Airline blacklist growing?
Mark Adkins, an America West Airlines passenger, gave up his seat in return for a free ticket and an upgrade on the next flight. But when he boarded the plane, an angry agent came aboard and told him he had performed an illegal act.
When Mr Adkins refused to get off the plane, the police were called. The passenger was warned: he would never fly America West again.
Traveler’s advocate Christopher Elliott wrote about the incident in The New York Times, where he concluded it was only the tip of a growing iceberg.
“At a time when the federal Transportation Security Administration’s ‘no fly’ list is coming under intense public scrutiny, a growing number of air travelers have found themselves trapped on another kind of blacklist — one kept by an airline,” he wrote.
Most commercial carriers maintain a list of passengers they refuse to carry. The reasons for being blacklisted can include disorderly conduct, refusal to comply with a crew member’s instructions or abusive behavior.
Some airlines have formal blacklists, while others keep an informal check.
Mr Elliott quoted sources that said there is evidence that the airlines, emboldened by the Transportation Security Administration’s growing no-fly list, are also more often refusing would-be passengers.
Airlines are not required to tell the government who is on their passenger-exclusion lists, so there are no exact numbers.
Mr Adkins, however, had a happy ending to his story. He is now free to fly on America West. But he said the incident has caused him to choose other airlines.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025