Albany District administration Daniel McCoy He reportedly tried to use his political influence to board a American Airlines flight to the Democratic National Convention after missing his boarding call because he was in the middle of grabbing Chick-fil-A, according to a report in the Albany Times Union.
A source at Albany International Airport observed McCoy and a staff member arrive at the gate on time, but then leave to grab something to eat at the popular fast-food chain a short walk away. When they returned, they found the boarding doors were already closed.
The witness reported that McCoy attempted to use his position as county executive by repeatedly mentioning his title and influence at the airport to persuade gate personnel to reopen the plane doors. However, American Airlines personnel were not fazed.
“McCoy was polite, but he dropped his name several times,” the Times Union quoted the source as saying. Despite his efforts, “the American Airlines employee didn’t care who he was or didn’t know who he was.”
The airline employee reportedly told McCoy, “You shouldn’t have gone out and gotten something to eat. You would have caught your flight.”
Since McCoy and his colleague could not board, they had to find another Flight later that same day with another airline to Chicago.
When asked, McCoy’s spokeswoman Mary Rozak declined to provide further details about the airport incident, saying, “I can’t say what did or didn’t happen at the airport.” However, she clarified that no public funds were used for the trip to the DNC.
This incident came amid speculation that McCoy could be positioning himself for a future role at the airport. The Albany County Airport Authority, where McCoy appoints three of the seven board members, recently decided not to renew the contract of the current longtime airport director, fueling rumors about McCoy’s potential interest in the job.
While many politicians had to contend with delays on their way to Congress due to a storm in the region, McCoy’s delay was due to the detour that was necessary for a Chicken Sandwich.
A source at Albany International Airport observed McCoy and a staff member arrive at the gate on time, but then leave to grab something to eat at the popular fast-food chain a short walk away. When they returned, they found the boarding doors were already closed.
The witness reported that McCoy attempted to use his position as county executive by repeatedly mentioning his title and influence at the airport to persuade gate personnel to reopen the plane doors. However, American Airlines personnel were not fazed.
“McCoy was polite, but he dropped his name several times,” the Times Union quoted the source as saying. Despite his efforts, “the American Airlines employee didn’t care who he was or didn’t know who he was.”
The airline employee reportedly told McCoy, “You shouldn’t have gone out and gotten something to eat. You would have caught your flight.”
Since McCoy and his colleague could not board, they had to find another Flight later that same day with another airline to Chicago.
When asked, McCoy’s spokeswoman Mary Rozak declined to provide further details about the airport incident, saying, “I can’t say what did or didn’t happen at the airport.” However, she clarified that no public funds were used for the trip to the DNC.
This incident came amid speculation that McCoy could be positioning himself for a future role at the airport. The Albany County Airport Authority, where McCoy appoints three of the seven board members, recently decided not to renew the contract of the current longtime airport director, fueling rumors about McCoy’s potential interest in the job.
While many politicians had to contend with delays on their way to Congress due to a storm in the region, McCoy’s delay was due to the detour that was necessary for a Chicken Sandwich.
