Flight prices are higher than ever and passengers are seeking any potential avenue to reduce their travel costs. Some travelers opt for weekday flights, when prices are a bit lower. Others use private browsers when booking flights to avoid airlines tracking their search history to raise prices.
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A Toronto man didn't settle for a discounted rate and resorted to illegal means to score free flights: impersonating a pilot.
Dallas Pokornik, a former flight attendant, used fake identification to pose as a pilot and get hundreds of free flights on multiple airlines from January 2020 to October 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Hawaii said in a statement released Friday.
Toronto Man Arrested For Impersonating Pilot
Pokornik, 34, boasted online for years about his global travels, according to a social media account reviewed by CBC News.
He was arrested in Panama and extradited to the US in January.
Now, the travel enthusiast could serve 20 years in prison for his illegal globe-trotting adventures.
Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 US after pleading guilty last week in U.S. district court in Honolulu to one count of wire fraud. Pokornik also agreed to pay restitution to three unnamed U.S.-based "victim airlines," including one in Hawaii.
"This individual took advantage of travel security protocols for his own benefit. He will now face the consequences of his actions," said CJ Ammons, the acting special agent in charge of the U.S. Homeland Security investigations office in Honolulu.
Per Paddle Your Own Kanoo, the 33-year-old previously worked for a Toronto-based airline as a flight attendant until 2019, before quitting.
According to court filings viewed by CBC, Pokornik later showed a "false and fictitious" identification badge, claiming he was still employed by the Canadian airline. Pokornik did this frequently to obtain "travel benefits, including airline tickets that are reserved for pilots."
Court documents reveal that Pokornik is currently out of jail, but under restrictions. He is awaiting prosecution following his January arrest.
Air Canada Pilot Arrested For Lack of Credentials
Pokornik's wild case is separate from Project Icarus, in which a man piloted hundreds of flights without the proper credentials.
Geoffrey Wall earned more than $2.9 million for servicing over 900 flights as a captain. From 2009 until his arrest earlier this year, Wall serviced domestic and international flights.
Wall held a valid commercial pilot license during that time. However, authorities state that he did not possess the required airline transport pilot license to serve as a captain.
Wall was fired from Air Canada earlier this year. In June, his court case was adjourned for 12 weeks.
