How to Avoid Being Denied Boarding on Your Next Flight

If you do any of these things listed below, there is a good chance you will be denied your flight. I thought it would be an interesting topic to see all the ways people get denied their flight and compile them in an organized post. No matter what flight you are taking, you paid your hard-earned cash for that ticket, and the last thing you want is to be told you can’t board the plane. Think of this post as a checklist and a handy guide so that you can get on your plane and to your next destination without delay.

Things that can get you denied:

Barefoot

Like some restaurants you experienced, going on the plane barefoot will increase your chances of being denied. The airline and its crew think walking onto the airplane barefoot poses a big risk to them because your safety comes first. Also, some passengers, according to travel forums, see people’s feet as something unpleasant and bothersome. Wearing shoes or even sandals should be the norm when you board the plane, but if you are having second thoughts, don’t. Do not board the plane barefoot!

Looking Sick

Passengers who appear seriously ill or showcase serious sickness could be denied their flight. First, the flight attendant and crew can’t perform their job if they catch the sickness and are now feeling under the weather. Health and safety are of utmost importance to any airline, and having someone majorly sick and spreading that sickness on board is something the airlines can’t afford or want to deal with. If you are seriously sick with a high fever or look as if you are near death, do not attempt to board the flight as you are likely to be denied. It will be a big waste of time for you to make your way to the airport only to be told you can’t board.

Too Big (Can’t Safely Put on a Seatbelt)

If you are too big, like if your waist size is wider than the average person, you could be denied your flight due to not being able to securely fasten a seatbelt. Federal law says that all passengers must be fastened at all times, even if they are napping or watching movies on the plane’s personal TV screens. A workaround for this if you are extra wide is to purchase two plane tickets so that you take up two seats. Another way around this is to simply lose weight and exercise. This is something that everyone should be doing automatically if they are caught in this situation. No sugar coating, just straight-up answers.

Looking Drunk

Flight attendants and ticket agents may deny you your flight if they suspect you are drunk. I’ve seen firsthand people whose tickets were not scanned during the boarding process because the ticket agent thought they would cause trouble due to their alcohol intoxication. A drunken person could be risky to the airplane crew due to wild and dangerous behaviors, and they could delay the flight or, worse, cause the airplane to turn around mid-flight. To the airline company, this represents an expensive and dangerous risk of having a drunken passenger on board. Before boarding, make sure you don’t overly indulge in alcohol; save that for after you land.

About to Give Birth

When a woman looks like she is likely to give birth at any time, she can be denied her flight. This is not discrimination but instead takes into account that the airline crew aren’t certified at delivering babies. Plus, the plane is not the ideal environment for newborn babies to be in as it lacks the facilities to ensure the baby remains healthy and well. It’s a big risk for the airlines to have a pregnant lady on board who could be due any moment.

Smell Bad

If you stink, you can be denied your flight as it will disturb the other paying customers. Disturbing customers due to someone smelling awful will cause anger, sickness, and also lower the flight experience for all customers. The airlines certainly won’t want this to ever happen. The good news is that this situation can be easily avoided by taking a shower (using soap) right before you head out to the airport. Some airports, like Japan’s Kansai International Airport, have showers for passengers to use if they ever need one. Of course, for a small fee, but it’s there.

Carry-On Smells Bad

Not only should you ensure you smell decent before boarding, but also your carry-on should smell well too. Just like if a person smells like rotten eggs or a dead dog, if your carry-on smells unpleasant, you may be denied your flight.

Dress Inappropriately

As frequent flyers like ourselves know, inside the airplane is filled with passengers from all backgrounds and ages. If you dress inappropriately, like wearing something very revealing that you can pass as a stripper or go-go dancer, you may be denied your flight. The airlines strive to make any flight a pleasant experience for everyone of any age. Besides having sexy and revealing clothes, you can be denied your flight if you wear clothing that is offensive in that it showcases any form of racism, sexism, or foul language. It’s best to dress casually as if you are spending the day with your immediate family members or coworkers.

Disrespectful/Attitude Issue

To those who come across as a jerk or entitled, you may be denied your next flight and be denied boarding. Flight attendants and passengers do not want to deal with people who have no respect for other human beings. These people are a high risk to take on board as they may turn even the simplest request into something massive and unnecessarily negative. We all have seen those “Karen” videos on YouTube during a flight, and even though we laugh at it, we wouldn’t want any “Karens” to be on our flight. If you or someone you know comes across as someone with a bad attitude, my only advice is to come back when you know how to treat others with respect and decency.

Key Takeaways

If you are drunk, look sick, are barefoot, too big around the waist, about to give birth, smell bad, have carry-ons that smell bad, dress inappropriately, or have an attitude issue, you may be denied your flight. While denying boarding may seem uncommon, it happens more often than you might think. By following these tips and avoiding the situations listed above, you can ensure a smooth boarding process and a pleasant flight. Do you have any other reasons to add to this list? Feel free to share them in the comments below!