A New York politician was denied boarding on an American Airlines flight after leaving the gate area to purchase a Chick-fil-A sandwich, resulting in a missed opportunity to attend the Democratic National Convention.
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy attempted to board his flight after returning with food, only to find the boarding doors closed. According to witnesses, McCoy "dropped his name several times" but the gate agent "didn't care or know who he was." McCoy reportedly stated that he was the county executive and mentioned his planned meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. He also noted his role overseeing the airport.
The gate agent responded, "You shouldn’t have gone and gotten food; you would have made your flight."