The expression should be “safe flight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
An American Airlines passenger experienced the ultimate flightmare after discovering a bedbug crawling up their leg during a flight from New 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 “first class” on American Airlines flight 4412 out of La Guardia.
“Found this bedbug crawling on my leg mid-flight,” they wrote in the comments. “I put it on the cocktail napkin to show the FA who promptly informed the Captain using the phone/intercom.”
Included was a photo of the napkin with said bloodsucker, which reportedly tried to bite the passenger’s finger while they were transferring it onto the cloth, per a follow-up comment.
Fearful of an infestation, the Redditor reportedly changed their clothes at the airport and “bagged them.”
“They are being washed right now,” they wrote. “Hoping no stragglers got on my backpack or checked bag during the clothing swap.”
Haddaway wrote that they hoped the was grounded due to the stowaway but checked and saw that it had “turned right back around to LGA and then to Tulsa!!”
They wrote that they’ve since filed a complaint 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 center of all we do is unwavering, and your feedback underscores this commitment. Rest assured; your insights will be made available to our leadership team as we work to ensure we provide the high-quality customer experience you deserve.”
Redditors sympathized with the passenger’s plight with one writing, “Nightmare fuel, I always check but it’s hard to catch on an airplane.”
Another joked, “How did you think the bedbug was going to get to Detroit? Like you they are going to pick the airline with the lowest fares.”
“That’s an adolescent bedbug, not yet an adult. Good chance there might be eggs on that plane,” wrote a third.
While certainly rare, bedbug infestations aren’t unheard of in 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 chances of picking up an unwanted stowaway by covering their seats with specially-made covers, putting carry-on luggage inside plastic bags, and packing your own pillow and blanket instead of using the airline one.
