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?

Baby Bassinet is Nothing but a Bag

January 11, 2013 Baby & Kid Stories

Flight from Washington DC to Kuwait City = 12 hours. Although there were several issues leading up to this, I feel that this is the WORST part of the story so I decided to just cut to the chase… After arriving at my gate and waiting to board, I informed a female flight attendant that […]

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Bogus Boarding Call

January 8, 2013 Airport Stories

My husband and I were flying from Toronto to Las Vegas with Air Canada. As usual we arrived at the airport 2 1/2 hours early, checked in, got through security, and still had 2 hours to wait. We did some duty free shopping, picked up some snacks for the flight, and settled in for a […]

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Foodless Fliers Catch a Break with KFC Feast

January 5, 2013 Food & Drink Stories

Many years ago my wife and I arrived at Auckland Airport for our long-awaited trip to Hong Kong, flying direct on Air New Zealand. We had planned, skimped and saved for this trip for years, having previously been to Hong Kong many years earlier, and were eagerly anticipating our flight and holiday ahead of us. […]

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Pillow Fight On Flight

December 29, 2012 Baby & Kid Stories

Near the end of boarding on our American flight home from the Caribbean the weekend before last, a male flight attendant brings a little girl who appears to be about 8 down the aisle, pauses at her assigned seat, glances at us, and tells the child he thinks she would like it better by us. […]

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Stuck in a Quagmire of Travel Hell

December 27, 2012 Odds & Ends Stories

Departed Sydney, Australia for Helsinki, Finland via Singapore on 4/10/12. Plane diverted to Darwin because of smoke in the cabin. Spent 1.5 hours waiting in a departure hall, 1.5 hours standing in a line waiting to be processed through immigration, and about 2.5 hours in a queue waiting to be given accommodation for the evening. […]

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My Flight with the Clints

December 22, 2012 Weird People Stories

[Contains strong language] I have flown a lot over the years and have been involved in many weird encounters along the way. Nothing, however, has come close to my encounter with the “Clints.” It started on my return flight from Regina to Calgary on a cold December day in 2012.

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A Not So Purr-fect Flight

November 21, 2012 Animal Stories

My mom and I were seated at the back of an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Winnipeg to visit a terminally ill relative. We were both settling in for what we knew would be an emotionally difficult trip – we never would have guessed the flight itself would be the start of the emotional […]

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Passenger Punishes Bin Hog

November 17, 2012 Luggage Stories

A Flight from Hell where I was the problem (for someone who deserved it). Now I unburden myself and plead for the forgiveness of the readers.

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Delay, Screams of Terror, and Free Booze

November 9, 2012 Odds & Ends Stories

I was waiting to board my last flight from JFK to Orlando after a long journey home from Bangkok. I was tired and hungry, and just wanted to see my family after being away for three months. The Delta flight was delayed due to our aircraft’s late arrival. An hour went by. The plane arrived, […]

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First Time Flying with Child Proves Challenging

October 31, 2012 Baby & Kid Stories

My wife, our 14-month old son and I were flying from Baltimore to Los Angeles to visit my family for Christmas. Although we had been semi-frequent fliers, this was our first time flying with a child.

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Child’s First Flight is a Memorable One

October 14, 2012 Baby & Kid Stories

In May 1989, my son Josh and I were on our way to California to visit his godfather for his twelfth birthday. My son was crazy about all aircraft, knew all the types and specs, had never flown before, and wanted to be a pilot. His godfather was working as a government contractor as a […]

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No Tranquility for Traveler in First Class

October 3, 2012 Baby & Kid Stories

This past weekend I decided to fly across the United States. Wanting peace and quiet, I opted to pay full fare for first class. Unfortunately I didn’t get what I paid for. 

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