Well I am have DOZENS of flight horror stories. Years ago my wife and I were flying from Florida, where we lived at the time, to her parents in Minneapolis. Our flight was delayed and during one of the numerous messages about the delay it was suggested that one thing we could to is to check to make sure our luggage was going to the right place. I looked at my tag and lo and behold saw that my luggage was going to Milwaukee NOT Minneapolis.

I found an agent who checked into it and was assured my bag would get to Minneapolis. They (Delta) had no flights going to Milwaukee so this would trigger them to look and see where I was flying. We eventually get to Mpls and surprise no bag. They had no idea where my bag could have gone. I suggested they look in Milwaukee, which of course is where my bag ended up.

A few years later I was on another delayed flight and checked my tag. This time the name on the tag (different airline) was not even mine. It was a “puddle jumper” flight with only a couple of dozen people. They found the person whose tag I had and he did not have my tag, but a duplicate of what I had. I was assured this would all get taken care of. When we got to the main airport for our connection I told my wife I was going to baggage claim to see if my bag came off or got checked through (should have been checked through). There was my bag on the carousel. I grabbed it, found an agent, and asked to get it on my plane.

I rarely check luggage and usually carry-on. I think it is odd that the only tow times I have ever checked my tag, it was wrong, I told them, and they still screwed it up. Now I don’t check any more.

in the late 90s and early 2000s I was flying to the UK 2-3 times a year for business. I had long hair back then, a pony tail. Coming back to the US on several trips I would “Randomly” get selected to have my suit case rifled through. They even took me into a little room off to the side, and patted me down and x-rayed my shoes.
Talking with others from work that travelled similarly, I was the only one to get this treatment.
Mostly funny. Most of the people were friendly, and not bothered by friendly conversation; just doing their jobs.

My brothers bachelor party was out of town and he made the flight reservations for 6 AM after the party in Austin, TX. Needless to say I barfed about 8 times on that flight from having one too many adult beverages the night before – this in turn made my brother and his friend sick. Longest flight back to MI in my life.

Like any sane person, I carry on all of my photography and electronic equipment, because I know it will never survive the savagery and thievery of checked baggage.

On a recent trip home from the East Coast, I was waiting in the American Airlines boarding area with my carry-on baggage of approved size, packed full of gear. A grumpy lady was walking around, handing out “valet” tickets, and telling people that the plane was too small and they would have to check their carry-on bags as they boarded. I was one of those lucky people.

I then heard the OTHER boarding agent talking overhead, telling everyone to be sure and take any computers, electronics, or valuables out of their bag before checking it. I walked up to her and informed her that the whole reason I HAD that bag is that it was full of electronics and valuables (Nikon pro DSLR, lenses, laptop, etc.). She told me to make sure I took them out because they might get broken, or that someone might take them…

Yes, you heard me right, she ADMITTED that some American Airlines employee might steal my belongings out of my bag as I checked it…

I went on to let her know that I would therefore be walking on to the plane with two arms full of equipment, as the bag was packed full of that kind of thing. She offered me a plastic bag to put it in.

Jesus Christ, I hate the airlines…

Well, seeing as I suggested the question, I’m going to tell you about one of the worst flights I ever had.
5 years ago, my dad flew from London, I flew from California and we met for the first time since I was a wee ‘ickle baby (awwww, and yeah, it really was a tearful reunion but a happy one) in New York.
We spent some time getting to know each other, and on the last night we both got a little too inebriated.
Woke up late the next morning, rushed to JFK with the worst hangover in the world.
Got on the plane, and just started bawling because of all the emotions surround the reunion.

Well, just as we’re flying over Las Vegas, the plane hit an air pocket and just DROPPED for what seemed like forever. People started screaming and I grabbed the hand of the guy next to me – mind you, he was gripping my hand just as tightly!
The plane finally leveled out, and after about 5 minutes the lady in front of me turned around and said “Excuse me ma’am, please could my husband have his hand back?”!!

Alright, I’ll bite on this one. I have a method for folding my clothes which helps minimize the wrinkles in my shirts. Basically, it involves packing socks, tshirts, and other items in the middle of the dress shirts, then folding the dress shirts like a parcel around them. Unfortunately, this causes much confusion with the airport xray people. I’ve just resigned myself to having to watch a security person unpack my stuff, just to verify that the only thing I’m hiding with my shirt is underwear.

I will take a stab at this one. When I travel on business I never check baggage. So this story involves a vacation trip. My wife and I traveled to Barbados for 10 days and of course our one checked bag did not make the trip with us. The bag got left behind somewhere in Miami. We only had the small amount of clothing in our carryones (just to be safe). After numerous follow ups and two deliveries of the wrong bag to our hotel, we finally received our bag on the fifth day of our vacation.

I will not even go into the reimbursement process for the days that we were without our baggage. The airlines are horrendous. Everyone that flies has somekind of horror story, yet nothing ever seems to be done about.

Hi Sue, Cats and all,

My story is about a flight I’ve been on, which involved lots and lots of air pockets.
The Plane shook up and down and from side to side for a really long time.

Naturally in these cases, people started to feel bad and some of them even started to throw up.
Even though I could feel my own stomach turning, I did not want to be a part of the “throwing up” group of people, so I really tried to “hold it in” as much as possible.

However, after about an hour of air pockets and constant shaking of the plane, I felt that I just might fail my mission, and decided to reach for the vomit bag, to have it ready.
Just in case.

Don’t get me wrong, my mind was still set on not throwing up, but I just wanted to be safe.

You know how these vomit bags come all folded up for you? well, my brilliant idea was to have it ready and *open*, in case I need it urgently

I reached my hand deep into the vomit bag to open it, only to discover that someone else already used this bag!!

Needless to say, my efforts to “hold it in” and not throw up all ended at this point…