Passenger's plot to fake injury for extra perks foiled
One of the passengers on a flight from Pittsburgh to Chicago attempted to deceive the crew by claiming he needed assistance boarding due to a knee injury. However, his plan did not succeed.
The story was recounted on Reddit by another traveler. During the flight, the man requested special assistance while boarding, citing a knee injury. As a result, he was allowed to board first. Once on the plane, however, he sat in the row by the emergency exit.
The passenger failed to fool the cabin crew
Another passenger, a Reddit user with the nickname "wrathofthefonz," found this unfair. They pointed out that people in need of assistance cannot occupy seats by the emergency exit because, in case of evacuation, they must be fully able and ready to act.
When the flight attendant addressed the man, he suddenly claimed he had no injury and could sit there. However, the cabin crew was not fooled. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, passengers in those seats must be physically able to assist in an emergency.
Ultimately, the man was moved to a middle seat in the back of the plane, while his wife remained in her seat by the emergency exit.
Other Reddit users praised the crew's firmness. "Kudos to the staff for enforcing the rules," wrote one of them.
It's always worth responding to such situations
Similar situations are not uncommon. Another user shared a story where an elderly couple tried to board earlier as disabled passengers to occupy emergency exit seats. Their plan also failed.
Travel expert Nicole Campoy Jackson, in a conversation with "People" magazine, praised the passenger's stance, who didn't intervene but allowed the crew to handle the issue.
She emphasized that in such situations, it's best to notify the cabin crew, who know how to proceed and are aware of available solutions. She added that tension during travel can be high, so it's worth trusting the crew.
