Flying is one of the most common forms of travel despite not being as accessible as driving. However, there are quite a few things that airline passengers have to consider, and one of the most uncommon is staying off the no-fly list for airlines. Many people wonder if an unruly aircraft passenger could appear on the list and be banned from flying on an airplane.

Here are three things that will land you on the no fly-list.

What is the no-fly list?

According to the Transportation Security Administration, the federal no-fly list is a part of the United States Terrorist Screening Database. It’s been around since 2003 and includes the personal information of people the administration believes to be known Terrorists. The FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center is responsible for maintaining the list. Because of this, there’s a bit of vagueness over the no-fly list, but it doesn’t typically include unruly passengers.

Travelers should know there are two no-fly lists. Perhaps the one that most people would be concerned with is the airplane list. This is the one that allows specific airlines to ban travelers because of various things, such as being an unruly aircraft passenger. 

Being rude to the crew and other passengers

In a nutshell, being an unruly passenger is a surefire way to end up on an airline no-fly list. This could sound like a vague term, but one of the biggest displays is disrespecting the crew and other travelers. Often, this means getting into fights with people either before getting on the plane or before. It could also mean you’re unwilling to abide by the rules set by the airline. 

Impeding safety on an airplane

Safety is of the utmost importance when it comes to flying. Because of this, passengers need to adhere to the airline’s regulations, even if they disagree with them. In particular, passengers shouldn’t try to open emergency exit doors during flights. Sadly enough, this has happened several times and often results being added to the no-fly list for a specified amount of time. Delta has banned almost 1,000 people for this since 2020. 

Skiplagging can land you on the airline’s no-fly list

This one might not make you an unruly passenger, but airlines still hate it. One thing that could get you banned from an airline is skiplagging. Essentially, skiplagging, also called hidden-city ticketing, is a travel hack that travelers have discovered to save money. 

This is when a person buys a multi-city ticket that actually has a layover where you’re trying to go, and they skip the rest of the trip. People do this because it’s cheaper than a direct flight. However, many people have been caught doing this, and some have been added to an airline no-fly list. This punishment is typically for repeat offenders. 

Overall, being an unruly passenger is a significant way people end up on an airline’s no-fly list. However, if a person’s behavior is bad enough, they could end up on the federal list, which is much worse.