A United Airlines passenger experienced a major travel mishap after accidentally boarding the wrong plane. The traveler was scheduled to fly from Los Angeles to Managua, Nicaragua, with a layover in Houston, but instead landed in Tokyo, Japan, after several hours in the air.

According to reports, the passenger only realized the mistake mid-flight when asking a flight attendant why the trip to Houston was taking six hours, far longer than expected. Upon landing at Haneda Airport, the individual stayed at a hotel for two nights while United Airlines arranged travel back to the original destination.

A United spokesperson said the airline “followed up with the airport to understand how this happened, reached out directly to the customer to apologize for his experience, and offered travel credits and reimbursement.” The airline also reminded travelers to monitor gate signs and boarding announcements to ensure they board the correct aircraft.

Initially, United offered a $300 travel credit, later increasing the amount to $1,000, according to the blog View from the Wing.

The incident drew attention online, with a Reddit post in the “r/unitedairlines” forum sparking debate over airport boarding procedures. One user noted that multiple gates can connect to the same area, allowing passengers to scan tickets and board the wrong flight. Others commented on the importance of checking in-flight screens or paying attention to announcements to avoid such errors.

Some users expressed disbelief at the traveler’s oversight. “How do you accidentally board the wrong flight? There are so many things this guy should’ve noticed,” one wrote. Another added, “You would be surprised how clueless people are.”

While unusual, the case highlights ongoing challenges in airport navigation and the importance of vigilance when boarding flights. United Airlines’ response underscores the company’s focus on customer service and remediation for travel errors.