Several instances that I can remember, in chronological order. In each case, I had at least a brief conversation with the celebrity:

Ron Allen (when he was Delta CEO) on an LGA-DCA Shuttle flight (he sat next to me and didn't want to be recognized -- too bad).
G. Gordon Liddy on a flight to somewhere; I had recently been a guest on his radio show (by telephone), but he didn't remember me!
Hugh Downs (pre-retirement, just after his double-knee-replacement operation) on a Saturday non-stop from JFK to PHX (his home), with his wife -- very friendly to lots of people.
Antonin Scalia on a DCA-LGA Shuttle flight -- lots of security in DC; none in New York! -- quite personable.
Patti LaBelle on late-night ATL-LGA flight, with some guy who may have been a bodyguard.
Henry Kissinger (and wife) on United HKG-JFK non-stop flight, June 9, 2001.

That's all I can remember at the moment.

Bruce

had the unfortunate experience of one gut-wrenching flt DFW-LAX seated diagonally from Miss Courtney Love and would have gladly parachuted out somewhere over New Mexico had i been so equipped... the way some people evidently feel their celebrity entitles them to act is nauseating.

sa_boy-

the gods have truly smiled upon you. got a heads up (no pun intended) on any other flts Denise might have planned? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

In no particular order:

Joe Theismann (Former Redskins QB/ESPN Announcer) - IAD Airport, and about two years later, in F on a DEN-IAD UA Flight

Helmut Kohl (Former German Chancellor) - MUC Airport

Gerald Ford - TRI Airport

Bryan Adams (Canadian singer) - US Flight from CLT-TRI

and, my all-time favorite for celebrity overkill:

Micki Dolenz from the Monkees - I boarded a US flight from CLT-TRI one night which was about a quarter-full (which is extremely busy for this route). It was a 737, and I thought it was extremely peculiar that I was the last pax in coach seated in Row 12. The flight was scheduled to leave at 2130, and everyone (so I thought) had boarded long before then, but we sat. About 2145, the Captain comes on the intercom and says that we are waiting on another passenger. About 2205, this passenger finally boards, thereby avoiding the riot that was brewing throughout the plane. As I was sitting farthest back, the Australian Digger Hat that was pulled low over the pax's head started to come off, and after a few minutes paused, I thought to myself, "That's Davy Jones...er, Mike Nesmith...no, Micki what's his name".

He goes all the way back in Coach, with an FA guarding the route to the lavs. Since this is such a short flight (25 minutes), no one gets up to go, but I would have like to have seen the confrontation.

After landing at TRI, I look back, and he has pulled the hat low again, avoiding any contact. Not sure when he got off the plane, but I picked up my bags and headed home.

Just recently -- Clint Eastwood, in the luggage claim area of SJC.

Last year, one row ahead of us on DL JFK-SFO -- Bryant Gumbel.

A few years ago, in coach on AOM (ugh!) -- I sat next to Eve Plumb (Jan from the Brady Bunch), who we actually had a couple of dinners with earlier on Bora Bora.

In no particular order:
Erly 90's Robin Williams - LAS-SFO
Mid 90's Tom Arnold - LAS-SFO
Erly 90's Rickey Henderson - LAS-SFO
Erly 90's Fmr Pres Carter - ATL-SFO
7/98 King of Tonga and entourage SFO-HNL
5/01 Fmr Pres Bush & Secy State Baker HKG-NRT






[This message has been edited by unagi1 (edited 07-20-2001).]

Two years ago, waiting to board in PBI to Charlotte saw Tony Bennett seated and waiting by himself. We were actually headed home from a trip to New Orleans and West Palm, and just happened to have picked up an album (vinyl) from a used record store in NO, a compilation of old swing jazz hits. On the cover a Hirshfeld caricature including a pic of Tony Bennett. Got up the nerve to ask for autograph. He signed it, said it was a good collection and was apparently pleased to see me say thanks and walk away.

A few years back from MIA to LGA sat accross Cher (singer). Looks much better on TV and on print than in person.

A few years back sat next to Nikki Taylor (model). She looks georgeous, but didnt like soo many small tatoos that she has in her hands and ankles (I guess they must digitally remove them from the pictures). She keep such an unhappy look that I did not even try to say hello.

Two years ago from LAX to ATL I asked (unkowingly) Jim Brown (football hall of famer and actor -the dirty dozen) to get off my seat on F. Only when I saw him stand did I recognize him. He sat on the seat behind me.

------------------
The trouble with resisting temptation is...that you may not get another chance :-)

I saw Desmond Tutu a couple of Thanksgivings ago in ATL. I think his daughter is in school at Emory. A small man with a huge legacy!

In no particular order...

Glen Campbell
Joe Bugel (NFL Coach)
Kevin Johnson (NBA)
Connie Hawkins (NBA)
Charles Barkley (need I say more...)
Stevie Nicks

My husband has encountered James Carville on several occasions, and sat next to Valerie Harper about 3 months ago on the DL Shuttle from LGA-BOS, but his most favorite celeb sighting was last week, from MCO-LGA on DL, when he sat in First next to.......

Tyra Banks.

Dave Matthews - TPA- talked to him in baggage claim in Tampa for 30 minutes - had been listening to his music at home on stero, in car on radio and in airport over loudspeakers with no break on way to pick up friend. Friend who tagged along for ride saw him, we went up and talked to him and tried to convince him to hang out with us in Ybor City. (He was ripped on rum and cokes). He said "no" because he had a better offer. Meantime buddy I was picking up said two girls were staring at him whole plane ride. Turns out he was sitting behind Dave the whole way and the "better offer" Dave mentioned was these two chicks arm in arm leading Mr. Matthews out after he claimed his bags.

David Wells - ATL - in bar watching football game, look behind me, there he is (he is about 6'4", 260, hard to miss). Quietly ask "are you who I think you are?", he nods, I pull out card and pen and he signs. I say thank you and congratulations on perfect game, never mentioned baseball, Yankees, or his name.

Wade Boggs, Dwight Gooden, Tino Martinez -TPA - in Tampa heading to NY for business (these guys were going up for the Espys). See Doc at gate and quietly ask him to sign, he does on gate agents desk, no muss, no fuss. See Boggs with Margo Adams in FC as I am heading to cattle class. Wait until flight just about to leave, walk up to FC and tell Boggs I am huge Red Sox fan and I think he is awesome. (He is playing for Yankees at time). He grins, signs, shakes my hand (almost rips it off and I can bench almost 300 lbs). Figured out later I was leaning over Tino Martinez the whole time (he did not look very comfortable).

------------------
I can see for miles and miles...

A long time ago....
back in '93...Going from CVG to LAX..I sat next to a physically advantaged person in the terminal for about an hour... He had a squash racquet, so we talked about that...(I played for my school in college)...

I had no clue who it was until a fan came up for an autograph from...Kareem.

We continued our conversation about squash, and I didn't ask about the b-ball world. Nice guy...

We broke off the conversation when his handler decideed it was time to board.

I really apreciate a celebs right to privacy.


dd

Just this year on the same flight in first sitting directly across from me was Brooke Burns of Baywatch Hawaii. Super, super, super nice... (in first btw). Also on the same flight was former North Carolina head basketball coach Dean Smith who is a big, big star in NC. No one seemed to recoginize him in CLT. Oddly, he sat way back in Coach.

I was on a flight with a WWF star, the Godfather. Only a few people noticed him but he did stick out like a sore thumb.

In Germany a few years back in the Frankfort airport I met Alex Trubeck (sp). He was casting for Jeopardy using soliders and airman overseas.

Politicos and near politicos
Alexander Haig ORD-DCA
Rostenkowski, Gary Bauer, Bill Bennett at ORD
Mayor Daley ORD-DCA (got us first in line for takeoff after weather, manifest read **VIP MAYOR OF CHICAGO**)
Bill Perry SFO-IAD

Celebs
Arnold Schwarzeneger @ STL Ambassadors Club
Teri Garr @ SJC Admirals Club
Dustin Hoffman @ LAX Shuttle gates
Gary Collins @ LAX shuttle gates

I think this puts me within three degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Behold!




------------------

UA 1K since 1997, hitting MM < 9-30-01.