Tell me your airport horror story

Angioedema

Angioedema

Member
Today my (3rd) plane was cancelled after company discovered there's no pilots or attendants. How'd they book 200 people for a flight and forget to book up the (next) pilot? LOL. Been stuck in YVR since Monday, stayed up all night (12 hrs) in a line just to talk to a westjet representative... Loads of other people are in ugly situations all across the country regarding flights. I've seen about 20 grown ass adults cry and a guy throw his bag across the waiting area while screaming on the phone while his 12 y/o daughter appeared calm and collected lmao. On the plus side, I was able to locate my checked bag full of ski gear...

So, whats the craziest outrage you've seen this xmas at the airport??
 
My wife (at the time girlfriend of 4 years) misspelled my last name by one letter. Like an idiot I didn’t check the booking (even when checking in online 24hrs before). Get to the airlines counter, they check my passport and said they couldn’t give me the boarding pass because of the 1 incorrect letter in my name. They said I could have updated it up to 24 hrs before the flight… ended up buying a same day ticket at a different airline (Turkish Air lol…solid food), with a layover in Istanbul instead of flying next to my gf on Lufthansa (going back to Germany for our annual ski trip/visiting her fam). Eventually got a refund on the flight I got rejected from, but hurt to swipe the credit card on a same day flight (was almost twice the cost of our early booked flight - like 1500 vs 750 iirc). Moral of the story- spell your name correctly, and if someone books a flight for you, CHECK THEY SPELLED YOUR DAMN NAME CORRECTLY.
 
I was flying to Tampa park like 12 years ago and my flight got delayed for 5 hours , airport closed and we got moved to the FBO which was still open because of a Sunday night football game. Ended up meeting Michael Strahan and T-Pain.
 
I was a teen flying alone for the first time. Idk why my family all left before me but i threw a party and went to the airport a day after them. Had a layover in Atlanta. Plane was originally scheduled for 10:45 but was delayed to 11:15 so im bored as fuck and wondering around. I get ice cream and get back to the gate at 10:40. Planes boarded and gates closed they wont let me on lol. So i go to this motel via airport shuttle. Since i am uncultured swine, i could not understand this black dude ATL accent. get to the hotel and need to pay but I only had an ATM card and not a debit card. So i said okay i’ll Go walk to an atm and the guy was like oh no you should not walk around this area especially if your going to an atm. I guess the airport and surrounding areas are a pretty sketchy area and a scrawny white goofy teenager with braces was an easy target lol. So my parents called and wired money or something and i flew the next day.

to this day, i can still be found wandering off lol.
 
SouthWest lost my bags flying to Houston. I was there for work and needed my bags to do my job. They didn’t arrive until the next day, so I was forced to take the whole day off and got a $300 voucher for my personal use. It was awful.
 
My Dad does these ski trips with his friends and one year they flew into BC but one guy didn’t make it on time.

When he arrived, his skis were missing and nothing could be done. Eventually they agreed to bring him to their private lost and found room. When he got there, the room was filled with hundreds of lost skis (250+ apparently). Said it was like a ski graveyard. Years and years of skis that are unclaimed go there to die.

On top of a pile was his very beat up ski bag. He just picked them up and left. Said they didn’t verify anything and that he could have in theory just taken anything he wanted. I really wish he took pictures of this room, it sounds legendary.

Anyway when he checked the flight tags on his ski bag, it showed that they flew to Jordan and a bunch of other Middle Eastern countries. They just needed to fly north to BC but instead they took a trip over seas into the desert for a week ?
 
I've got a bunch with missed flights, lost bags, bitchy flight attendants and desk people, sadness of missing a storm by a day, etc. but last winter was definitely up there. Traveled solo and had to haul a 50lb ski bag, 50lb suitcase with broken wheels, backpack, and boot bag from my hotel to rental car to the shuttle and through Seattle Airport to check-in, all in a sling with a freshly dislocated shoulder on my dominant arm. It's not too far but fuck was it a struggle. Then finally get on the flight and it's an eternity, all the while my shoulder is spasming feeling like it's about to fall out; the seats are not meant for a sling so I sat sideways hunched over the entire 6hrs. Hands down worst travel day of my life. I shoulda UPS'd it all and even that still woulda sucked.
 
Was flying to NZ recently. Got to the airport with about 2 hours before gates closed, get to checkin counter and the lady asks for my NZ eta travel visa. Nobody had told me about this (had about 10 family members fly there the week before, nobody cared to mention this to me). Im scrambling trying to get this thing filled out so i can make my flight, and the visa page wouldn't accept my photo, so i tried over and over for 20 minutes, it finally goes thru. 10 minutes later, the attendant checks and it updated in the system. then my little sisters visa wouldn't come thru, so the attendant has to call to NZ and figure it out. We have 10 minutes until gates close (SLC airport), and guess where our gate is. Yep, its B. They finally get it to go through, they give us our boarding passes, and we start sprinting to B gate. We run into security, and the woman watching the lines goes "are you guys in a rush?" nope, just sprinting for fun. she lets us go into the precheck lane, we get thru security, sprint to B, make it to the kiosk as they are shutting the doors and they wave us on.

then as our 14 flight was landing in Aukland, the chick next to me across the isle starts puking after very mild turbulence. I hate the smell and sounds of puking and almost lost it myself, but i manned up and kept it down. out of country flights are aids
 
The next few days are going to write some horror stories. Holiday travel with a major storm system moving across the country is about to be chaos.
 
We crash landed into two tall commercial buildings in manhattan and the airline didnt even refund me
 
Wife and I are flying to Mexico on Christmas day, hoping whatever bullshit this storm causes is cleared up by then and I can't contribute to this thread
 
14493118:TOAST. said:
Wife and I are flying to Mexico on Christmas day, hoping whatever bullshit this storm causes is cleared up by then and I can't contribute to this thread
Click to expand...

Where at in Mexico?

Pulled an all nighter last night because I couldn't sleep. Drove to the airport at 245 am. Get to check in at 320 for my 5am flight to see that none of the employees are there and there are two full planes of people sitting and waiting.

Employees show up at 350 and open. One flight got canceled so all of the employees were taken up finding them flights. Half the self check kiosks are down and when I finally get one it won't scan my passport. So I had to wait in the line for help.

Got to my gate 3 minutes after boarding started. Not too bad
 
Oh also solid chance I'm to only one in my fam that makes it to Mexico lmao. Might be lonely sipping corona on the beach.

I also forgot sunscreen.
 
I got diverted and stuck in the tokyo narita airport during a freak winter storm. All local hotels were booked up and flights got all fucked up. Had to spend the night in the airport which wasn't terrible, they handed out these coleman sleeping bags but they were all japan size so they only came up barely above elbows.

Then my next flight wouldn't be direct to my destination, the only one available within the next few days routed thru seol incheon. All together took like 4-5 days of traveling when it should have taken one. Not the end of the world because it was for work so the time off was kinda a treat.
 
YVR and the surrounding area might be one of the most depressing places in north America. Everything is frozen and dirty. That's my airport horror story.

Oh and having to be at the airport at like 3am to take COVID tests before driving up to Golden + making sure twelve minors all got through customs with everything in tact. I'm never having kids, good lawd

**This post was edited on Dec 23rd 2022 at 7:16:34pm
 
I love it when things go wrong for pathetic and spoiled assholes who aren't used to being told "no" and they fucking meltdown because they can't get their way.
 
14493455:skierman said:
I love it when things go wrong for pathetic and spoiled assholes who aren't used to being told "no" and they fucking meltdown because they can't get their way.
Click to expand...

There was a “rich” family boarding in front of me that blew a gasket about handicapped/military people boarding ahead of them. Apparently they had paid extra for early boarding and expected to be first.

At the plane entrance the husband again complained in an entitled way to the flight attendant. She just grabbed the intercom mic and announced “fancy pants boarding”. The whole plane looked up at them and their body language was priceless as they tried to find their seats.
 
14493466:STEEZUS_CHRI5T said:
There was a “rich” family boarding in front of me that blew a gasket about handicapped/military people boarding ahead of them. Apparently they had paid extra for early boarding and expected to be first.

At the plane entrance the husband again complained in an entitled way to the flight attendant. She just grabbed the intercom mic and announced “fancy pants boarding”. The whole plane looked up at them and their body language was priceless as they tried to find their seats.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it sounds like your parents are really huge douchebags.
 
I rather be surrounded by sick people and crying babies on a a frontier flight than have to sit first class next to Scotty.

actually i would rather be waterboarded than be within a 250 yards radius of [tag=1388]@skierman[/tag]
 
14493472:partyandBS said:
I rather be surrounded by sick people and crying babies on a a frontier flight than have to sit first class next to Scotty.

actually i would rather be waterboarded than be within a 250 yards radius of [tag=1388]@skierman[/tag]
Click to expand...

Reported for upvoting your own post
 
14493466:STEEZUS_CHRI5T said:
There was a “rich” family boarding in front of me that blew a gasket about handicapped/military people boarding ahead of them. Apparently they had paid extra for early boarding and expected to be first.

At the plane entrance the husband again complained in an entitled way to the flight attendant. She just grabbed the intercom mic and announced “fancy pants boarding”. The whole plane looked up at them and their body language was priceless as they tried to find their seats.
Click to expand...

Why do people want to get on the plane first? I am not trying to be on that plane any longer than needed. Unless it's southwest then i want B boarding so i can get an isle or window seat.
 
14493523:TOAST. said:
Why do people want to get on the plane first? I am not trying to be on that plane any longer than needed. Unless it's southwest then i want B boarding so i can get an isle or window seat.
Click to expand...

Yea this was a southwest flight.
 
My Christmas Eve flight was canceled due to the winter storm. Had my car dropped off, took the shuttle, got through TSA and at my gate it got canceled. I didn’t make it home for Christmas but rescheduled for a Monday flight.

Got up at 3am for my early flight (was on time). Did the whole process over again and once I got to my gate the screen updates to canceled. It wasn’t meant to be.

Here is what bag check looks like at 4:45AM with 5 simultaneous flight cancellations. The only place for information as the phone lines were on hold for 2+ hrs

1059221.jpeg

1059218.jpeg

1059220.jpeg

The line goes well beyond where I stood.
 
14493999:STEEZUS_CHRI5T said:
My Christmas Eve flight was canceled due to the winter storm. Had my car dropped off, took the shuttle, got through TSA and at my gate it got canceled. I didn’t make it home for Christmas but rescheduled for a Monday flight.

Got up at 3am for my early flight (was on time). Did the whole process over again and once I got to my gate the screen updates to canceled. It wasn’t meant to be.

Here is what bag check looks like at 4:45AM with 5 simultaneous flight cancellations. The only place for information as the phone lines were on hold for 2+ hrs

View attachment 1059221

View attachment 1059218

View attachment 1059220

The line goes well beyond where I stood.
Click to expand...

You sure you're not in line at a Vail ski resort?
 
airplane security is wack. fuck the patriot act or whatever made it that way. really, that family with 5 little kids are going to blow up the plane? really you think that? shut the fuck up
 
14494013:SteezyYeeter said:
airplane security is wack. fuck the patriot act or whatever made it that way. really, that family with 5 little kids are going to blow up the plane? really you think that? shut the fuck up
Click to expand...

Pretending like Jihadists don't use children as suicide bombers.
 
14494013:SteezyYeeter said:
airplane security is wack. fuck the patriot act or whatever made it that way. really, that family with 5 little kids are going to blow up the plane? really you think that? shut the fuck up
Click to expand...

Oh you naive little soul
 
14494013:SteezyYeeter said:
airplane security is wack. fuck the patriot act or whatever made it that way. really, that family with 5 little kids are going to blow up the plane? really you think that? shut the fuck up
Click to expand...

You serious Clark?
 
terrorists have never used children as bombs in the US. also while you're talking about islamic jihadists ok fine, search the people that look like islamic jihadists but not me cause i don't fucking look like one. why do you guys like the airport security.

9/11 was just an excuse for the government to have more control over its citizens.
 
14494028:SteezyYeeter said:
terrorists have never used children as bombs in the US. also while you're talking about islamic jihadists ok fine, search the people that look like islamic jihadists but not me cause i don't fucking look like one. why do you guys like the airport security.

9/11 was just an excuse for the government to have more control over its citizens.
Click to expand...

Yawn.
 
14494028:SteezyYeeter said:
terrorists have never used children as bombs in the US. also while you're talking about islamic jihadists ok fine, search the people that look like islamic jihadists but not me cause i don't fucking look like one. why do you guys like the airport security.

9/11 was just an excuse for the government to have more control over its citizens.
Click to expand...

There are other things with the patriot act I have a problem with, airport security is not one even if they are almost useless. I don't fly a ton, but I've never been super inconvenienced by security, but I also get to th airport with plenty of time.
 
Visas in other countries is like the first thing you check..

14493013:GrapeHunter said:
Was flying to NZ recently. Got to the airport with about 2 hours before gates closed, get to checkin counter and the lady asks for my NZ eta travel visa. Nobody had told me about this (had about 10 family members fly there the week before, nobody cared to mention this to me). Im scrambling trying to get this thing filled out so i can make my flight, and the visa page wouldn't accept my photo, so i tried over and over for 20 minutes, it finally goes thru. 10 minutes later, the attendant checks and it updated in the system. then my little sisters visa wouldn't come thru, so the attendant has to call to NZ and figure it out. We have 10 minutes until gates close (SLC airport), and guess where our gate is. Yep, its B. They finally get it to go through, they give us our boarding passes, and we start sprinting to B gate. We run into security, and the woman watching the lines goes "are you guys in a rush?" nope, just sprinting for fun. she lets us go into the precheck lane, we get thru security, sprint to B, make it to the kiosk as they are shutting the doors and they wave us on.

then as our 14 flight was landing in Aukland, the chick next to me across the isle starts puking after very mild turbulence. I hate the smell and sounds of puking and almost lost it myself, but i manned up and kept it down. out of country flights are aids
Click to expand...

**This post was edited on Dec 28th 2022 at 1:09:21am
 
14493523:TOAST. said:
Why do people want to get on the plane first? I am not trying to be on that plane any longer than needed. Unless it's southwest then i want B boarding so i can get an isle or window seat.
Click to expand...

Yeah I usually want to be at the very end. Having a drink till the last minute. Take a piss, sit down right before they close the doors. Only time it was dope being first was being injured and needing crutches to get to my seat, and times I'm flown with a full size guitar where space might be an issue.

Idk. If if was GA pick the best seat maybe. But still Idk. If you have kids and stuff I get it maybe. But who wants to just sit there waiting for people to board.
 
14494021:Turd__Authority said:
Oh you naive little soul
Click to expand...

I mean he's not wrong about airport security. But still weird rant. Whatever, it's the game you play to fly these days. It's been 20 years. If people aren't used to the security by now then idk what to tell them. On the plus some of the aggressive vibes have backed off a lot in the last 10 years or so.

Usually if security is yelling these days it's because they said 200 times to take out the lap top, but people don't take out the lap top or stuff like that.

It is what it is. I don't believe most of it is necessary for safety flying, but whatever. I'll do the things and then grab a drink when I put my shoes on and get everything back in my back pack. Security probably isn't even the worst part of traveling. Especially these days with all the airlines running understaffed and canceling flights at a drop of rain so they can blame the weather. Even then whatever.

I have my phone and guitar these days and sometimes my laptop. I'd rather not sit in an airport but it's not the worst thing.

Hopefully ya'll get home alright/got back to see family alright. Christmas travel is always a shit show but it seemed especially bad this year with the weather.
 
People go through security like they drive and then wonder why people road rage, even if security line isnt that long in Denver just because you’re in no rush doesnt mean somebody behind you isnt. Difference is when somebody is being a bumbling fool in security you can cut ahead of them and not worry about being shot in an airport. TSA even appreciates it

14494419:theabortionator said:
Usually if security is yelling these days it's because they said 200 times to take out the lap top, but people don't take out the lap top or stuff like that.

all the airlines running understaffed and canceling flights at a drop of rain so they can blame the weather.

travel is always a shit show but it seemed especially bad this year with the weather.
Click to expand...
 
14494478:iH8pow said:
People go through security like they drive and then wonder why people road rage, even if security line isnt that long in Denver just because you’re in no rush doesnt mean somebody behind you isnt. Difference is when somebody is being a bumbling fool in security you can cut ahead of them and not worry about being shot in an airport. TSA even appreciates it
Click to expand...

I’m about the sky bridge security line at DIA. The people who go that route are typically experienced and they were willing to walk so they are a quicker crowd. I went to park city and I beat my boss to the gate who went via TSA pre check

you can totally get fucked there too though. No clue how long the line is until you walk there and then theres no turning back lol

**This post was edited on Dec 28th 2022 at 1:22:40pm
 
I be not telling people about bridge security because I don’t want it to increase in wait time

14494479:partyandBS said:
I’m about the sky bridge security line at DIA. The people who go that route are typically experienced and they were willing to walk so they are a quicker crowd. I went to park city and I beat my boss to the gate who went via TSA pre check

you can totally get fucked there too though. No clue how long the line is until you walk there and then theres no turning back lol

**This post was edited on Dec 28th 2022 at 1:22:40pm
Click to expand...
 
Currently stuck at Chicago O’Hare. This is gonna sound chaotic as fuck but I was planning on flying standby with American to San Francisco to get my truck that I left in a random parking lot there almost a month ago, and then drive it down to Santa Barbara to pick up the boys, then drive out to SLC for a week. It’s already an absolute shit show of a plan to begin with, but now with this whole southwest situation going on, all the other airlines are getting overloaded and it’s nearly impossible to get on a flight without paying $1-5k. Just praying I can get on standby to some plane going west and figure it out from there. My head feels like it’s gonna explode lol.
 
14494540:ASAPCarter said:
Currently stuck at Chicago O’Hare. This is gonna sound chaotic as fuck but I was planning on flying standby with American to San Francisco to get my truck that I left in a random parking lot there almost a month ago, and then drive it down to Santa Barbara to pick up the boys, then drive out to SLC for a week. It’s already an absolute shit show of a plan to begin with, but now with this whole southwest situation going on, all the other airlines are getting overloaded and it’s nearly impossible to get on a flight without paying $1-5k. Just praying I can get on standby to some plane going west and figure it out from there. My head feels like it’s gonna explode lol.
Click to expand...

just cancel your flights and rent a car. SW is too busy to even take phone calls
 
14494545:STEEZUS_CHRI5T said:
just cancel your flights and rent a car. SW is too busy to even take phone calls
Click to expand...

Huh? I’m flying standby with American Airlines, there’s nothing for me to cancel or call Southwest about lol.

Just made it on a nice ass plane to Phoenix, gonna try to connect to SFO from there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top