The Airport

"**The Airport**"
"The Airport"
Seinfeld episode
Episode no.	Season 4; Episode 11
Directed by	Tom Cherones
Written by	Larry Charles
Production code	412
Original air date	November 25, 1992
Guest appearances
	Jennifer Campbell as Tia; Jim J. Bullock as Coach Flight Attendant; Allan Wasserman as Grossbard; Annie Korzen as Passenger; Karen Denise Williams as First Class Flight Attendant; Scott Burkholder as Prisoner; Deck McKenzie as Security Guard;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "The Contest"	Next →; "The Pick"
	Seinfeld season 4
	List of episodes

"The Airport" is the 52nd episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the 12th episode of the fourth season and aired on November 25, 1992 on NBC.^[1] This episode centers on Jerry's and Elaine's differing experiences in first class and coach on the same airline flight, while George and Kramer suffer mishaps trying to pick them up at the airport.

Plot

Jerry and Elaine are flying home from St. Louis to New York after Jerry performed a show and Elaine visited her sister. Elaine objects to Jerry paying the skycap his suggested tip, arguing it is far too much. In revenge, the skycap sends her luggage on a flight to Honolulu. When their flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport is cancelled, Jerry and Elaine rebook on a flight to LaGuardia Airport, which has one seat left in first class and one in coach. Jerry claims the first class seat, arguing that Elaine has never flown first class and so cannot miss it. Elaine is uncomfortable in the small coach seats and deals with rude, obnoxious people while Jerry parties in first class with a model, Tia Van Camp, and a steady flow of complimentary wine and desserts. Elaine sneaks into first class, but is caught and returned to coach.

Due to their rebooking and a rerouting of their flight, George and Kramer go between JFK and LaGuardia to pick them up. At JFK, George takes the last copy of Time, since he believes Jerry mentioned him in his interview for the magazine. Another customer argues he has more right to the magazine since he is the cover feature. Looking at the customer's face and the headline "Caught", George realizes his companions are a police escort and so taunts him with the magazine as he is dragged away. Kramer sees a man who he believes is a former roommate, John Grossbard, who owes him $240 from twenty years ago. Kramer hatches a scheme: he and George will buy tickets for the man's flight and board it, Kramer gets his money back, and they get off the plane and return the tickets. George buys into the scheme, as it will give him frequent flyer miles, and he will get his money back. However, Kramer buys non-refundable tickets, claiming the woman who sold them convinced him it was a good deal.

The two board the plane and Kramer confronts Grossbard; when the man denies knowing Kramer, Kramer attempts to reach into his pocket and grab his wallet, which creates a scene. George waits for the bathroom. When the door opens up, it is the prisoner. He grabs George, pulls him into the bathroom, locks the door and assaults him. Kramer is removed from the plane, but he escapes the security guard's grasp and runs away.

When Jerry and Elaine land, Tia gives Jerry her phone number. Elaine's bag arrives in Honolulu. Kramer comes sliding down the baggage chute. Jerry, Elaine, and Kramer leave, while George is on the airplane, flying to an unknown location, screaming "Kramer!"

Production

In the scene where Elaine is offered the kosher meal, the voice from across the aisle, claiming he had ordered it, is Larry David's. Larry Charles, the writer of the episode, makes an appearance coming out of a smelly airplane bathroom before Elaine goes in. Deck McKenzie, Jerry Seinfeld's stand-in on the show, appears as the security guard.

When confronted by the shackled prisoner in the airport gift shop, George says, "But you are, Blanche. You are in the shackles!" This is a reference to What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, where Baby Jane Hudson delivers a similar line to Blanche Hudson, who is using a wheelchair.

References

^ "Seinfeld Season 4 Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved 2 December 2021.

External links

"The Airport" at IMDb

[tvguide-1] "Seinfeld Season 4 Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved 2 December 2021.

[1]

v t e Seinfeld episodes
Season 1	"The Seinfeld Chronicles" "The Stake Out" "The Robbery" "Male Unbonding" "The Stock Tip"
Season 2	"The Ex-Girlfriend" "The Pony Remark" "The Jacket" "The Phone Message" "The Apartment" "The Statue" "The Revenge" "The Heart Attack" "The Deal" "The Baby Shower" "The Chinese Restaurant" "The Busboy"
Season 3	"The Note" "The Truth" "The Pen" "The Dog" "The Library" "The Parking Garage" "The Cafe" "The Tape" "The Nose Job" "The Stranded" "The Alternate Side" "The Red Dot" "The Subway" "The Pez Dispenser" "The Suicide" "The Fix-Up" "The Boyfriend"† "The Limo" "The Good Samaritan" "The Letter" "The Parking Space" "The Keys"
Season 4	"The Trip"† "The Pitch" "The Ticket" "The Wallet" "The Watch" "The Bubble Boy" "The Cheever Letters" "The Opera" "The Virgin" "The Contest" "The Airport" "The Pick" "The Movie" "The Visa" "The Shoes" "The Outing" "The Old Man" "The Implant" "The Junior Mint" "The Smelly Car" "The Handicap Spot" "The Pilot"†
Season 5	"The Mango" "The Puffy Shirt" "The Glasses" "The Sniffing Accountant" "The Bris" "The Lip Reader" "The Non-Fat Yogurt" "The Barber" "The Masseuse" "The Cigar Store Indian" "The Conversion" "The Stall" "The Dinner Party" "The Marine Biologist" "The Pie" "The Stand In" "The Wife" "The Raincoats"† "The Fire" "The Hamptons" "The Opposite"
Season 6	"The Chaperone" "The Big Salad" "The Pledge Drive" "The Chinese Woman" "The Couch" "The Gymnast" "The Soup" "The Mom & Pop Store" "The Secretary" "The Race" "The Switch" "The Label Maker" "The Scofflaw" "The Highlights of 100"† "The Beard" "The Kiss Hello" "The Doorman" "The Jimmy" "The Doodle" "The Fusilli Jerry" "The Diplomat's Club" "The Face Painter" "The Understudy"
Season 7	"The Engagement" "The Postponement" "The Maestro" "The Wink" "The Hot Tub" "The Soup Nazi" "The Secret Code" "The Pool Guy" "The Sponge" "The Gum" "The Rye" "The Caddy" "The Seven" "The Cadillac"† "The Shower Head" "The Doll" "The Friar's Club" "The Wig Master" "The Calzone" "The Bottle Deposit"† "The Wait Out" "The Invitations"
Season 8	"The Foundation" "The Soul Mate" "The Bizarro Jerry" "The Little Kicks" "The Package" "The Fatigues" "The Checks" "The Chicken Roaster" "The Abstinence" "The Andrea Doria" "The Little Jerry" "The Money" "The Comeback" "The Van Buren Boys" "The Susie" "The Pothole" "The English Patient" "The Nap" "The Yada Yada" "The Millennium" "The Muffin Tops" "The Summer of George"
Season 9	"The Butter Shave" "The Voice" "The Serenity Now" "The Blood" "The Junk Mail" "The Merv Griffin Show" "The Slicer" "The Betrayal" "The Apology" "The Strike" "The Dealership" "The Reverse Peephole" "The Cartoon" "The Strongbox" "The Wizard" "The Burning" "The Bookstore" "The Frogger" "The Maid" "The Puerto Rican Day" "The Chronicle"† "The Finale"†
† Indicates two-part episode