My 10 Worst Flights In 2021

I hesitated writing this because all things considered, 2021 was a very smooth year of flying. Still, as travel as ramped up again in 2021 I had some fun compiling this list of my worst flights in 2021.

My 10 Worst Flights In 2021 – Perspective Matters

It’s important to preface this list by stating how incredibly thankful I am to fly and particularly thankful to have continued to fly during the pandemic. I find that I increasingly focus on the soft product and can tolerate an inferior seat much more easily with friendly service and an edible meal. And do note, some of these “worst” flights are also my best flights, for unrelated reasons.

10. San Francisco to Zurich In SWISS 777 Economy Class

All things considered, this was a great flight in economy class…as far as economy class goes. But it was a “bad” flight in the sense that instead of reserving an aisle/window/middle on either side of the aircraft, I reserved three seats in the middle, hoping the fourth would remain empty. It did not…and I wound up with a middle seat instead of a window seat.

9. Kraków To Chicago In LOT 787 Business Class

I haven’t written anything about this recent trip yet, but simply note LOT has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to its in-flight product.

8.  Lazy Flight Attendants On Shorthaul Flights

This one is not flight specific, but a general observation. I fly a lot between Burbank/Los Angeles and San Francisco, with flight time generally about one hour. Far too often this year, lazy flight attendants have told the cabin, “Due to the short duration of the flight, there will be no beverage service today.” It’s not about the beverage service per se…we can all live through a one hour flight without drinking something. But somehow the majority of flight attendants are able to offer a full beverage service. Most recently, the SkyWest/United Express flight attendant was so lazy from Burbank to San Francisco she did not even offer drinks to first class passengers.

7. Miami to Los Angeles In American Airlines 777 Economy Class

It was great to score a premium economy seat on this transcon flight, but I cannot believe American offered only one beverage service and no snacks or meals for purchase. You really need to come prepared when you fly American on most domestic flights behind the curtain.

6. San Francisco to Frankfurt In Lufthansa 747 First Class

How could I possibly include a Lufthansa First Class flight on my list? Well, because I was an idiot and left my passport onboard. It was a great flight…but the idiotic move on my part made it a tragic flight and indeed, one of my worst in 2021.

5. Washington to Cairo In EgyptAir 787 Business Class

EgyptAir has great potential, but its soft product right now is simply deplorable.

4. Denver To Los Angeles In United Airlines First Class

This was the flight in which a drunk, anti-mask zealot made an idiot of himself, disturbing the peace and creating a tense environment onboard.

3. Panama City to San Salvador In COPA Business Class

I was not amused by the lack of service onboard COPA in business class.

2. Fort Lauderdale To Panama City In COPA Business Class

This flight was even worse, with no food despite departing at 9:00am on a three-hour international flight.

1. San Salvador To Los Angeles In Avianca Business Class

This flight almost seems like a joke, in retrospect. How can a once great carrier have fallen so far?

What was your worst flight in 2021?