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?

I should have known better. The morning started out all too smoothly: There was no traffic on the way to the airport, there was a rare parking spot nearby, and security checks were surprisingly quick. My flight to New York was scheduled for 10:00 a.m., and I felt confident. But as any experienced traveler knows, when things go too well, disaster is often lurking just around the corner.



Continue reading »

{ 0 comments }

If this isn’t a flight from hell, I don’t know what it is. We returned, or I should say, we attempted to return, from Maui to Phoenix on flight AA 645 on June 13th, 2024 at 9:26 p.m. We taxied and stopped in our tracks for 45 minutes or so. As we flew first class in the front seat, we couldn’t hear the commotion in the back.



Continue reading »

{ 0 comments }

I was on an AirAsia flight from Indonesia to Kuala Lumpur with my father. It was a very short one hour flight that I usually consider as a chance to nap. Moreover, the seat next to me was empty so I considered it extra arm room. I couldn’t nap.



Continue reading »

{ 7 comments }

British Airways (BA) is not famed for its good service, but this time they outdid themselves.



Continue reading »

{ 1 comment }

Living in South Dakota, I totally understand that the weather can cause travel issues. I also completely get that when extreme weather happens, it is beyond anyone’s control. This is not a story complaining about a simple weather issue. My anger is about being lied to, and the airline condoning dishonesty with their staff.



Continue reading »

{ 2 comments }

My profession requires frequent air travel. Perhaps ironically, my most recent travel “experience” was specifically for the purpose of meeting with officials at the FAA (though on the topic of exo-atmospheric transportation between points on the globe, as opposed to now ubiquitous airline travel).



Continue reading »

{ 1 comment }

Transit Visa Troubles

March 11, 2019 Odds & Ends Stories

On the 12th of March my wife and I are going to visit my home in the United States. For the first time in my life I decided to go all out and really enjoy my trip, so I booked our flight business class. I booked our flight though CheapOair with British Airways which seemed […]

4 comments Continue reading →

Any Landing Is A Good One

February 24, 2019 Airplane Stories

So, this isn’t just about the landing, but also about both of the trips that preceded it. DCA to MSP. Yes, we were flying to Minnesota in winter. No, this story has absolutely nothing to do with snow. Nothing, zilch, nada.

2 comments Continue reading →

Loss of Cocktail Service in First Class

February 10, 2019 Flying Hell Commentary

I am a frequent flyer on most major airlines traveling for business and personal reasons. As a VIP member on most airlines, I am finding it more and more difficult to receive appropriate service in business and first class.

6 comments Continue reading →

Pompous Passenger in First Class

February 9, 2019 Passenger Stories

I flew First Class on a Lufthansa 747 from FRA to LAX back in 2016. I was seated in 2A while he was in 1D. He boards and he’s chatting with some other first class passenger and they settle in. Everything is going normal.

0 comments Continue reading →