5 Behaviors That Can Get You Banned From Flying and Put You in “Airline Jail”

Air travel has become routine for millions of people around the world. But as much as flying gets us where we need to go, it also comes with a strict set of rules. Break those rules, and you might end up in what travelers often call “airline jail.”

No, this isn’t a literal jail cell on the plane. Instead, it usually means one of two things: either being banned from flying with an airline again or being placed on their internal “no-fly” list. In extreme cases, you could even face fines, legal action, or a federal investigation.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been keeping a close eye on unruly passengers. In 2024 alone, it recorded more than 2,100 cases of bad passenger behavior, ranging from ignoring crew instructions to outright violence in the cabin.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five common things that could land you in trouble with airlines.

Photo: Alaska Airlines

1. Selling Your Frequent Flyer Miles

Frequent flyer miles feel like your own property. You earn them, you save them, and you spend them on free flights or upgrades. But here’s the catch: you don’t actually own those miles. The airline does.

That means if you try to sell your miles or upgrade certificates, you could be in big trouble. Airlines take this seriously, and they will cancel your miles, terminate your loyalty account, or even ban you from future flights if they catch you breaking the rules:

• Most loyalty programs specifically forbid selling or bartering miles.
• Airlines can shut down your account permanently if they find out.
• Even one suspicious transaction could lead to losing years’ worth of saved miles.

So before you think about making a little cash from those extra miles, remember: the short-term gain isn’t worth the long-term loss.

Photo: Tobias Gudat

2. Skipping the Last Leg of Flight (Skiplagging)

Imagine you find a flight with a connection that’s cheaper than a nonstop flight to your actual destination. You might think, “Why not just get off at the layover city and not take the last leg?” This practice is known as skiplagging or hidden-city ticketing.

While it isn’t illegal, airlines hate it. They view it as a violation of your ticket agreement. If they catch you doing it often, they could take action against you:

• Airlines use technology to track hidden-city ticketing.
• You could lose your miles or have your frequent flyer account canceled.
• Repeat offenders risk being banned from future flights.

For a one-time emergency, you might get away with it. But if you value your travel benefits and loyalty status, it’s a dangerous gamble.

Representative Photo: Delta Air Lines

3. Complaining Too Much

Filing a complaint when something goes wrong on your trip is perfectly reasonable. Airlines expect to receive feedback, and sometimes they even compensate you with miles, vouchers, or refunds.

But if you complain too often or for every minor issue, airlines may flag you as a problem passenger. In extreme cases, they can cut ties completely — meaning you’ll no longer be welcome to fly with them:

• Airlines track customer complaints in their systems.
• Frequent or minor complaints can get you labeled as a “chronic complainer.”
• Some passengers have had their loyalty accounts closed for overdoing it.

It’s fine to stand up for yourself, but save the complaints for when it really matters. Otherwise, you might be seen as someone trying to game the system.

Photo: janu.com

4. Abusing Lounge Access

Airport lounges are one of the best perks of flying. They offer comfortable seating, food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and a quiet place to wait for your flight. But lounge access is a privilege, not a right.

Some travelers try to cheat the system by buying refundable tickets just to get inside lounges, or by repeatedly rebooking flights to gain access. Airlines notice this kind of behavior, and they don’t take it lightly:

• Buying refundable tickets only for lounge access can get you flagged.
• Some passengers have been sued or fined for abusing access rules.
• Airlines may cancel tickets or take away loyalty benefits if caught.

In one case, Lufthansa even took a passenger to court for repeatedly booking flexible tickets just to enter the lounge — and won. That shows how far airlines are willing to go when they feel customers are exploiting the system.

Photo: American Airlines

5. Filing Credit Card Dispute Against Airline

If an airline cancels your flight and refuses to refund you, it might seem tempting to file a chargeback with your credit card company. While this can sometimes get your money back, it can also backfire.

Even if the bank sides with you, the airline may not agree. They could decide you still owe them money — and until you settle it, you might be banned from flying with that carrier:

• Airlines may refuse to let you book future flights if there’s a payment dispute.
• A chargeback could lead to being placed on the airline’s internal no-fly list.
• Travel insurance is a safer option for emergencies or canceled trips.

So while a credit card dispute seems like a quick fix, it can actually create bigger problems down the road.

Source: The Points Guy

Bottom Line

Airlines don’t expect passengers to be perfect, but they do expect them to follow the rules. Whether it’s selling miles, skipping flights, abusing perks, or misusing refunds, each of these actions could land you in what’s often called “airline jail.”

At best, you could lose your frequent flyer benefits. At worst, you could be banned from flying with that carrier altogether — or even face federal penalties.

The lesson here is simple: play by the rules. Save your complaints for real problems, use your loyalty benefits the right way, and think twice before trying to outsmart the system.

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