Naughtiest (and Nicest) People in Travel: 2013 Edition

Naughty: Spirit Airlines

Is anyone surprised to see Spirit Airlines on the naughty list? The airline offers rock-bottom fares (which end up being not so cheap after all the fees and extras are added in) and customer service to match. The budget airline came in dead last in Consumer Reports' 2013 ranking of American airlines. The carriers were evaluated based on cabin comfort and cleanliness, baggage handling, ease of check-in, cabin service, and in-flight entertainment.

Nice: WestJet

Canadian airline WestJet gave some passengers the best flight of their life this holiday season. Before one flight, the airline installed a large screen featuring a virtual Santa Claus who asked flyers what they wanted for Christmas. Then, while the five-hour flight was in the air, WestJet employees frantically worked to acquire everything on the passengers' wish lists—which included everything from big-ticket items such as flat-screen TVs to small items such as socks. When the flight landed, the gifts were wrapped and waiting for passengers at baggage claim. Unfortunately for light-packing travelers, those who didn't stop by baggage claim missed out on their gifts (which were donated to charity).

Naughty: X-Rated Passengers

The only things these passengers are getting for Christmas are federal charges and possibly an STD. Two flyers were arrested upon landing in Las Vegas after they allegedly performed sex acts on each other three times during the 90-minute flight. The couple didn't even attempt to join the mile-high club in the plane's bathroom—they did it in full view of other passengers, and they continued even after repeated admonishments from flight attendants.

Nice: United

United deserves a spot on the nice list after employees worked to get a flyer home in time to say good-bye to his dying mother. Kerry Drake was rushing home to see his mother one last time, but his connecting flight was delayed. After learning about Drake's situation, United employees held his flight until he could board—and they even made sure that his luggage arrived as well. Drake made it to his destination in time to say his good-byes.

Passenger Donald Gee is definitely on the naughty list and probably also on the No-Fly List, considering that he punched a pilot in the head. Gee allegedly got drunk during a delay and then challenged the pilot of his delayed flight to a fight before punching him in the head.

Nice: Ryanair

Ryanair is the airline we'd nominate as least likely to ever be on the nice list, and yet here it is. The notoriously controversial European budget airline promised earlier this year to reform its "abrupt culture" in an attempt to win back passengers. The airline's CEO, Michael O'Leary, said, "We should try to eliminate things that unnecessarily piss people off," (which is a great goal for every airline). Remember, Ryanair, Santa's watching, so you'd better follow through with those nice promises!

Naughty: Nine-Year-Old Who Snuck on Flight

Now here's a kid who apparently doesn't fear Santa's wrath—a nine-year-old boy managed to sneak aboard a flight to Las Vegas without even having a ticket! The child made it through security unaccompanied by an adult, and no one noticed that he didn't have a flight reservation. The boy landed in Las Vegas, but unfortunately his fun ended there, as suspicious flight attendants turned him over to the police upon landing.

Nice: Airlines for America

It may have been a lost cause, but we'd like to thank the trade group Airlines for America for lobbying hard against a proposed increase in passenger security fees. The increase in question, part of a proposed budget deal, will mean that fees more than double for nonstop tickets—from $5 to $11.20 round-trip. Airlines for America drew attention to the fee hike by passing out airsickness bags that asked, "Are high taxes on air travel making you sick?" It's nice to see at least one group looking out for flyers!

Naughty: Vengeful Ex-Girlfriend

Our nomination for the most vindictive flyer of the year goes to a woman who called in a tip to authorities claiming that her ex-boyfriend, Christopher Shell, was carrying liquid explosives aboard a US Airways flight to Dallas. The flight was diverted for an emergency landing, and a SWAT team removed the wrongly accused Shell from the flight. Although Shell was eventually cleared of any charges for a terrorist plot, he was arrested when he reached Dallas for having outstanding warrants.

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