Why airlines can ban you from flying: Four typical cases

A recent report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) claims that the number of incidents involving unruly passengers on airplanes is on the rise, increasing by 47% globally in 2022 compared to 2021.

250 cases of uncontrolled passengers have been referred to the FBI for possible prosecution in the United States alone, NY Post reports.

Here are four cases when passengers can be banned from flying:

Physical assault on flight attendants

In severe cases, failure to comply with flight attendants' instructions can result in a passenger being banned from flying with that airline.

Failure to comply with flight attendants' instructions

On December 15, 2021, a United Airlines passenger was kicked off the plane and subsequently banned from flying with the airline because he was wearing women's underwear as a COVID-19 face mask.

Attempting to open the emergency exit door

This year, a United Airlines passenger on a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Houston International Airport allegedly assaulted a flight attendant and tried to jump out of the emergency exit before takeoff. As a result, the passenger was banned from flying with United Airlines.

"Skiplagging".

Airlines can take serious measures up to and including banning passengers from flying with their company for using a cost-saving life hack known as "skiplagging," when a customer buys a ticket and does not fly the entire route.