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?

Passenger Nailed For Releasing Vapor

August 1, 2009 Odor Stories

I was on a flight to San Diego several years back – pre 9-11. About 40 minutes from landing, the woman next to me pulled out a nail polish bottle and started to open it to work on her nails! I usually am a very tolerant person and never say anything to anyone, but I […]

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“Altruistic” Passenger Gives Up Seat

July 31, 2009 Portly Stories

This isn’t really a horror story but it could have been. I fly a lot for business. I had taken my middle seat for my flight. The aisle seat was taken on my right, and the window seat to my left was empty. I was starting to get excited that I would have an empty […]

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Baby Gets Blame For Bad Odor

July 30, 2009 Odor Stories

My family flew from BWI to MSP on March 25th of 2008. At the time my son was 6 months old. About 20 minutes into the flight there was a horrible smell. I checked my sons diaper and he was clean. Several of the other passengers called the flight attendant to complain about the terrible […]

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Pan Am Is Gone, Thank Heaven

July 29, 2009 Airplane Stories

I flew Pan Am several times never had a good experience. Here is the worst: Lining up for takeoff from Honolulu, a great BOOM!! made the whole plane shudder. Never mind, we took off anyway, the airplane shuddering slightly until we lifted off. Sitting next to me was a Pan Am pilot. After we were […]

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Cease Carry-On Luggage

July 28, 2009 Flying Hell Commentary

I wish we could eliminate carry on luggage all together! A coat and briefcase/computer/diaper bag/canvas carry all/large purse should be all that is allowed. I am tired of being hit in the head by the wheeling overnight carry-on sized bags as their owners stuff them in and yank them out of the overhead bins. I […]

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Reclining Seat Damages Laptop

July 28, 2009 Seat Stories

My laptop nearly cracked in half on a flight from Phoenix to Saint Louis. Although the screen didn’t break per say, there is still some permanent damage as the bottom of the screen seems to be detached from the glass of the screen. On July 28th I flew from San Francisco to Saint Louis on […]

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Abuse Of Flight Attendant

July 27, 2009 Passenger Stories

I was on my way back to KY from a wonderful trip to Alaska with my new boyfriend last year. Said attorney boyfriend was a NWA “Gold” member and we were flying in “first class” of a jet that didn’t actually have first class. The flight attendant requested everyone to remain in their seats since […]

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TSA-Approved Locks Are No Bueno

July 26, 2009 Luggage Stories

After a near-perfect vacation in Cancun, Mexico (early-2009), two friends and I boarded our Mexicana Airlines flight back to Texas. Our luggage contained our basic amenities and minor valuables including our phone and laptop chargers, shoes, and memorabilia purchased during our trip. For security purposes (as required by US law), each piece of luggage contained […]

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Essence De Lavatory

July 25, 2009 Odor Stories

On an Air Italia flight in 1994 from Toronto to Rome, I was seated at the bulkhead row separating first class from coach – right behind the bathrooms. An absolutely beautiful woman walked into the bathroom shortly after take off. When she emerged, it was the worst smell ever. It was so bad that sleeping […]

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Delayed At O’Hare Airport

July 24, 2009 Delay/Cancellation Stories

I was on my way back from a school-sponsored trip to Europe. The week was fantastic. The flight back into the US landed in O’Hare early in the morning, with a long layover before the flight home to Pittsburgh. Because there was not enough room for our entire group on one plane, four chaperones decided […]

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Kitty Has Crap Scared Out Of Him

July 23, 2009 Animal Stories

About a year ago my teenage son was flying from Vancouver to Calgary. He was bringing with him a cat we were rescuing. The cat is now a very much loved part of our family but at the time he (the cat) had no idea what was going on and he didn’t travel very well. […]

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Lightning Strike Leads To Soiled Pants

July 22, 2009 Weather Stories

I am on a flight from IND to PHX on America West at the time and was doing that route every week for business going on 9 months. With that much flying I was in first class looking out the window trying to find the normal ground markings for our approach into the Phoenix Valley. […]

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