Celebrities

[c2lass]

I was wondering what celebrities you have encountered on flights. I had Jimmy Hill sat next to me once on a flight from LGW to ABZ (he was very fidgety as well!!) and I have seen John Culshaw, Paul Whitehouse and Chris Eubank at LGW and LHR.

Also, do these people have to join the rest of us in the queues for security or do some extreme celebs like the Beckhams get whizzed through privately. I assume the latter is the case and if so, where do you draw the line at who can get through privately and who cannot!!

[Final 3 Greens]

Sat next to Gary Neville a couple of weeks ago (across the aisle.)

He was quiet (mind you it was an early flight!), but I noticed pleasant and polite to the crew.

One passenger spoke to him as he boarded and GN clearly didn't want to know, although he wasn't at all rude. Fair enough, he was making a private trip and just wanted a bit of piece and quiet.

[Flap Track 6]

We had Lord Douglas Hurd on our flight from Nice to LHR in '99. He paced around the depature lounge constantly, which I took to be a defensive measure to stop people coming up and talking to him. When boarding was called, he just lined up with everyone else.
Saw Alan Whicker at Heathrow a few years ago standing in the taxi queue at some ungodly hour of the morning. I guess he'd just got off a Transatlantic red eye, as we had.

[SXB]

Have been in the same cabin as Arsène Wenger on more than one occasion (SXB being his home city) He's a perfect gent, will talk about anything with anyone.

Sat next to Michael Portillo a few years ago, also a very pleasant chap.

[fyrefli]

When ten of us flew Virgin to Delhi on our way for a couple of weeks paragliding in the Himalaya in October '05, in the LHR departure lounge one of our party turned to the rest and said, "Bless me" (well, okay, only one of those words is one he actually used ;) ), "that's Chris Bonington over there."

I wasn't one of our group who then spoke to Sir Chris but several of the party did and he was a very amiable chap, by all accounts.

[Atishoo]

Jamie Redknapp on an easy flight to Sardinia with very pretty wife Louise. How different from pompous Beckhams they are. Sat right behind me, and then we went to our Hotel, and they boarded Roman whoevers (chelsea owners) yacht, how the other half live. He was fun tho, very down to earth.

[13Alpha]

Had Gordon Brown on my BA Connect flight Edinburgh - London City a few months back (before he was PM). Was already on the plane when we lesser mortals were asked to board.

He sat in 1A with a couple of empty seats beside him. Didn't say much and had a sizeable friend sitting in 1D who made sure he blocked the aisle so GB could get off first when we got to LCY. (if I remember correctly when I checked in online for that flight the whole of the front row was unbookable, rather than just shown as "occupied").

Other celebs: saw Gary Lineker going through security at Edinburgh ago after the Open golf a couple of years ago. And saw Bruce Forsyth and Mick Hucknell (separately) in the BA lounge at Heathrow.

And a darts player at LCY once. But I think I'm starting to scrape the barrel now (apologies to all darts fans... ;))

13Alpha

[PAXboy]

c2lass, if you want the low down on this subject, pop into the Cabin Crew forum. You don't have to ask the question, just search back through the archive and there are a couple of threads that tell it like it happened. ;)

[c2lass]

Thanks for all your interesting comments.

Paxboy, I did a search on celebrities before I posted this and didn't find a direct link, however after I started the thread, I got the similar threads at the bottom of the page and there was a thread in the Cabin Crew about Celebs, although it was dated 2002/2003.

Does anyone know the answer re celebs going through security?

[perkin]

Ruud van Nistlerooy and Raymond van Barneveld on the same 'plane, if you happen to be Dutch it doesnt get much better than that! Both highly polite and civilised, not seeking to bring attention to themselves, but tolerating the inevitable autograph hunters...

[malagajohn]

I once sat an aisle away from Colin Montgomery on a BA - LGW . MCO flight , when he was on his way to play in a US PGA event. In spite of the bad press he gets , he was a decent chap and occasionally talked to his fellow passengers - it certainly changed my opinion of him

[Haven't a clue]

Shuttle MAN-LHR. All board early for a change. Then on comes Tony Blair, Cherie and loads of acolytes clutching red boxes. They've got the whole of the second cabin to themselves. Oft to LHR we go. On time for a change.... But...on arrival we go to a stand away from the terminal. Motorcade for TB. Bus for us plebs. Oh well. (Wonder whether they are alowed their red boxes in addition to their one piece of cabin baggage....)

BA F LHR to HKG. A while back when they still had 2 by 2 seating and those nice aluminium ashtray covers - so satisfying to fiddle with... On gets Jackie Stewart. Sits across the aisle for me. Overheard the nice Chinese lady sat next to him say "and what do you do...?". Patient response, followed by stuffing the duvet into a ball under his feet (a nice technique to get legs level before the advent of beds, copied immediately by me) and oft he goes to sleep.

Nowadays celebs prefer Netjets.....so would I if I could afford it!

[jason_slf]

On a LTN to Ibiza flight a few months back I was a few seats away from the ex radio 1 DJ Gary Davis. After we'd landed the whole plane (well it sounded like it) sang "Ooh Gary Davis on your ray-de-oh!" to him! I think he was the only one not enjoying it.....

[Leezyjet]

Celebs use the same security as everyone else, although most of the more wealthy celebs will be in classes that entitle them to use the priority channels anyway.

All depends on who they are and how much press interest there is in them though as to whether they queue with everyone else or get escorted to the front though.

:\

[RevMan2]

Richard Quest (just after his move to CNN) on a flight to Almaty (excellent company, v. clued up guy), sat next to Daliah Lavi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daliah_Lavi) on a flight to FRA in the early 70s (and didn't have a clue who she was until I sneaked a look at her passport and even then I wasn't much the wiser), flew from MUC to MIA on Lauda next to Fritz Egner (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Egner) (German DJ and TV host). Always figured him to a be a nerd, but we had a most enjoyable 8 hours or so.
Blackeyed Peas FRA-LAX in F last year. Had a chat about what they reckoned was their best work which I then downloaded inflight from the iTunes store via the WLAN that's been sadly discontinued.
Dave Dobbyn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Dobbyn) AKL-SYD.
Mike Gatting at BKK - didn't mention Shane Warne, though...

[dynamite dean]

Well the celebs who dont want the hassle of everyone else looking at them going via security hire a private jet of course, most of the places we have taken the beckhams go via the back door screening is somewhat lax at places although i wont say where in the UK!

[Aksai Oiler]

Recently sat next to Kate Moss on a flight from Malaga to Heathrow - didn't see too much as she was wearing a blanket for most of the flight:}

Also got a little confused one night after a long day of travelling, almost walked into Garry Linekar in the T1 BA lounge - got him confused with my brother - must have been the grey hairs

Seen various people in the lounges, such as Helen Mirren, Edward Fox & a few others. Have to buy the missus a copy of Hello magazine so she knows who these folks are (she's Kazakh); but then again when she points out the Kazakh celebs I have no clue either

Poka

Oiler

[Mr Quite Happy]

the wifes boss (also a girl) was flying to the US from London with Virgin and was sitting next to Billy Connolly. Apparently whilst she slept her blanket fell off her a couple of times and BC tucked her back in. She was informed by another passenger as they left the plane.

[manintheback]

As a regular for several years to Milan, not surprisingly saw a few. Amongst them Patrick Lichfield was a regular on the Friday night flight back for a while - a really nice guy to chat too, sad when he passed away. Jodie Kidd, pleasant, Paul Weller - oh dear, wont say anymore. Kylie Minogue. Sven and Nancy. Sepp Blatter (got his own personal car when deplaned rather than the bus like the rest of us).

[OFBSLF]

Minor celebrities:

US Senator John Kerry on a USAir shuttle flight from BOS to DCA.

Robert Reich in first class on an AA flight from BOS to DFW.

Robert Crandall in first class on many AA flights from BOS to DFW, back when he was CEO.

[raejones]

Once sat across from Caprice on MAN-LHR...shame I didn't recognise her at the time :O She scrubs up okay.... ;)
Also on same flight got chatting to some minor bit part actress from Corrie...she was quite pleasant.

[Jordan D]

My Aunt was sitting next to Sam Torrenance on the BA flight back from JFK a few months ago - doors were open and on the ground, and she sent an e-mail from her blackberry to a number of us in the family asking our opinion on whether it would be appropriate to ask for his autograph (she's into golf). Before my reply was composed, she had sent another e-mail saying he'd got upgraded to First.

Oh to be famous ...

Jordan

[FlyingV]

Joanna Lumley on 2 occasions, both Heathrow-Dublin. Minnie Driver was with her on one occasion.

Terry Waite, long time hostage in Lebanon on a Moscow-Heathrow.

The RTÉ horse racing presenting team on the way to Cheltenham.

Dick Roche, once Irish Minister for the Environment (now demoted :} )

[Gertcha]

I think I have topped all of you. A few years ago I was on the same flight as B*witched AND John Lithgow. :cool:

[bolkow]

Few years back sat next to george best on a flight from cork to london.
I can honestly say I found he was more than willing to talk to anyone about anything, he was very witty in his replies to various people who all plied him with white wine, he started telling me jokes when he quickly realised I know little about football. Really liked the guy who really did'nt need to be talkative or polite to me. A very sociable man.

[Pandora's Box]

Had a few celebs on board over the years....

Anne Robinson, took her to Knock of all places. Jasper Carrott, Michelle Collins, Niamh Cusack, Tracy Shaw from coronation street, Quentin Wilson (Top Gear i think) and Paula Radcliffe.

Not such big celeb names..

Some geezer who plays footie for Chelsea, 2 of the cast from that Doctors programme and Dr Leg from Eastenders years ago.

There are more but cant remember right now :*

[eastern wiseguy]

On a fam flight with BA we had the Honeyz (spelling?)visit the flightdeck and a few weeks ago Timmy Mallett...my brush with fame:rolleyes:

[B Sousa]

I cannot even count the folks who have sat next to me and didnt even show the faintest sign of recognition.

[840]

I sat next to Evan Dando (lead singer of The Lemonheads once).

I also sat among the winners of the Irish version of Popstars. As they were in Economy, I felt like asking how the career was going - it wasn't - but I bit my tongue.

I've seen a few politicians as well. Had to sit next to Martin Ferris once. Just where you want to be on a plane, next to a convicted terrorist.

The only at the airport sightings I can remember are Rudi Voeller and Christian Cullen.

[Glamgirl]

A small part of my list...

Tessa Jowell - Witch.

Jack Straw - Shy

Anna Ryder-Richardson (diy tv stuff) - Surly, rude, miserable

Ant and Dec - Hungover but very lovely

Davina McCall - Brilliant, always chatty and smiley, doesn't shout in real life, gorgeous husband

Dr Chris Steele (this morning) - Rude, always demanding upgrades-unsuccessfully of course

Paralympics atlethics team - Fantastic! Great fun, best jokes

Rio Ferdinand (footie) - Rude - shoved a hand in my face

Phil Spence (sp? location ch4 guy) - Yummy and polite

I'll think of more some other time

Gg

[c2lass]

Interesting some of the Divas and the nice celebs!!

[MrSoft]

In the security queue for Southampton-Man on Flybe a couple of months ago. Gordon Strachan in a suit, in front (taller than you'd imagine). Behind Jackie Charlton, in a suit (even taller than you'd imagine). All coming home from Alan Ball's memorial service.

[larssnowpharter]

When one was a lad, flew DC3 from Bristol to Dublin and was sat next to one Gp Capt L Cheshire VC RAF (Retd).

[Doobs]

BA LHR to Brussels with Tony Hadley (ex Spandeau Ballet) sat next to me. Decent bloke and cheery considering it was very early.

Late 80's, I was sat in departures at Dusseldorf and the whole of Spandeau Ballet came and sat next to me en route to Birmingham.

Gordon Ramsey was on my girlfriends flight and declined the on board meal with a smile.

[graphitestick]

these days a celebrity could be anyone from a big brother contestant to a major film star but i frisked Ann Widdicombe, Posh and Sue Johnston some years ago. All were very pleasant although Brooklyn did have a tantrum (terrible two's ). Sir Trevor MacDonald was a gentleman at security. MUFC players often come through Manchester and they go through the same screening as all passengers. Major politicians are sometimes excempt but not many. David Blunkett was screened just like all of us last week.

[Avman]

Remember The Bangles (Manic Monday)? Shared an upper deck First Class B747 cabin with them & their manager from EWR to LAX at the height of their popularity (1986). They came and had a chat to my colleague and me. Nice girls. Still got their personally autographed photo in my office at home. Think they're making a comeback by the way.

[WHBM]

On an Easyjet flight with Stelios, who was sat in 1F as we all boarded. Once under way he spent half the flight working down the cabin saying hello and chatting to all. It's always good to see someone who runs a business talking to their customers.

[Ace Rimmer]

Sat next to Kissenger JFK-LHR once he said hello when he sat down and goodbye when when he got off - not another word...

David Bellamy in a queue at a check-in top bloke had a long chat (it was a long queue)..

Noel Gallagher LHR-EDI nice bloke very witty and chatty not at all the gob-****e I expected...

Justin Rose (when he was having a run of bad form) Me: Wish I was on my way to play golf
Him: (big grin) Not if you were playing as badly as I am you wouldn't

Barry Humphries: In a taxi queue his other half and Mrs R very chatty - he totally up himself w@nker

Seen loads more round various terminals usually spotted by Mrs R First...including the pneumatic Jordan (who was a good deal shorter than I imagined and a good deal prettier in minimum issue slap)

[J McK]

Seen Ryan Giggs at MAN 2 years ago getting off my flight.

Flying to Antigua a few years ago on BA and looked down the aisle and who did I spot....Richard Branson. Sitting in economy too. Really nice guy as well. I was only twelve at the time and he chatted away asking about where I was going etc. He was going to his private island with about 20 of his childrens friends (this before Virgin started Carribean routes). Even got his autograph on a BA economy menu! :ok:

[jojo82]

working on checkin at MAN most days we see a face or two.
Last week Russel brand, ronan keating and valencia football team flew out. Gordan Brown has flown on flymaybe a few times, so has peter kay, he was wicked at checkin! Sven gorden erkinson flew in couple of days ago, seen many of the northwest football teams, checked most of them in too, recently black burn rovers, man city, man u, bolton and also ac milan, spraka prague (i think) oooh and the welsh football team!

a couple of years back Milan Baros (mmmmm) ;) flew reguallary on czech airlines, very lovely bloke, very chatty and friendly and even bought us a few coffees esp during the winter when the terminal decided not to have any heating! him and another team mate whom is also czech and use to play for liverpool, smicer(?) very lovely and wen they won the european cup (?) we had our pics taken with their medals! :D

i checked in sir bobby charlton on a santa flight few years back with his grandchilden, lovely guy. Also checked in Mr Patrick Trueman from eastenders - very funny! also checked in most of the corrie crew, they always fly to dublin on ryanair! strange! Gary and Phil Neville and family regually fly to malta on air malta too, they have a place out there. ooh nearly forgot, Pink flew out on swiss 2 weeks ago, she was abit moody and dam right rude. half the time i dont recognise these people, infact most of the time i dont recognise them as im useless with celebs!! maybe just as well really! plus with not being a fan of football, it doesnt bother me checkin in the team, unlike others where it could be there own team and get very excited at checkin! :hmm::)

[Holidayperson!]

I'm a frequent flyer with many airlines and never had the change to meet a celebrity!
You're all lucky :) maybe one day I will get to meet a celeb! .. Hopefully.

[c2lass]

Interesting point re the Security and who has to queue and go through just like the rest of us.

[Phileas Fogg]

John Cleese was brilliant, would rather settle for a cheese sandwich in the airline office rather than the VIP lounge whilst waiting for a rescheduled flight LGW-BGI with his daughter. Tina Turner was OK but got a rollocking from the hostie to take her walkman off and listen to the emergency brief whilst flying PLH-LGW on a twotter and having just returned from AMS the entire Red Arrows team tried to follow me, well if the truth were known they were following my 6 cases of Heineken, thru NWI airport.

However, once flew TPA-BGR-LGW with 'mouthy' Mike Reid, subsequently, of Eastenders fame, what a frigging mouthpiece he is, the same in real life as he is on screen.

[JAR]

However, once flew TPA-BGR-LGW with 'mouthy' Mike Reid, subsequently, of Eastenders fame, what a frigging mouthpiece he is, the same in real life as he is on screen.
.......................................Or was!

[Phileas Fogg]

Apologies, just been catching up on the UK news and no offence intended.

[Wycombe]

Back in 2000 flew (RAF Tristar) to the lovely islands in the South Atlantic.
Got nightstopped in Ascension on the way down due poor weather forecast at final destination.

Ended up having a few beers with Tony Hadley and John Keeble (ex-Spandau-Ballet) - both very genuine and up for a laugh.

A laugh was also had by the Flight Deck crew with the pre-landing announcement, that started along the lines of - "To cut a long story short, it's true we'll be landing in Ascension in about 20 minutes..." - if you know the songs, you get the idea!

[parabellum]

Somewhere back in the early '80s was flying for Air Europe from Faro to Gatwick.
Son of Gloria Hunniford came to visit, he was around ten or twelve years old I would guess and we persuaded him to ask his mum to come and see us, which she duly did, lovely lady. As she was leaving the flight deck I turned to ogle her legs and she caught me, she was looking in the mirror on the back of the flight deck door, turned round, huge smile, "Next time I'll wear the black fishnets!" Me, speechless!

[Diedtrying]

One of my mates wife worked for JAL (not any more though) the Beckhams wanted to fly 1st class but being the Beckhams didn't want to pay for the flight, :eek: (seeing as how poor they are) so in the end JAL said yes if they could get a photo shoot with said couple, at first the couple said no, so JAL said 'no photo, no freebie' in the end JAL got their photo.

[Whatisthematrix]

Have met a few in my time. First was Brian May on a flight to LAX. Most recent was Orlando Bloom on the way back from LAX.

Most surreal was a VAA flight from LAX (again) and onboard the same flight was Jeremy Irons, Xzibit (Pimp My Ride) and Alfredo Molina (Chocolat, Da Vinci Code etc). I was at the bar and Alfedo Molina said to me "I recognise you from somewhere...". Could not help but respond with "Isn't that my line?"

All very nice people

[AR1]

On Aircraft, nobody, apart from the Sierra leone Olympic squad in 1996. In my local Sainsburys...Peter Gabriel, Roger Cook, CPB:ugh:

[TwinAisle]

A laugh was also had by the Flight Deck crew with the pre-landing announcement, that started along the lines of - "To cut a long story short, it's true we'll be landing in Ascension in about 20 minutes..." - if you know the songs, you get the idea!

I was on EK coming back from Dubai a few years back, and UB40 got on (they had been performing in the UAE). Needless to say, the crew offered them "white wine, or red red wine, sir?"

TA

[glamourgirl!]

Colin Farrel, Mel B, Helens bonnen Carter, Stelios (on virgin!) Richard Branson (of course) Gayle Porter (very strange irratic behaviour) Helena Christianson(dog ruff) Vernon Kay ( extremly friendly and proper gorgeous!)Sharon Osbourne( very naughty!), Daniella Westbrooke (ecconomy) Sol Cambell(very miserable)Bruno(dancing judge bbc/same flight as sharon oz!) Laurence llewelyn(suprisingly very nice) plus many d list celebs x

[Bangkokeasy]

Normally when travelling, I am "in the zone", so wouldn't notice even if Katherine Zeta Jones was nuzzling my ear (OK, yes I probably would).

However, I do recall some years back, sharing a gate area with Rev Ian Paisley. This was while NI was still in turmoil and it did occur to me that he might be a target of someone or other and wondered whether it was entirely a good idea to be on the same flight as him!

[Flight Detent]

Operating LAX-Nadi with AirPac, back when they had those great B747 Classics in service, I took a few moments to eat a meal in the upper deck area and Rupert Murdock struck up a conversation with me.
I had to tear myself away after only a few minutes to get back, then he came over and continued chatting whilst waiting for our bags in the arrivals area (we were all last off the airplane).
I was really surprised, he was a very pleasant and easy guy to chat with, I wish I had had more time!

FD :hmm:

[Pom Pax]

I wish I could say I had slept with Kate Moss BUT unfortunately there was the boss of Top Shop, the aisle and a business lady from Melbourne between us!
However I can say I've seen her wake up in the morning, 10 minutes arranging hair with fingers followed by an equal length of time wandering about with a toothbrush waiting for the lou to become vacant.
There may have been a couple of other models in the party which took up 11 of the 14 main deck biz seats on TG LHR - BKK.

[No longer ATC]

Over the years working on chk-in....Sir Garfield Sobers(cricket legend, apparently)..really rude little man, played the DYKWIA card. Ditto the fat DJ Danny Baker-trying on for the upgrade..Paul McCartney (really nice, pleased when found out I was a scouser n my dad was in same class as Lennon) , Joan Collins..bitch to the chk in staff, Princess Margaret ditto, Buzz Aldrin-lovely, Kylie- same, Steve McManaman (LFC) very quiet...loads more but memory not what it was.............

[smith]

President Jimmy Carter shook my hand on a flight from Atlanta to DC. Delta

Michael Campbell (US Open Golf champion) LHR to LAX (economy). AA

Kirsty Young (News presenter) GLA-JFK, spoke to her most of the way until my nose started bleeding profusely and covered my shirt in blood. BA

Van Der Sar (Dutch Goalie) AMS-LHR the day after Holland beat Scotland 5-0 in Euro Championship qualifier. Damn is he tall, I'm 6'1" and was staring up at him. KLM

Andy Fordham. The huge fat guy that plays darts (the viking) LHR-Osaka, really nice to talk to but must have knocked back about 20 pints in the departure lounge in the space of 10mins. JAL

The late great Davie Cooper (Rangers FC) GLA-LHR. BMI

Paul Lambert (Champions League winner Borrusia Dortmund) Malaga-GLA flyglobespan.

Tim Curry (Rocky Horror) LAX-LHR. AA.

Various MP's and Eastenders actors LHR-GLA.

Finally, saw Cliff Richard at LHR.

[IB4138]

How many of you have sat next to me? :hmm:

Lonnie Donegan, Russ Abbott, Stan Boardman, Ian Paisley, Gianluca Vialli,
Sir Alan Sugar, Robert Maxwell, Aly McCoist, Joe Corrigan, Andy Gray,
Leslie Thomas, FranK Lebouef, Gianfranco Zola, Harry Seacome, to name but some.