Flights From Hell flies you into the crazy skies with stories about the adventures and anxieties of airplane travel.

Commercial airline travel takes us far, far out of our comfort zone. We're herded into cylinders that zip hundreds of miles per hour at 30,000 feet, subjected to security screenings, confronted with delays and lost luggage, rushed to catch connecting flights, constrained to small seats, scrunched up with strangers, and surrounded by pathogens. Is it any wonder we end up becoming a bundle of raw nerves by journey's end?

Can’t Even Buy A Meal

July 10, 2008 Food & Drink Stories

We flew to Hawaii to attend our son’s wedding on American Airlines. Since the flight home was over 7 hours, we decided it would make sense to purchase the sandwiches that used to be free. We were seated in row 40, so when the flight attendant got back to us, she informed us with a […]

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A Seat And A Toilet Is All You Need

July 9, 2008 Flying Hell Commentary

I want to say a few words to the people who fly. An airplane is a BUS that takes people and their luggage, from point A to point B. That’s all ! I’m tired of flying with people that think an airplane is some kind of resort, just for them. If you drive your car […]

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Reclined Seat Leads To Decline In Civility

July 5, 2008 Seat Stories

June 14th, ’08, I flew back from DCA to STL in seat 24E. After we reached cruising altitude, the gentleman two rows in front me, and one seat to the left, reclined his seat. About a minute later the guy directly behind him (in the row in front of me), we’ll call him “D.B.,” starts […]

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A Memorable Flight

July 5, 2008 Seat Stories

On a recent flight from Orlando to Rochester NY, the guy next to me continued to recline his seat, virtually crushing the legs of the guy behind him. He asked on 3 occasions to please put the seat up. Then a short time later while he (next to me) was snoring and breathing on me […]

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The Outcast

July 5, 2008 Attendant & Pilot Stories

I was flying Air India between Mumbai and Delhi back in the late 1980s. The passenger in the seat beside me was a middle aged man who had obviously never been on a plane before. His hand luggage consisted of a 5L plastic container of diesel. I knew it was diesel because it was leaking […]

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Paying Bills For Frills

June 18, 2008 Non-Stories

Airlines continue to raise fees for services. Many are now charging for excess baggage, meals, curbside baggage checks, and better seats. Unfortunately this is a trend that is likely to continue as the airlines struggle to stay in business. Below is a Mad TV spoof about the topic:

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Shanghai Shuffle

June 17, 2008 Luggage Stories

My first trip to Shanghai was in December 2006-January 2007 and lasted two weeks. I flew on AA to and from my town to Dallas and to and from Dallas to San Francisco, then took UA to and from Shanghai. This will become relevant soon. When I got to my local airport at some wee […]

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Photographer’s Phantasmagorical Flight

June 6, 2008 Odds & Ends Stories

On July 1, 2007, I was on American Airlines flight 2200 from Seattle-Tacoma to Dallas/Fort Worth on a Boeing 757. As we boarded the flight, I looked forward to taking some good pictures. My sister and mom decided to switch with me and my dad, which would prove consequential. I objected, but all three disagreed, […]

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Refusal To Board

June 6, 2008 Airport Stories

Monday, June 23, 2008, O’Hare, American Airlines: The gate agent asked to check my boarding pass, then told me that she was not allowing me to board the plane and that she had the authority to do so because I had booked my flight June 22 ($847) the day before. The gate agent said she […]

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Inconsiderate Fools

June 5, 2008 Seat Stories

I was on a flight with my boyfriend from Las Vegas to Austin. We were sitting in front of an exit isle and could not recline our seats back at all. The passenger in front of me was a male. He reclined his seat all the way back. I asked him if he could please […]

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Scare Line Lament

June 5, 2008 Odds & Ends Stories

We just flew from Anchorage to Atlanta to Savannah via Delta Scare Lines. We had to sit on the floor of the terminal in Anchorage because there were not enough seats. I saw about 50 people on the floor. It was also hot in the terminal. (yes Delta that is your fault). We flew 6 […]

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Sprained And Drained

May 30, 2008 Illness/Medical Stories

I am currently sitting in the Atlanta Airport. It is 6:52 am. Yesterday at 4:30 am I left my house near Boston to travel to Minneapolis. Walking out of my house I sprained my ankle. Needless to say I was a bit late getting to the airport. After hobbling to the airport from the Economy […]

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