- A Florida man who used to be a flight attendant posed as one to book free flights through several airlines. On June 5, a federal jury convicted Tiron Alexander of wire fraud and entering a secure area of an airport by false pretenses. Alexander had about 30 different badge numbers and dates of hire he used to book the free flights.
One man was seemingly so fed up with the cost of airline tickets he developed a scheme to get them for free. On June 5, a federal jury convicted Tiron Alexander, 35, of wire fraud and entering a secure area of an airport by false pretenses, according to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
From 2018 to 2024, Alexander booked free flights on an airline carrier’s website that should have been available only to pilots and flight attendants, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial. Alexander flew on 34 flights without paying for them by posing as a flight attendant who worked for other airlines, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
During the 34 flights, Alexander claimed through the airline carrier’s website application process he worked for seven airlines and had about 30 different badge numbers and dates of hire. The application process requires users to select whether they’re a pilot or flight attendant and provide their employer, date of hire, and badge number.
According to submitted evidence, Alexander was a global ticketing support representative for Delta Air Lines from 2010 to 2012 and a flight attendant for Atlantic Southeast Airlines from 2013 to 2014. In 2015, he briefly worked as a flight attendant for Republic Airways.
Trial evidence also showed Alexander had posed as a flight attendant on three other airlines, and he had ultimately booked more than 120 free flights by claiming he was a flight attendant, according to the announcement.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida declined Fortune’s request for comment, and Alexander’s defense lawyers did not respond.
The Transportation Security Administration investigated the case. The TSA told Fortune it was “pleased to receive a guilty verdict on all five counts against Tiron Alexander.”
“While Alexander was able to board flights by fraudulently obtaining a boarding pass, he underwent all applicable TSA security procedures, including ID verification and physical screening, and did not pose a threat to other airline passengers,” a TSA spokesperson told Fortune. “TSA remains dedicated to the security of the flying public and will continue to support the prosecution of those who break air travel laws.”
The incidents occurred at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, according to the indictment obtained by Fortune. The indictment does not name the airlines through which Alexander booked his flights, but screenshots of his bookings indicate he used Spirit Airlines. The indictment also said Alexander booked on an airline based in Miramar, Fla., which matches Spirit Airlines, and another based in Dallas, Texas.
Spirit Airlines declined to comment on the case.
U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra is scheduled to sentence Alexander on Aug. 25.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
