The expression needs to be “secure flight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
An American Airlines passenger experienced the last word flightmare after discovering a bedbug crawling up their leg during a flight from Latest York City to Detroit. They described the spine-tingling find in a Reddit post going viral.
The freaked-out flyer, who goes by @HaddawayThrowaway978, had reportedly discovered the itch-hiker while seated in “firstclass” on American Airlines flight 4412 out of La Guardia.
“Found this bedbug crawling on my leg mid-flight,” they wrote within the comments. “I put it on the cocktail napkin to indicate the FA who promptly informed the Captain using the phone/intercom.”
Included was a photograph of the napkin with said bloodsucker, which reportedly tried to bite the passenger’s finger while they were transferring it onto the fabric, per a follow-up comment.
Terrified of an infestation, the Redditor reportedly modified their clothes on the airport and “bagged them.”
“They’re being washed straight away,” they wrote. “Hoping no stragglers got on my backpack or checked bag in the course of the clothing swap.”
Haddaway wrote that they hoped the was grounded on account of the stowaway but checked and saw that it had “turned right back around to LGA after which to Tulsa!!”
They wrote that they’ve since filed a criticism with American Airlines, which issued an “extremely underwhelming” response.
“Please accept my deepest apologies for the experience you’ve described,” they wrote, per the thread. “Our commitment to placing you at the middle of all we do is unwavering, and your feedback underscores this commitment. Rest assured; your insights will probably be made available to our leadership team as we work to make sure we offer the high-quality customer experience you deserve.”
Redditors sympathized with the passenger’s plight with one writing, “Nightmare fuel, I at all times check however it’s hard to catch on an airplane.”
One other joked, “How did you’re thinking that the bedbug was going to get to Detroit? Such as you they’ll pick the airline with the bottom fares.”
“That’s an adolescent bedbug, not yet an adult. Good likelihood there is perhaps eggs on that plane,” wrote a 3rd.
While definitely rare, bedbug infestations aren’t unheard of within the friendly skies.
In 2017, Canadian passengers were bitten by the creepy crawlies on a British Airways flight from Vancouver, BC to London, UK.
Pest control experts say flyers can mitigate the possibilities of picking up an unwanted stowaway by covering their seats with specially-made covers, putting carry-on luggage inside plastic bags, and packing your personal pillow and blanket as an alternative of using the airline one.
