Do NOT attempt any of these

Meet the 10 worst flight companions ever: Getting Kicked Off a Plane 101

Flying comes with plenty of rules, and most of them make perfect sense. But every once in a while, an ordinary flight turns into a story nobody aboard could have predicted. From an unruly pig and a forbidden peacock to a birthday cake that caused an entire plane to be emptied, these absolutely true stories prove just how strange air travel can get.

In October 2018, a passenger at Orlando International Airport had informed Frontier Airlines that she would be traveling with an emotional-support animal. There was just one important detail missing: the animal was a squirrel. Frontier's policy did not allow rodents aboard its aircraft.

When the passenger refused to leave the Cleveland-bound flight, police were called, and everyone else had to deplane while the situation was resolved. Eventually, officers escorted the woman and her squirrel out of the aircraft as some fellow passengers cheered.

In April 2017, Kima Hamilton was aboard a Delta flight from Atlanta to Milwaukee when nature called at an extremely inconvenient moment. The aircraft had left the gate but was still waiting to take off. Hamilton initially obeyed an instruction to remain seated, but as the wait continued, he decided he simply couldn't hold it any longer.

Hamilton used the lavatory and returned to his seat, but the plane eventually went back to the gate. The situation culminated with all the passengers being asked to leave the aircraft; everyone except Hamilton was allowed to reboard. He ultimately bought a ticket on another airline to get home.

Cameron and Minta Burke were taking their children from New York to Las Vegas in May 2017 to celebrate Minta's 40th birthday. They brought along an appropriate accessory: a birthday cake. Before the JetBlue flight could depart, however, a disagreement developed over where that cake could safely be stowed away.

The two sides later disputed exactly how the confrontation unfolded. JetBlue said the passengers became disruptive and failed to follow crew instructions, while the family challenged that account. What isn't disputed is the outcome: authorities were called, the plane was emptied, and the Burkes didn't make the flight.

David and Jane Smith (names changed for obvious reasons) were returning home to Detroit with their 19-month-old daughter after a Florida vacation in January 2019 when American Airlines asked them to leave their flight in Miami. The airline said several passengers and crew members had complained about the family's body odor.

The Adlers strongly denied that they smelled and later disputed the airline's explanation. American provided them with a hotel, meals, and seats on another flight the following day, but their checked luggage continued to Detroit without them.

Every parent dreads the moment when their restless toddler begins bothering another passenger. For one family aboard a JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to New York in 2017, that familiar problem escalated far beyond an awkward apology when their one-year-old daughter began crying and kicking the seat ahead.

The child's parents said the kicking started the confrontation that eventually got their family removed. JetBlue disputed that characterization, saying the removal followed a heated altercation between adults involving threats and profanity.

In January 2018, travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport encountered an emotional-support animal difficult to overlook: a peacock named Dexter. His owner hoped to take him aboard a United Airlines flight to Los Angeles, and reports at the time said she had even purchased a seat for him.

United wasn't convinced. The airline said Dexter failed to meet its guidelines for several reasons, including his size and weight, and noted that the passenger had been warned before arriving at the airport. Unlike some animals on this list, Dexter never made it aboard.

A January 2025 United flight from Tulum, Mexico, to Houston became the subject of a federal lawsuit after passenger Yisroel Liebb spent an unusually long time in the lavatory. According to his complaint, Liebb was suffering from constipation and remained inside for roughly 20 minutes while crew members became increasingly concerned.

The subsequent confrontation became considerably more serious, and Liebb's lawsuit included allegations disputed or not publicly substantiated by United. After the plane landed in Houston, Liebb and his traveling companion were detained by federal officers. Unlike the lighter mishaps on this list, this remains a contested legal case, so its stranger details are allegations rather than fact.

A bathroom trip also helped trigger chaos aboard Delta Flight 2565 from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in December 2016. Passenger Anna Koosmann reportedly left her seat to use the lavatory shortly after takeoff despite instructions to remain seated. Eventually, the captain issued an unusually clear warning: sit down, or the plane would turn around.

It did. The flight returned to Minneapolis, where Koosmann and her companion were removed by police. The episode had escalated beyond the original bathroom disagreement, with Delta describing the pair as aggressive.

Passengers boarding a US Airways flight at Connecticut's Bradley International Airport in 2014 found themselves sharing the cabin with a pot-bellied pig. The animal, reportedly weighing around 70 to 80 pounds, had been brought aboard as an emotional-support animal. At first, that was apparently allowed.

Then the pig began behaving rather less like an experienced traveler. Witnesses said it became noisy and defecated in the aisle while its owner struggled to control and clean up after it. The disruption became too much, and the passenger and her porcine companion were asked to leave.

On May 9, 2013, an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New York made an unscheduled stop in Kansas City because of a passenger who reportedly wouldn't stop singing. Her song of choice was Whitney Houston's monumental version of "I Will Always Love You."

The passenger, identified by airport police as Margaret Gay, had reportedly been disruptive during the flight. But the story's unforgettable finale came after authorities boarded the plane: video showed her continuing to sing as she was escorted away. She wasn't charged, but American wouldn't let her continue on the flight.

From groceries to gateways

Travel more and pay less: Hack the miles system with this guide

If you’ve ever wondered how people manage to fly across the country or even overseas without paying full price, you’re in the right place. Points and miles might sound complicated at first, but once you get the hang of it, they can open the door to unforgettable trips. If you love travelling and want to make the most out of your credit card or loyalty program, read this guide to understand how miles and points can benefit you.

A great first step is choosing a reliable travel rewards card and sticking with it for a while. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card are popular for a reason. They’re easy to understand and come with generous welcome bonuses. That bonus often requires you to spend a set amount in the first few months, but it’s usually things you already buy anyway. One good card can go a long way.

This is where things start to click. Airline miles, like those from the Delta SkyMiles program or the American Airlines AAdvantage program, are tied to one airline or its partners. Credit card points, on the other hand, such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, are more flexible. You can often transfer them to different airlines or use them to book directly. That flexibility gives you more options when planning a trip.

It’s easy to sign up for every frequent flyer program out there, but that can leave you with a bunch of small, unusable balances. Instead, pick one or two airlines you’re likely to fly with and concentrate your efforts there. Loyalty programs exist for a reason and, over time, you’ll build enough miles to actually book something meaningful, like a cross-country flight or even an international trip.

You don’t need to change your lifestyle to earn points. Just shift how you pay. Use your rewards card for groceries, gas, dining, and even recurring bills like streaming services. For example, putting your weekly supermarket runs on a card tied to American Express Membership Rewards can quietly build a strong points balance over time. It’s all about consistency.

Many cards reward you more in certain categories. The American Express Gold Card, for instance, gives extra points on dining and supermarkets. If you enjoy eating out or cooking at home, that adds up quickly. Some cards rotate categories every few months, so it’s worth checking what earns the most at any given time and using that card strategically.

Flexibility can make a big difference in how far your points take you. Flying on a Tuesday instead of a Friday, or traveling in the shoulder season, can reduce the number of miles needed. Airlines like Southwest Airlines even tie their points pricing closely to cash fares, so cheaper days mean fewer points required. Of course, this won’t always be a possibility, but when it is, a little flexibility can unlock much better value.

Many issuers have their own travel booking systems. Through portals like Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal, you can book flights, hotels, and rental cars using points, cash, or a mix of both. Sometimes the value is better than transferring points, especially for domestic trips. It’s always worth comparing both options before you book.

Points are only valuable if you’re not paying more in interest than they’re worth. Always try to pay your balance in full each month. Also, keep an eye on annual fees. Cards from issuers like Chase or American Express can charge yearly fees, but they often come with perks like travel credits or insurance that can offset the cost if you use them.

Traveling is often more enjoyable with someone by your side, and some programs reward that. Certain cards offer companion certificates or discounted tickets. Just to mention one, Alaska Airlines credit cards, Atmos Rewards, have a well-known companion fare benefit. It can make a big difference if you like traveling with a spouse, sibling, or friends.

It’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole with points and miles, but you don’t have to. You’re not trying to become a full-time travel hacker. Stick with a couple of cards, a couple of programs, and a routine that feels manageable. The goal is simple: make your everyday spending work a little harder so you can enjoy more trips without the extra cost.