Tiron Alexander fooled airline systems for years and scored trips that most folks only dream about before he ended up in a courtroom.
Tiron, a 35-year-old from Florida, discovered that some airlines allow pilots and flight attendants to claim free flights as a work perk. It is a known benefit based on seniority, and it typically saves crews a significant amount of travel costs. Between 2018 and 2024, he utilized online booking tools that were intended for use by real crew members only. The system asked for a badge number, employer, and hire date. Those details became the key to his plan.
Tiron worked for an airline in Dallas starting in 2015, but he was never a pilot or a flight attendant. Court records indicate that he used different badge numbers and claimed to have worked for several airlines. He went through the process about 30 times and claimed to have worked for seven airlines.
With that information typed in, the system treated him like crew and handed over boarding passes without charging him. He even passed through airport security like any other traveler, with the TSA stating that he still underwent ID checks and screening. The TSA later said that he did not pose a threat to other passengers, but that did not mean the entire setup was harmless.
The Flights, The Arrest, And The Charges
Image via Canva/Anna Stills
One airline alone gave him 34 free flights. Prosecutors also stated that he posed as a flight attendant for three other airlines, which increased the total count to more than 120 flights. That is a lot of trips without paying.
The fun stopped when investigators noticed the strange pattern. Tiron was indicted in Florida and arrested in California earlier this year. The case moved fast from there. A federal jury found him guilty on June 5, and the list of charges is serious. He was convicted of four counts of wire fraud and one count of entering secure airport areas under false pretenses.
The maximum sentence for wire fraud is 20 years in prison. Entering a secure airport area under false pretenses could result in an additional 10 years. Both charges can include up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is set for August, and that date is coming soon.