Ok, I travel every week for work, and have for like 11 years. I work from home here and there, but for the most part I am flying to wherever my client happens to be. I have had many travel mishaps, some more frustrating than others, but I don't often vent about them as it comes with the territory. But hell, this might entertain someone ...
This week DH and I were both working in Raleigh, NC. On Thursday we were to travel direct from Raleigh to Minneapolis. Our flight was cancelled, and they said they couldn't get us out of Raleigh until Saturday. After much time on the phone, they got us on a flight from Greenboro to Minneapolis, connecting through Atlanta, leaving on Friday.
So we go back to our hotel, and stay in Raleigh another night, and drive the hour to Greensboro to catch our flight on Friday. We leave Greensboro and get to Atlanta. As we're waiting for our Atlanta to Minneapolis flight we learn that they are oversold (fine, they always are) and that they changed planes and that Paul might now not get a seat. They ask for volunteers to give up their seats (they're offering 2 round-trip tickets).
I wait until the very last minute to see if Paul will get a seat - and learn he won't. They're about to close the door - so I "volunteer" my seat. We're so annoyed we're laughing at this point!
So she gives us all of the stuff for volunteering (she counted those that got booted as volunteers too) - we each got 2 free tickets, food vouchers ($50!), and a hotel. But we're still in Atlanta - and they couldn't get us out until today, and 5:20pm. We're missing a soccer game AND will be late for our friends BBQ - HELLO, we were supposed to bring the drinks!?
Anyway - if I don't get home today, I may go insane - if you see me in the headlines tonight - you will all know why.
Oh, and I might point out that we are both "elite" members on Northwest Airlines, and I have been since 1997. Lucky us.