Category Archives for Passengers.
One simple way to solve conflicts in the sky and get what you want is just to find a Coasian solution: you each have an initial set of rights (like your seat assignment). Those rights can stand in the way of another passenger’s preferences. So find a (cash) bargain that makes everyone whole. It seems like this is catching on and becoming a trend.
An American Airlines passenger found that a chld took the aisle seat he says he paid extra for, and had words with the family over it – but a flight attendant seems to have come down on the family’s side.
He says a flight attendant told him the family was entitled to the seat, “She got on the plane before you” and told him “you are being the bad guy.” He says he was even threatened with ejection from the flight over it.
An Air France passenger flying from Paris to Washington Dulles switched seats to a new coach middle because her seat back entertainment screen wasn’t working. She’s black, and the passenger next to her was uncomfortable with her taking the seat beside him. Air France made her move because he was uncomfortable.
Is it possible to be too trashy to fly Spirit Airlines? Is it possible to wear shorts that are too short as a passenger departing from South Florida on Spirit Airlines? Who knew.
An American Airlines passenger on a delayed flight went on an epic rant demanding a phone charger, an alcohol shot (which he says he’s not even going to drink), and a $200 refund while threatening crew and boasting about his wealth.
A Delta Air Lines passenger stretched out in their seat in the most surprising and intrusive way possible.
Crittenden burst into expletives, approached the agent while the inbound aircraft was deplaning, and swung a punch, knocking him unconscious and causing head and shoulder contusions. The agent required follow‑up dental care.
A passenger on a JetBlue flight demanded to be allowed to cut in front of other passengers getting off, identifying herself as a lawyer. Was she going to get a judge to order everyone to wait for her?
A passenger boarded their American Airlines flight and found a child sitting in their seat. He paused, double checked the row, and is ready to let the child keep the seat-provided the parent asks politely.
The victim said he flagged flight attendants, he pressed the call button, and even got up to seek help. When he returned to his seat, he says, the man approached, forehead‑to‑forehead, then grabbed his neck and began to choke him.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
