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?

In The Belly Of The Damned

December 2, 2009 Odds & Ends Stories

What was I to do, just one seat left in all of “Business Class” on Iberia’s flight 6824, non-stop Sao Paolo to Madrid? Of course, without any hesitation, I told my dear Marcia she must be the one sit up front and I will join my fellow passengers in second class, or “economy” as it […]

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Portly Passenger Contained

December 2, 2009 Portly Stories

I’m at the window. My wife is in the center and this large guy (about 350lbs) takes the aisle seat. Before he sits he reaches down and flips up the arm rester that will be between him and my wife who we’ll call Faye. He does this because he already knows he won’t fit into […]

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Seat Adjustments

December 1, 2009 Seat Stories

In Sep 08 I was flying home to London from Minneapolis in business class with Northwest. I watched the film, then decided to get some sleep after the usual 10 minutes of getting the seat to go flat, fixing the blanket in the correct position with the seatbelt showing, and placing the inadequate pillow in […]

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Child Romps Nude On Plane

December 1, 2009 Baby & Kid Stories

I was on a S7 flight from Kiev to Moscow. The couple in font of me had a 3 year old daughter whom they allowed to run NAKED about the plane. Even during landing and takeoff the kid nudist ran up and down the isle. The parents did nothing to restrain their child even after […]

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Montezuma’s Revenge Wreaks Havoc

November 30, 2009 Illness/Medical Stories

Many years ago I was on a return flight from Mexico to the U.S. The flight turned to hell when 50-75% of the passengers simultaneously had reactions to food we had all eaten in Mexico. At first, it was just constant people going to the bathroom with diarrhea or vomit. With about an hour remaining […]

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Fuel Leak And Scary Hotel

November 30, 2009 Airplane Stories

The day I thought I was going to London was a day that I was very excited. I woke up like normal, brushed my teeth, showered and had a good breakfast, then I realized I needed to go to the airport to get to London! I checked my bags effortlessly and went through the deathly […]

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Newspaper Reader’s Nettlesome Behavior

November 30, 2009 Passenger Stories

Last Thanksgiving I flew from Burlington, VT to Santa Ana, CA. I used frequent flier miles and was lucky enough to end up with the final 4 1/2 hour leg of the journey in 1st class. I had thought that this would allow me lots more room than I normally would have in coach. I […]

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Flier Dislikes Chatty, Shutterbug Seatmate

November 29, 2009 Passenger Stories

I was on a flight from Redmond, Oregon to Phoenix Arizona, happy that I got booked in a window seat. I took my seat next to a nice older lady. We started chatting about what was in the newspaper, and discussing an article about lead in clothing. Then she completely changes the topic and tells […]

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Near Fight Over Reclining Seat

November 29, 2009 Seat Stories

We were on the last leg of a long, international flight. We board the plane, and when we get to our seats, we find that the rows behind us and in front of us are occupied by some very loud individuals. We weren’t too concerned, as this was the last leg of our trip and […]

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Air Sickness

November 27, 2009 Illness/Medical Stories

My worst flight ever! Back in the mid-1970s, I boarded a small twin engine commuter flight from Amarillo, TX to Bakersfield, CA. It was a very hot August and the air was very turbulent. About midway through the flight, the air conditioning failed on the aircraft while the turbulence was getting worse. Shortly thereafter someone […]

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Bouncing Leg & B.O.

November 27, 2009 Portly Stories

The worst planes these days are the Canadair and Embraer regional jets that are now used on longer and longer routes. “Worst” because of the 3/4 sized seats. Just yesterday, I was on a Delta flight from Memphis to Oklahoma City and was seated next to a man 50% larger than his seat was intended […]

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The Phantom Kickers

November 26, 2009 Seat Stories

When I was about 16 years old, my family and I took a trip to Maui and my parents were generous enough to allow me and my younger sister to each bring a friend along. We were lucky to get a direct flight from San Diego to Maui and were fully prepared with books, mp3 […]

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