Biden flies commercial from Reagan National Airport and winds up stuck in delays like everyone else

Travelers at Reagan National Airport were treated to an unexpected sight Friday morning when former President Joe Biden appeared among them, waiting for a delayed flight like any ordinary passenger. As fog settled over Washington D.C., causing an hour-long ground stop that created backlogs throughout American Airlines’ Terminal D, the crowd at the commuter gate swelled with curious onlookers once word spread of Biden’s presence.

The former president, who has maintained a relatively low public profile since leaving office last year, was en route to Columbia, South Carolina, where he was scheduled to attend an evening event with the South Carolina Democratic Party. Despite his status as the nation’s 46th president, Biden found himself subjected to the same travel frustrations experienced by his fellow passengers.

Onlookers appeared fascinated by the sight of a former world leader navigating the ordinary challenges of commercial air travel, even while surrounded by his Secret Service detail and local police officers. Many passengers whispered and exchanged glances of surprise as Biden sat patiently waiting for his delayed flight.

For those familiar with Biden’s history, his presence in a commercial terminal might seem less surprising. During his decades as a Delaware senator, Biden earned the nickname “Amtrak Joe” for his legendary commitment to commuting by train rather than establishing a permanent residence in Washington. His preference for public transportation became part of his political identity, reinforcing his everyman image among constituents.

This affinity for public transportation has apparently continued into his post-presidency. Reports have surfaced of Biden riding Amtrak trains since leaving office, often engaging with fellow passengers and posing for selfies – maintaining the approachable persona he cultivated throughout his political career.

On Friday’s flight, Biden received VIP boarding privileges, taking his window seat in the third row of the small first-class cabin before other passengers boarded. His Secret Service detail was strategically positioned throughout the aircraft to maintain security protocols while minimizing disruption to other travelers.

As passengers filed past Biden to reach their seats, many expressed their appreciation. “God bless you, sir,” one woman said as she walked by Biden, who sat with a newspaper in his lap. Another passenger shook the former president’s hand, saying, “Thank you for your service.”

One woman experienced a particularly memorable encounter when she discovered that Biden would be her seatmate for the duration of the flight. After storing her bag in the overhead compartment and placing her coffee on their shared armrest, she realized she was sitting next to the former commander-in-chief. In a gesture of courtesy, Biden steadied her coffee cup as she settled in, then greeted her with a friendly hello.

“I feel like I’m about to cry,” the woman remarked as they shook hands. Throughout the hour-long flight, the two engaged in conversation, creating what was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime travel story.

While federal law guarantees former presidents and their spouses lifelong Secret Service protection, it doesn’t provide for the private air travel that was standard during their time in office. This explains why Biden, like former presidents before him, occasionally finds himself navigating commercial flights alongside everyday Americans.

Biden’s appearance on a commercial flight offers a glimpse into post-presidential life that few Americans ever witness. Though still protected by security details and afforded certain courtesies, former presidents must readjust to aspects of civilian life – including, apparently, the universal experience of flight delays at crowded airport terminals.

For passengers sharing that delayed flight to South Carolina, their travel disruption became an unexpected opportunity to share a momentary connection with American political history.