. Thousands of gallons of jet fuel transported in the wings. It is a recipe for disaster if proper precautions are not followed. Ignorance can be fixed. Stupid is forever.
The only people that have an issue with a complete stranger using their phone for ANY purpose, whether that be filming, calling the police, or using Google translate to call the guy a dumbass, are either people that should probably be filmed themselves, or Karens. There is significant overlap between those two groups.
It really depends on the airline you are flying, and class. For instance, on LH, if you are flying biz within Europe:
Included in Business Class
2x Carry-on baggage
Up to 8 kg and max. 55 x 40 x 23 cm (height x width x depth)
Detailed information
1x Personal item
Dimensions up to 40 x 30 x 10 cm
(height x width x depth)
Detailed information
Flying in sandals is a terrible idea. Not only is it disgusting to the passengers around you, but it is a real problem if the airplane makes a landing other than wheels down on the runway. Now you have to evacuate from a broken airplane onto the ground, which could be littered with sharp disease, spilled fuel, or who knows what else. When we fly we always wear sturdy shoes that not only hide our less than attractive feet but which also make evacuation a whole lot safer.
“Sharp DEBRIS”, already. Stupid autocorrect.