Maybe SAFER is on to something. After a woman allegedly punched a flight attendant and lit up mid-flight, we didn't think in-air drunkenness could get any more outrageous. But meet Taylor Kircher!
The 21-year-old Drexel University student went wild on his British Airways flight from LHR to JFK, authorities say, after he downed an entire bottle of vodka. Among other things, he was masturbating through his clothing, says a federal air marshal:
He stated that he was unable to stop.
After a warning from the captain, flight attendants restrained Kircher with flex cuffs; he then spat in their faces. Before the plane managed to touch down in the States, he made one last threat, says the marshal:
At one point he told a flight crew member that he was going to "blow this plane up if you don't untie my ... feet."
We're trying to find Kircher on Myspace or Facebook... Won't you email us if you find him?
A packed JetBlue plane flying from New York to San Francisco had to make an emergency landing after a woman flipped out and allegedly punched a flight attendant. The passenger, 35-year-old Christina Szele of Queens, flew into a rage after a member of the crew asked her to put out a cigarette she lit up mid-flight. Szele, a white woman, began cursing and screaming racial epithets at an African-American flight attendant after he plucked the cigarette from her mouth, according to an affidavit filed in the case.
After her outburst, Szele was placed in restraints, but she managed to escape her plastic handcuffs and punch the flight attendant in the face. That's when pilots decided to bring the plane down in Denver in order to throw Szele off the flight.
Now the angry Queens nicotine fiend faces federal charges and up to 20 years in jail. Note to Szele: Cigarettes are pretty tough to come by in prison!
Hey, disgruntled air travelers: Suck it up! That seems to be the message behind an Austin Business Journal story about the trips we didn't take last year.
Americans put off or canceled some 41 million trips in the past 12 months, which cost the travel industry--airlines, hotels and restaurants combined--$26 billion in lost revenue. Now we're going to be in a recession because you cried over long security lines and ridiculous delays!
A Consumerist survey found 85 percent of its sample has avoided air travel because of how annoying it is, but the readers there aren't necessarily the seasoned travelers that we are. How many trips have you, personally, avoided taking because of the state of air travel?
A new survey has found that travelers in the US are pissed off: For the first quarter of 2008, the US airlines collectively earned a 62 percent approval rating, their lowest since the September 11 attacks shook up the airline industry back in 2001.
The results of this latest survey reflect widespread dissatisfaction among frequent fliers. The lead expert behind the numbers told Reuters that air travel in America is "getting worse" because a lack of flight options allows poor service. Some airlines received survey scores in the low 50s, which makes them less popular than the IRS. Then again, as Chris Elliott says, "you need a survey to tell you that?"
So it's not just the brand new planes that are sitting on the tarmac. American Airlines continues to keep truckloads of its MD-80s grounded as it performs safety investigations on wheel well wiring. The carrier says the hundreds of cancellations are affecting "some" travel.
You can check on your flight by going to AA's status page. You can also set up mobile alerts there, which will ping your phone via SMS or email with any changes to your gate or departure time.
As for when the mess will be sorted out, it's anyone's guess. After nixing about 460 flights yesterday, American has canceled 850 today, though some freshly-inspected MD-80s are already back in service.
Have a report from the front lines? Let us know or send us a tweet.
An anonymous concerned Spirit Airlines customer (or is that ex-customer?) has written in to Jaunted to share his (her?) grievances after a recent booking gone horribly awry:
In pure frustration, I thought I would pass this info to you......I made a reservation for me and my family (a total of 7)......everything was fine, until I had to choose our seat assignment on the day I was told (90 days prior)....that went well.....Then I received an e mail from Spirit saying that the itinerary had changed, and to re-confirm the seat assignment, which I did.............then received another e mail a week later saying the itinerary had changed once again, and to re-confirm the seats.........THATS WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.....
Are flight crews getting a little eject-happy? After reading "Ten ways to get kicked off a plane" in the UK Times, our paranoia about getting tossed off a flight has only increased. Smelliness? Not paying attention during a security briefing? Wearing a T-shirt that could offend someone? We've done all those things. (Sorry, Mom.)
The trouble is, once airline crews start ejecting people for bad behavior, it's tempting to wish that every in-flight offense could result in an "unscheduled change of plans." We wouldn't begrudge the "Bye bye, plane!" 19-month-old of his seat, but continuing to make phone calls despite bad reception should be a ticketable offense. If it doesn't work the first time, send a text and take a hint!
For those times when we've managed to snag a precious aisle seat on an international flight, getting up from a middle seat every 10 minutes should sentence squirrely passengers to a shift cleaning the lavatories. (We're looking at you, 15-year-old Russian girl on Air France who pretended she couldn't speak enough English well enough to say "please.")
And for bringing a carry-on you can't lift into an overhead bin by yourself, you should be sentenced to the galley of Richard Branson's next venture. Be forewarned!
Josh Hartnett got to fly coach when his United flight left LAX after the Oscars. The "30 Days of Night" actor ended up at number 55 (!) on the upgrade list, and had to roll in steerage with his adoring fans. Or whoever.
At least the flight wasn't overbooked. Airlines are at an 11-year high when it comes to bumping folks. And you're at the greatest risk of getting denied a seat on smaller, regional airlines. These tips should help out if you get left behind.
As for that trouble-making rule 240, you know our advice. Don't act like some industry insider unless you are one. Just ask nice and smile, and you'll get where you're going--even if you're not a movie star.
